TheCity

Tag: Irish music

  • Vigilante Maestro Brings the Rage to the Soundhouse 

    Vigilante Maestro Brings the Rage to the Soundhouse 

    By Mene Agbofodoh

    The Vigilante Maestro also known as Fortune Igiebor brought the rage against racism to the Soundhouse on the 19th of September. 

    Fortune Igiebor is an emerging creative talent known for his work in visual arts, particularly in music and mixed media. He focuses on themes like identity, culture, and the experiences of Black people in Ireland and beyond. 

    The Soundhouse is home to many hip hop and rap concerts in Dublin. Not too long ago, the venue held the first-ever IRIS event from the collective, SPG with which Fortune Igiebor has collaborated in the past. 

    The show was titled Rage against Racism as that is the genre Mr Igiebor’s music reflects the most. “Rage Against Racism is a call to action for all who believe in the fundamental values that define the Irish spirit: kindness, inclusivity, and the unwavering belief in the dignity of every human being,” he said. 

    “Ireland has always been a land of welcomes, where communities are built on the foundations of solidarity and shared humanity. We are a nation that knows the pain of discrimination, the struggle for equality, and the joy of standing together in the face of adversity. At a time when hate seeks to divide us, it is more important than ever to reaffirm our commitment to these values and each other.” said Mr.Igiebor. 

    The event was free of charge and instead, attendees were asked to support the charities the event was hosted for, Doras and NASC, the two charities that help to fight for the rights of migrants in Ireland. 

    “We could have charged maybe €10 or €15 for the tickets but we decided to let the people decide how much they want to put into it, we have a lot of people in the Irish music scene right putting on events and as a performer myself I know sometimes not everyone has the money to spend to go to these concerts. That was one of the reasons why the event was also free of charge.” 

    “After dropping the Love Rage and Vigilante Maestro EP, the opening track ‘Scorching Sun’ which was inspired by the Dublin Riot that happened back in November, I started seeing more anti-immigration protests around the country and wanted to do something for the community because you see the Vigilante Maestro is someone who believes he is a man of the community something like a Robin Hood.” 

    The atmosphere in the Soundhouse was powerful, there was a sense of unity and understanding among the attendees at Rage Against Racism. 

    Nealo, an Irish artist kicked off the show with Under the Weather from his ‘All the Leaves are Falling’ album, which set the tone for not only his set time but for the night. 

    He continued his set with songs like ‘Tears You Cry’ and ‘You Can’t Go Home Again’ however the song that moved the audience the most was ‘What Colour Would Our Friendship Be’, the song from the vocals to the melody was enough to sway people to tears. 

    Nealo, performing at the Rage Against Racism Concert. Credit- Mene Agbofodoh 

    Celaviedmai brought the energy and stage presence with her performance, her performance was immersive and all-around good vibes.  

    Celaviedmai is an Irish rapper and singer known for her energetic performances and versatile style, blending elements of hip-hop, grime, and dancehall.  

    She has gained attention for her powerful lyrics, often touching on themes like identity, race, and personal empowerment. She raps primarily in English but incorporates her cultural influences into her music, giving her a distinctive sound in the Irish and international music scene. 

    Her rise in popularity reflects the growing diversity in Ireland’s music scene, and she’s seen as a pioneering voice, particularly for women in Irish rap. 

    She performed some of her songs from her recent EP ‘Issa New Era’, and hearing songs like ‘Break Me Down’ and ‘Reckless’ being performed live really added to the overall atmosphere. Celaviedmai had the whole place jumping and screaming her lyrics, she had the crowd going and it led to a great transition to the night’s main attraction, Mr. Igiebor. 

    If there is one thing to expect from a Vigilante Maestro performance, there is going to be energy and mosh pits, and for the people who were at the event, there was that and more. 

    Mr. Igiebor never fails to get the crowd going, creating chants for the people to say, from coming down from the stage to performing hit songs like ‘Leechers’ and ‘Paris at The Metro’. 

    Mr. Igiebor left the night off with the chant ‘Nobody’s free till everybody is free’ and that statement was repeated louder each time by the audience, thanks were given and the amazing night with a great cause came to an end. 

    As for what is next for the Vigilante Maestro, Mr. Rage Stage Three is currently in the works, it needs to be handled with care. 

    “Stage three will show Mr. Rage (myself) in a completely new light, something that has been teased but never shown”. Fortune said. 

    Headline Image; Credit- Mene Agbofodoh 

  • The City Selects: 5 new Irish songs you should hear

    The City Selects: 5 new Irish songs you should hear

    Listen to Jake Hurley review the latest and greatest in Irish music

    Irish music is arguably in the best place it’s ever been, with new releases pushing the envelope week on week in a variety of genres. Jake Hurley presents The City Selects – a run-down of five of the most exciting Irish tracks released in the past month.  

    Elkin – Tuesday

    Irish duo Elkin continue their evolution from the folksier sounds of their earlier career towards the forward-thinking electro-pop they’ve presented on recent releases with Tuesday – a track detailing a relationship prematurely fizzling out with a disappointing mid-week breakup. 

    Producer Lullahush adds his touch future-bass indebted synth-scapes and elaborately layered vocal processing.

    Lemonade Shoelace – Autopilot Paradise

    Newcastle, Co Down artist Ruairí Richman, now known by his Lemonade Shoelace moniker, shares the relentlessly upbeat and sunny sounds of Autopilot Paradise – a track calling to mind the hazy psych-rock of his musical idol Kevin Parker of Tame Impala. Recorded at Richman’s home studio, Autopilot Paradise is built around hazy synth pads and a driving bassline that underpins Richman’s dreamy reverb and echo-drenched vocals delivering the hook’s memorable pop melody.

    NEOMADiC featuring shiv – Waves

    NEOMADiC have been a fixture on the Irish hip-hop since 2017’s The NEOMADiC Tape, with a career that’s seen them frequently appear on the festival circuit and support left-field rap legends Souls of Mischief and Pharoah Monch.

    Ahead of the release of their upcoming AFTER DARK, they have shared Waves, which features the duo trading witty bars over a Kaytranada indebted beat – all jazzy synth pads, swung drums and booming 808s. The pair are joined by guest vocalist shiv, who confidently delivers smooth melodies throughout the track.

    Ugolino – Early Hours 

    Dublin hip-hop duo Ugolino, made up of vocalist Shane Richardson and producer Oran Hurley, are another exciting prospect from the city’s booming rap scene. On Early Hours the duo present a remarkably well-formed debut, featuring introspective lyricism from Richardson, ornate jazzy production from Hurley and pristine additional vocals courtesy of Leah Tierney. The track culminates as Richardson waxes lyrical over a cathartic burst of drums and brass that add urgency to his laconic flow.

    Willhouse feat Fynch & Sick Nanley – So Sorry

    Up-and-coming hip-hop producer Willhouse enlists Burner Records MCs Fynch and Sick Nanley for So Sorry – a track that displays both rappers preternatural abilities for crafting witty, reference-laden verses touching on everything from The Simpsons and Malcolm In The Middle to Nirvana’s Nevermind. 

    Willhouse provides a melancholy sonic environment for the MCs to shine through a vocal sample he has altered and supported with nicely swung, J Dillaesque drum programming.

  • Podcast: The puzzling disappearance of Dublin’s cultural landscape

    Podcast: The puzzling disappearance of Dublin’s cultural landscape

    The disenfranchisement of Dublin’s artistic community is no small issue. Photo from Jigsaw’s toilets courtesy of Jen O’Leary
    Listen to Jake Hurley investigate the disappearance of Dublin’s cultural spaces

    Since its first incarnation as the anti-capitalist social centre Seomra Spraoi, Jigsaw has served as a focal point for creativity in Dublin City – countless collectives of musicians, artists and activists called it home and it served as the base for the left-field programming of Dublin Digital Radio (DDR) for many years. 

    The announcement of its closure last week has reignited the ongoing conversation around the rapidly diminishing cultural infrastructure in Dublin. The growing sentiment amongst artists is that the policies of successive neoliberal governments have been at best indifferent and at worst hostile to creative expression in the capital. 

    To get a better sense of the discontent brewing Dublin’s creative quarters, DDR DJ Jack Hevey, who makes music under the Boyfren moniker and wrote a thesis on the cultural landscape of Dublin while studying at the University of Amsterdam, spoke to The City to give his perspective. 

    Hurley also consulted former Jigsaw and DDR regulars sohotsospicy, a DJ and producer who recently released her debut EP, and the up and coming Irish electronic producer Rory Sweeney who recently shared the track Freak as part of the City Imp Records compilation Chancers.

  • Podcast: Sophie Doyle Ryder making a splash at 18

    Podcast: Sophie Doyle Ryder making a splash at 18

    18 year old Sophie Doyle Ryder is making a name for herself in the Irish music scene. Photo by Ray Keogh

    At just 18 years old, Sophie Doyle Ryder already has four singles under her belt. Her third single Too Much made it to number nine on the top 100 Irish Artists on Irish Radio.

    Ryder writes all of her own music and says that, while lockdown has been tough (her first headline show has been postponed four times in the last year), it has allowed her to throw herself into writing more songs than ever.

    “When all this does end, I have no issues just releasing as much music as I want and doing as many gigs as I want because I have all these songs that I’ve written,” says Ryder.

    Her music has drawn comparisons to other artists like Anne-Marie and Rihanna, and while she welcomes the comparisons, Ryder is also putting her own individual style into her songs.

    As she waits for the go-ahead for her first headline show in Whelan’s music venue in Dublin, Ryder is already looking to the future, with hopes to release an EP in early August and a full album planned for 2022. 

    As a Malahide native, Ryder has one important goal for the future.

    “The one place, before I die, I hope I can play Malahide castle … that would just be a dream.”