Song of the Day: Regarding My Heart – Tuelo

Very rarely does a song give me full body chills everytime I hear TUELO‘s powerful single, ‘Regarding My Heart’. The track is the centerpiece and the focus track for the album Regarding My Heart, due out 27th September.

Tuelo is a South African-born, NYC/Dublin-based folk-rock artist who’s had some amazing notoriety in the past for her debut album, but one listen to the new music and it’s clear that is her most refined, self-assured sound to date. Regarding My Heart is a sweeping sonic exploration of love, loss and loneliness. The project has provided Tuelo with the space to heal, listen to herself and center her voice.

The whole album began with the title track. Describing it, Tuelo says, “The song shows that in a ubiquitous world there lives a person in solitude, with a fascination for adventure, fantasy, and big dreams of great love. That is me. That would be ‘Regarding My Heart.’ That might be you.” Beginning with one central song and building the album from there, Tuelo crafted a resonant glimpse into her heart from different perspectives. Tuelo says the album is, “by the lonely for the lonely. It’s about holding on to every ounce of peace, patience, pace, and the rhythm of the world.”

Interspersed between the tracks are chant versions and towards the end, piano versions that offer alternate takes on the original versions while paying homage to Tuelo’s roots. Across three continents, the project’s expansive sound was brought to life with help from multi-GRAMMY® award-winning producer (Album of the Year, Best Rock Album) Robbie Nelson, guitar producer Kirk Schoenherr, longtime collaborator Kevin Wenzel and features backing vocals from Tuelo’s sisters. W

Watch the video for ‘Regarding My Heart’ below…

Modern instrumental jazz ensemble Oceanna share their second single, ‘Koldunai’

OCEANNA is a modern instrumental jazz ensemble based in Dublin with a mixture of South American and Irish Musicians. Bringing together elements from contemporary jazz and latin music, the group released its self produced debut single ‘Noir’ in May 2022 and with many live performances across Ireland, the band rapidly developed a name for its energetic and organic stage presence and music.

The band’s first headline show had tickets sold out in February 2023, and the band also made appearances in events from RTE Radio One and in most well known venues in Dublin. In a collaboration with Neo Soul singer Qbanaa, Oceanna supported shows by Canadian artist Ruby Waters and American RnB singer Liv.e in their individual european tour as well as performing sets in The Future of Irish Music by District Magazine & Hennessy, in Primavolta Limerick and in Body & Soul Festival 2023.

Igniting their growing popularity, Oceanna share their second single ‘Koldunai’, released last Friday (17th of November. Encompassing their irresistibly smooth instrumental of jazz and latin, ‘Koldunai’, serves as a teaser to their self titled EP ‘Oceanna’, coming out in 2024…so sit back and relax to this sweet slice of escapism…

Song of the Day: Land of Escape – Moon Sisters

Land of Escape’ is the first single released by Irish-Dutch vocal group, MOON SISTERS. The song is about inter-connection on a deep level; people need people to talk to, to laugh with, to cry with, to miss, to love, to depend on and to support, without bias or judgement.

Moon Sisters express this as ‘a connection of hearts and minds’. The song is also about hope, which thrives on human connection – hope for wishes to come true, and for a dreamy escapeland: a better world! The song is inspired by the mutual bond that the three singers formed in a short time after meeting via the online social singing app ‘Smule’.

Moon Sisters are Julieanne Black Reel from Ireland, Eva Stultjens and Ilona Dekker from the Netherlands. Through song, the girls instantly connected and formed a beautiful bond, much like sisters. The girls were recognised on social media by a festival organiser in Ireland. He flew Ilona and Eva over to perform a full live concert with Julieanne at the Muckno Mania Festival (Castleblayney). This was the first time that the girls met and sang together physically. They received a standing ovation, and the concert was a magical experience for them. This was just the beginning of their musical journey! Have a listen to their stunning debut below…

Song of the Day: 23 – The Burma

Opening with a touch of the psychedelic, THE BURMA‘s latest single ‘23’ (released via The Burma Music Group) is an airy blend of retro-filtered synth stabs and indie rock grooves. The track captures the longing for what could have been dabbed with a touch of nostalgia that brings the work of Beach House, Real Estate, and Beach Fossils to mind.

Offering insight, The three-piece indie rock act from Ireland describes how the song was born: “‘23’” is the first song we wrote and recorded for our second album. It’s one of those songs that came together really quickly. The song you hear now has barely changed from its initial conception, which is a rare thing for us!”

2023 is looking to be a big year for the band: their sophomore album is due for release later this year. Additionally, they will be performing their first-ever live show in the UK on Saturday the 19th of August in London.

Their debut album, Sucker For Stars, was the No. 3 best-selling Independent Irish Album the week of its release, landing on the Irish charts and placing in both the Irish Homegrown Top 20 Singles and Top 5 Irish iTunes Singles.

Named after The Burma Steps in Cobh, The Burma has been praised by recognised webzines such as The Rolling Stone India, CLASH Magazine, Hot Press, Atwood Magazine, NOTION Magazine, and Medium.com/Pop Off and more, while receiving spins on RTÉ 2FM with Dan Hegarty.

Have a listen to ’23’ below…

Emerging Rap Rock artist Rex Arcum teams up with Syano for genre bending EP ‘COMPOUND’

After setting Ireland’s underground alight with their eclectic fusion of hip-hop and rock, Cork’s REX ARCUM and SYANO release their joint effort EP ‘COMPOUND’ on June 2nd. Having been featured on Spotify’s Misfits 2.0, RTÉ and Nialler 9 with the EP’s lead single ‘LOTTO BOY’, the pair of rising artists are certainly ones to watch from the Emerald Isle.

The EP mirrors Rex Arcum and Syano’s live shows, driven by creative hip-hop samples and monstrous 808’s which are seamlessly blended with distorted guitar, gritty drums and powerful vocals. With tracks
featuring Nashville’s MNERVA, Brampton’s Spitty, Cork’s LG4 Ness and mixed/mastered by Brody (Nothing, Nowhere., Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Freddie Dredd), this genre defiant EP expels unfiltered frustration and emotion as it tackles a host of negative aspects seen in society in Ireland.

Having kicked off 2023 with a sold-out headline gig in Fred Zeppelin’s Cork, as well as performing at a packed out Cork Rising in Cyprus Avenue and Absent Hip-Hop Night in Galway, Rex Arcum is touring Ireland in September with major support acts to be announced, it will be an explosive tour that’s not to be missed.

‘COMPOUND’ was released on 2nd June…have a listen to the explosive EP below…

Must Listens: CLIQUE, TOO BAD