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  • The London Ear #399: Collaborations

    The London Ear #399: Collaborations

    The London Ear: Collaborations

    During this little ‘summer season’ of The London Ear, I thought it would be fun to produce a show of collaborations.

    When I talk to musicians, collaboration is a huge part of the creative process. Using each other’s skills, influences and inspirations can lead to some truly fantastic work which I showcase in today’s show.

    As always, we support Irish artists here on The London Ear but none of us live in a bubble so I feel it’s important to showcase what’s around us. It’s always brilliant to see how easy it is for Irish independent artists to stand shoulder to shoulder with their fellow international artists.

    Irish Track From The Vault

    Every week I play an Irish track From The Vault, a track we don’t hear enough of or one that we may have forgotten about.

    Haunted from Shane MacGowan with Sinead O’Connor was one that was suggested on Twitter and I just had to play. This track always reminds me of working in Slattery’s Bar in Rathmines in the mid-2000s. The place always had decent music on this track always seemed to play as we sat down after a night’s slog. Good times!

    Sound of The Underground

    Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London-based artist or band.

    Staying with the theme of collaboration, I had to choose a track from Hagan. This track ‘Sise Ntweni’ features Aymos. Hagan has been working with a number of different artists over the past while. I really love the fusion of his Ghanian/British heritage with modern production and Aymos’ South African background.

    Follow Hagan on Twitter and Insta.

    Check out the full playlist for ‘Sound of The Underground’ on Spotify.

    The London Ear Playlist July 30 2022

    Here’s what was on the playlist for The London Ear on July 30 2022. It’s all about collaborations on episode 399 of The London Ear.

    Hour 1
    Mango & Mathman feat Lisa Hannigan: Deep Blue
    Denise Chaila, Sorcha Richardson, God Knows, Murli: Out The Gaff
    Dyvr Feat Havvk: The Others
    Tadhg Daly & Etaoin: Not Over You
    Dogs: Nick Kelly & Sean Millar: Heartbeat
    Eileen Gogan & Sean O’Hagan: Wave
    Paul Alwright Feat Maverick Sabre: All Love
    Kae Tempest & Grian Chattan: I Saw Light
    David Bowie & Nine Inch Nails: I’m Afraid Of Americans
    Diplomat M feat. Walter D’goon & Tony Fitz: Swine
    Le Boom Feat AE MAK: Dancing Bug
    Thanks Brother: F My Life
    Darce & Will DeBurca: Bob Ross
    From The Vault: Shane MacGowan & The Popes feat Sinead O’Connor: Haunted
    Campernero: Houseplants (Daithi and Paul Noonan)
    Shibashi feat Aoife Whenyoung: All The Lights

    Hour 2
    Gary Moore & Phil Lynot: Out In The Fields
    Sound of The Underground: Hagan & Aymos: Sisi Ntweni
    Maria Kelly feat Ciaran Lavery: Martha (Postcards version)
    iEuropean feat. Wolfgang Flür: Activity of Sound
    Public Service Broadcasting & Andreya Casablanca: Blue Heaven
    Zoid & Meljoann: Spacemission
    Electronic: Getting Away With It
    Zapho + Toluy Makay + Jenny Browne: Collide
    Bantum & Loah: April Brave
    Carrie Baxter feat Jack Tyson Charles: I Wasn’t Looking For You
    Joy Crookes feat Jafaris: Early
    Luciano Pavarotti & Passengers – Bono, The Edge, Brian Eno: Miss Sarajevo

    Listen On-Demand to The London Ear

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ 2XM. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1200.

    You can find all previous episodes on the pages of this site here.

  • The London Ear 398: Summer Sunshine Vibes

    The London Ear 398: Summer Sunshine Vibes

    Hot hot heat! Welcome to The London Ear 398: Summer Sunshine Vibes. This week’s episode of The London Ear was recorded during the hottest day in the UK’s history. At the time of recording, it was 39 degrees in my home studio. So, for this week’s episode of The London Ear, I had to go with some summer sunshine vibes.

    From The Vault: The High Llamas – The Sun Beats Down

    This week’s Irish track From The Vault comes from The High Llamas. Sean O’Hagan, and John Fell, both ex Microdisney members were involved in this London Irish band and had a bit of a Beach Boys vibe about them. That makes them perfect for this week’s Irish track From The Vault.

    Sound of The Underground: Michael Baker – Keep Hydrated

    Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London-based artist or band. Another appropriate track for today! It comes from Michael Baker, an Anglo-French musician living in London with the advice to Keep Hydrated!

    You can find out more about Michael on Facebook, Twitter, Insta and Bandcamp.

    The London Ear Playlist

    Here’s what was on the playlist for this week’s episode of The London Ear.
    Hour 1
    Tupac: California Love
    Youth Mass: Sun God
    Ezra Collective: Victory Dance
    Biig Piig: Sunny
    The Thrills: Big Sur
    Lorde: Solar Power
    Swimmers Jackson: Summer’s Here
    Haim: Summer Girl
    US3: Cantaloop
    Turn: Summer Song
    Two Door Cinema Club: Sun
    Dodgy: Staying Out For The Summer
    Taylor Swift: Cruel Summer
    Irish track From The Vault: The Sun Beats Down
    Harry Styles: Watermelon High
    The Crayon Set: Summer Song (Gui Boratto Rework)

    Hour 2
    Len: Steal My Sunshine
    The 5th Dimension: Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In
    Sound of The Underground: Michael Baxter: Keep Hydrated
    Beach Boys: Good Vibrations
    Sive: Sunkissed
    Weezer: Islands in The Sun
    Lana Del Ray: Summertime Sadness
    Rubén González: Mandinga
    Glass Animals: Heat Waves
    Bill Withers: Lovely Day
    Sundrive: A Day Like This
    Baz Luhrmann: Everyone’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
    The Naked and Famous: The Sun

    Listen On-Demand to The London Ear

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ 2XM. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1200.

    You can find all previous episodes on the pages of this site here.

  • The London Ear 397 with UPPBEAT

    The London Ear 397 with UPPBEAT

    The London Ear 397

    What a great show, even if I do say so myself! The London Ear episode 397 features chats with UPPBEAT, Irish Track from The Vault is from The Kanyu Tree and Siobhán is this week’s Sound of The Underground.

    The London Ear with UPPBEAT

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CfevpANIVMV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    UPPBEAT on Insta

    You may remember back in 2019, I spoke to a young gent from Mayo called UPPBEAT. I was really impressed with his track ‘Hold Me Close’ and how open and honest his music was. Honestly in your lyrics and music doesn’t mean it has to be a singer-songwriter vibe with a guitar. You can be honest and be true in any genre. UPPBEAT connected with his alternative pop / hyper punk vibes.

    Fast forward a couple of years and UPPBEAT has added to his catalogue of music. In 2021, he released the album or what he calls the soundtrack ‘HI VIZ’. He has built a community of creatives around ‘HI VIZ’, with the album acting as the soundtrack. It’s a really great way of building a community around an idea rather than a physical place.

    I really enjoyed the chat with UPPBEAT, chatting about how his single ‘Exhale’ has just passed one million streams on Spotify without too much of the Irish media taking notice to what he’s doing. We also chatted NFTs, punk culture and Wallis Bird gets a shout-out.

    Follow UPPBEAT on Insta, Twitter, Tiktok and sure you can also listen to his music on Spotify.

    From The Vault: The Kaynu Tree

    This week’s Irish track From The Vault was born out of song I introduced on last week’s show. The Kanyu Tree released an album called ‘People Street’ on Sony Music in 2011. The lead single was ‘Radio’, literally a radio bop. But I’d often wondered what happened to the Cluskey brothers, who formed the band.

    When I introduced Geoffrey Harold’s new track ‘Birdcall’, I noticed that Shane Cluskey, lead singer in The Kaynu Tree was mentioned as playing piano on the track. So I just had to take the opportunity to play ‘Radio’ this week and follow it with ‘Birdcall’.

    The Kanyu Tree’s Radio video

    Sound of The Underground: Siobhán

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CgFdlgMMurD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    Siobhan’s Irish football jersey. Swipe to see it on Insta.

    The Sound of The Underground is the part of the show where I introduce you to a London basic musician or act that I feel you should have in your life. This week’s Sound of The Underground is from Siobhán and, with a name like that you’d think that there’s Irish in there somewhere. A quick snoop around Siobhán’s insta and I found a photo of her in a retro Irish soccer jersey.

    ‘Black Hole’ is Siobhán’s debut and it’s a cracker. I can’t wait to hear what comes next from her. Very exciting things, I would say!

    You can keep up to date with Siobhán on Insta and TikTok and listen to her music on Spotify.

    The London Ear #397 Playlist 16 July 2022

    Here’s what was on the playlist for this week’s episode of The London Ear.

    Hour 1
    Gilla Band: Eight Fivers
    Sinead O’Brien: Like Culture
    Telefis: feat Sean O’Hagan: Space is Us
    Local Boy: Milkshake Pilltaste
    Kynsy: Point Of You
    Uppbeat: Psychotic
    Interview with Uppbeat
    Uppbeat: Exhale
    Interview with Uppbeat (Part 2)
    Devmo: Hey Big Sister
    From The Vault: The Kanyu Tree: Radio
    Geoffrey Harold: Birdcall
    Gabe Guersey: Push

    Hour 2
    Los Bitchos: Las Panteras
    M(h)aol: Bored of Men
    Sound of The Underground: Siobhan: Black Hole
    Local Boy: Milkshake Pilltaste
    Just Mustard: Seed
    Keeley: Where The Monster Lives
    Zaska: Gone in a Minute
    Phoebe Bridgers: Sidelines
    Matt Ó: Sonny
    Oliver Cole: Seaside Song
    Plastic Cowboys: Mundane Ecstasy
    Loyle Carner: Hate
    Laura Mulcahy: Cúmha i Ndiadh Aisling
    Bicep: Meli (II)
    Billy Idol: Hot in The City

    Listen On-Demand to The London Ear

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ 2XM. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1200.

    You can find all previous episodes on the pages of this

  • The London Ear #396 with Ragerra

    The London Ear #396 with Ragerra

    Hello! Welcome to episode 396 of The London Ear. My guest this week is Mark from the band Ragerra. The Sound of The Underground comes from Roma Radz and this week’s Irish track From The Vault comes from Future Kings of Spain.

    The London Ear with guest, Mark from Ragerra

    Ragerra enjoying a few scoops

    It was lovely to chat up with Mark from Ragerra. The band are coming to the UK for a string of dates with Blue Stragglers at the end of July.

    Catch them at:
    July 27th – Cavern, Raynes Park, London
    July 28th – Brass, Hastings
    July 29th – Anvil, Bournemouth
    July 30th – The Malt Shovel, Horsham

    I loved hearing Mark’s views on what Dublin is like right now. Living outside Ireland, there’s always a little nostalgia and homesickness when talking about Ireland. So, it was great to hear the views of someone living there.

    You can find out more about Ragerra on Insta and Twitter.

    Ragerra’s current single, ‘Hone’, is now streaming on Spotify.

    Check out the video for Ragerra’s single ‘Runway’, we spoke about the video during our chat.

    From The Vault: Future Kings of Spain

    This week’s Irish track From The Vault comes from the excellent Future Kings of Spain and their track ‘Guess Again’, which I believe was a CD single in 2007. As far as I’m aware FKOS are still officially on hiatus and there’s nothing to say we won’t hear from them in the future. It would be great to hear the band play together again. Their importance to the Irish music scene cannot be understated. You can check out all you need to find out about Future Kings of Spain on their website.

    Check out this fan footage of their show in The Academy in Dublin in May 2008.

    You can listen to Future Kings of Spain on Spotify.

    Listen to Future Kings of Spain on Spotify

    Sound of The Underground: Roma Radz

    Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London-based artist or band. This week’s track comes from Roma Radz, a London based hyperpop artist. ‘It Didn’t Happen’ is a great track and I’m looking forward to seeing with Roma does next.

    Roma uses a great @handle online cd_romz, find out more about her on Insta and Twitter.

    The London Ear Playlist

    Here’s what happened on this week’s episode of The London Ear, with guest Mark from Ragerra.
    Hour 1
    Kynsy: Point Of You
    Plastic Cowboys: Mundane Ecstasy
    Seba Safe: Spitfire
    Alvvays: Pharmacist
    Ragerra: Hone
    Interview with Mark from Ragerra
    Ragerra: Runaway
    From The Vault: Future Kings of Spain: Guess Again
    Robin J Hurt: Song For The 12th of July
    Loyle Carner: Hate

    Hour 2
    Afghan Whigs: The Getaway
    Emma Edel: I Reckon Something
    Roma Radz: It Didn’t Happen
    Patrick Stefan: Drinking Alone In The Moonlight
    Lava La Rue Feat Biig Piig: Hi-Fidelity
    Fontaines DC: Roman Holiday
    Mhaol: Bored of Men
    Oliver Cole: Seaside Song
    Zasko: Gone In A Minute
    DEVMO: Hey Big Sister
    Christain Cohle: Wasted
    Farah Elle: Desert
    Geoffrey Harold: Birdcall
    Emma Hynes: The Space Between

    Listen On-Demand to The London Ear

    Thanks for listening, The London Ear is broadcast online and on your radio apps, in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ 2XM. You can always listen to the show on-demand after it has been broadcast on RTÉ 2XM on the RTÉ player including all previous episodes. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1200.

    You can find all previous episodes on the pages of this site here.