John and Ryan of Little Hours describe themselves as two “culchie boys” who grew up five minutes from each other, making it easy to collaborate when they turned to music. The dynamic between the two flows easily, even when talking over the phone – they’re laughing away as they alternate between chatting to me and […]
Dublin based post-punk ensemble, Brass Phantoms are steadily on the rise and 2017 is already off to a fantastic start. They played to a packed Whelan’s as part of the One’s To Watch series and last week they released the music video for their current single, ‘Waiting Up’. We caught up with James from Brass […]
Last week was as exceptional as ever from the Other Voices camp, with performances by Gregory Porter, Sample Answer, Le Galaxie, Pixie Geldof, and Cry Monster Cry. There’s still more to come as the series continues, and State are delighted to be able to preview each new episode before it airs. Tune in to RTE […]
Set to perform alongside John Cummins, Valerie Francis, Holly Pereira, and Lime & Fancy DJs this Friday to kick off Hennessy Lost Fridays at the RHA, Bad Bones, aka Sal Stapleton, talks us through her influences, artistic vision, live show, and more. What was it that drew you to making electronic music in the first place? Can you […]
One of the constant companions in life is music. If you are sad or happy there will always be a song that can articulate how you’re feeling when you don’t have the words within. The power of curating a playlist specially designed to render you and give you hope is one of the most cathartic […]
Usually found fronting Belfast quartet Girls Names, Cathal Cully’s debut foray into solo territory sees its release today. Under the guise of Group Zero, Cully’s first album proper is called Structures and Light and emerges via Belfast’s Touch Sensitive label, our recent partners for Output Belfast. Something of a sonic departure for Cully, the record is […]
It’s always a treat when a track so strong, yet so simple, lands in the abyss of the State mailbox. Such is the case with ‘Vanua’, a silky, trip hop-esque cut from Sligo’s Dioscó na mBó, the trio of Steven Conway, Rory Selby-Smith, and Jack Selby-Smith. Known for their penchant for analogue textures, as much […]
As the series continues to showcase the best of Irish and international music, we’re previewing each new episode ahead of its airing. Last week, there were stellar performances (and enlightening chat) from Conor Oberst, Carson McHone, Kojey Radical and Overhead, The Albatross. Some lineup, eh? This week, we have the sensational voice of Gregory Porter to look forward to. One […]
Polymath and former State.ie Faces alumni Ryan Burrowes (Robocobra Quartet / Abandcalledboy) has just released a new EP under the guise of Looking Svelte. A beautiful hybrid of woozy depths and eclectic highs, this experimental and colourful nugget is a welcome balm to the slate-gray end of Winter. You can have a listen – and […]
If you’re a fan of The Internet, you may be familiar with ‘Syd Tha Kid’. Born Sydney Bennett, Syd is the embodiment of a jack of all trades. As a singer-songwriter, DJ, audio engineer and producer, she cracks a championing whip of neo-soul, R’n’B and old school Hip-Hop and sounds more comfortable than ever before […]
The Royal Hibernian Academy is one of the most beautiful and bright spaces in Dublin to enjoy contemporary art. In recent years it has also become one of the most exciting venues for musical events, such as their extraordinary Hennessey Lost Friday occasions. The return of music, spoken word performance and art come together on […]
“Ebola is unlikely ever to kill as many people as this disease strikes down,” wrote Guardian columnist George Monbiot. The column, The Age of Loneliness is Killing Us went viral. The following chain of events ultimately led to the recording of an album. Breaking The Spell Of Loneliness, and subsequent tour, in collaboration with musician […]
Time is simultaneously a straightforward and complex concept. Seconds turn into minutes which make up hours and the passing of a day, creating a calendar. That is where the logic and reason of time ceases. What happens during those seconds, minutes and hours is where questions arise and life intervenes. In one moment you could […]
What began as an infatuation with an alien sound and an escape from the backdrop of a polluted civil war has grown into a supportive network of talented creatives and a scene that is legitimately on the map. Belfast is well and truly in bloom. Timmy Stewart and Phil Kieran have been a part of […]