Estonian-born, London-based Maria Juur turns into Maria Minerva when she wants to create disco-inflected multi-layered electronic pop songs. An artist by trade, critically-minded, always forthright, and with a strong love for mainstream pop, these elements combine to make her music as fun (‘Disko Bliss’) as it is mind-bending (‘Soo High’).
As part of the hip…

If there’s one word that sums up Kristin Hersh, it’s generous. As a solo musician, member of Throwing Muses and 50 Ft Wave, collaborator, creator, mother, wife, interviewee, writer, she is generous with her time, her talent and her thoughts. As one of the founders of CASH music, alongside Donita Sparks of L7, she’s generous…

You don’t have to be able to understand something to enjoy it, and often it is the art that appears to make the least sense that provides the most enjoyment for the viewer or listener. But some pieces of art are more challenging than others, such as Tomorrow in a Year…, Danish company Hotel

Music can trick us into thinking it’s something it’s not. And in the case of German trio Brandt Brauer Frick, our ears are deceived into believing they hear drum machines and synthesizers when really it’s acoustic instruments that are being pounded and thrummed.
The trio are not the first to cast threads between electronic and…

Some musicians think their music exists just to be heard by others – for why else would they be creating it? – and that praise should naturally come their way. Others are simply glad that anyone has turned an ear to their work at all.
For Benoît Pioulard (aka Thomas Meluch), the kind words and…

The first indication that something exciting was happening in Cork was when Christchurch Lane was closed. For years it had been known as ‘Piss Alley’, a street to avoid unless you wanted to smell the stench of liquids spewed onto it on Saturday nights. But in 2009, two green gates, one positioned at either end,…

Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard, but back in 1977, the fiery teenager Poly Styrene had one thing to say to them: “Oh bondage, up yours!”
The whip-smart British-Somali teen was one of few female faces in that era’s burgeoning punk scene, and as frontwoman of X Ray Spex represented…

“This reminds me of my old housemate from Ireland…wait, you guys aren’t letting me speak!” It’s Saturday night in the poky enclave of Dublin’s Crawdaddy venue and Twin Shadow frontman George Lewis Jr. is attempting to tell the audience that their exuberance reminds him of an old Irish friend – but he keeps getting interrupted.…

It’s an hour before Janelle Monáe is due to take to the stage at Dublin’s Tripod venue and State is worried. Purple lightning has just streaked across the sky, deafening thunder has threatened to smash windows and there is nearly two feet of (still falling) snow outside the front door. This is not a night…

I bet you never thought you’d hear an electro-pop cover version of AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’, did you? One of the most talked about homegrown releases this year, in the hands of Dublin musician Babybeef, aka Sarah Carroll Kelly, the song is transformed from a balls-to-the-wall rock anthem to a synth-tastic gem. The track, which features on…

It sold its last vinyl record in December of last year but it has been announced today that Plugd Records, Cork’s-long running independent record store, is to reopen in a new location.
Run by Jimmy Horgan and Albert Twomey, the much-loved shop was considered one of the finest record stores in the country and its…

Aoife Barry meets up with a relaxed Adebisi Shank, who on the eve of their second album release, talk about Japanese welcomes, their europhic new album and contender for Irish album of the year. Photos by Sean Conroy.…
Their music is like an electrical jolt to the brain, their energy a palpable force in whatever

Standing at just over 5ft tall, Kristin Hersh should strike a diminutive figure. But the woman behind the mic at Whelan’s on Monday night could have been two foot taller; such is her strength of character, commanding voice and dexterity on the semi-acoustic guitar.
The Throwing Muses and 50ft Wave frontwoman is no fragile flower;…

If Danish band Efterklang and their comrades – and on this night, support act – Slaraffenland are ambassadors of their homeland, then sign me up for a one-way trip to the country of happy smiley people.
With their exuberantly positive attitude, fun approach to music and obvious love for live performing, these two bands were…