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  • Playlist: Sound of The Underground

    Playlist: Sound of The Underground

    Sound of The Underground on The London Ear

    A couple of months ago, my radio show, The London Ear, became a weekly two-hour show, which I’m really grateful for. This meant I could include more music including a new segment called ‘Sound Of The Underground.’ It’s the part of the show where I introduce listeners to London-based musicians or artists they may not be familiar with.

    I play a lot of Irish music on the radio but also feel it’s important to look outwards in the world too. I live in South East London. I don’t live in a bubble, none of us do. Even if you move to a new town, you’ll discover new music there. I think it’s important to support new artists no matter where they are from. As I have a platform, I feel it is right and proper to highlight London-based artists where I can.

    Why Call It This?

    Why did I call the segment Sound of The Underground? If I go on a journey anywhere in London on my own, I always have my earphones in. Most people do. So music has become the Sound of The Underground, plus there’s a great Girls Aloud song I can use as a theme.

    For one, I’ve really enjoyed searching for London artists. For me, it’s a great way to find out more about what’s happening at grassroots level here in London.

    Listen on Spotify

    I’ve put all the tracks I’ve featured, including this week’s from Oscar Browne, into this handy playlist for you on Spotify. Every week, the latest track featured will be added to the top of the playlist.

    If you know an artist that you think I should feature on ‘Sound of The Underground’, do get in touch. I’m always on the lookout! Send an email to nessy(at)nessymon.com

    Enjoy the tunes!

  • The London Ear on RTE 2XM #395

    The London Ear on RTE 2XM #395

    The London Ear #395

    Welcome to episode 395 of The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM. I have a bag full of great records to share with you on this week’s programme on RTE 2XM. Hope you enjoy the programme and thanks for all your social interactions when the show was broadcast on Saturday. It truly means a lot.

    From The Vault: JJ72

    This week’s Irish track from the Vault comes from JJ72, one of the most underrated Irish bands ever, if you ask me. They should have been huge! There’s a great decent overview of the life of the band on Wiki. I guess one of the sad things about the internet and the demise of bands is that no one really hangs on to their domain so all the official websites tend to lapse.

    All you really need to know is JJ72 were brilliant. You can listen to them on Spotify.

    JJ72’s video for ‘Snow’

    Sound of The Underground: Oscar Browne

    Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London-based artist or band. South London is full of talent! Oscar Browne proves it! He’s just released his debut single, ‘Never Quite Right’ and I’m delighted it’s this week’s Sound of The Underground.

    Oscar have previously played with the likes of Mellah, previous Sound of the Underground artist Wunderhorse, DeadPretties and is part of folk collective Broadside Hacks. Broadside Hacks was formed after the founder Campbell Baum, saw Junior Brother play in a pub in Dublin. It’s an ‘open to all session’ and they’ve got together to release a compilation that I would highly encourage you to check out. Katy J Pearson and Brigid Mae Power are also involved.

    To find out more about Oscar, head over to Insta, Facebook, Soundcloud. You can also find Oscar on Spotify.

    Oscar Browne’s video for ‘Never Quite Right’

    The London Ear #395 Playlist // July 2 2022

    Here’s what was on the playlist for this week’s episode 395 of The London Ear on July 2 2022.

    Hour 1
    Two Door Cinema Club: Wonderful Life
    Ragerra: Hone
    Biig Piig: Fun
    Biig Piig & Metronomy: 405
    Viscose: Focus
    Yard: Autoerotic
    Circuit 3: Future Radio
    Clara Tracey: Baby WItch
    Mick Jagger: Strange Game
    Just Mustard: Seed
    Jena Keating: Nobody Can Have Me
    From The Vault: JJ72 Snow
    Sal: Everything
    Maverick Sabre & Jorja Smith: Slow Down (James Cole Edit)

    Hour 2
    Maggie Rogers: Want Want
    Ham Sandwich: Le Soleil
    Sound of The Underground: Oscar Browne: Never Quite Right
    Fizzy Orange: Wonder
    Loah: Your Word
    Gammy Origami: Now That You Got Me Thinking
    Ailbhe Reddy: A Mess
    kae Tempest: Don’t You Ever
    Columbia Mills: Nevada
    Sinead O’Brien: Like Culture
    Driven Snow: Sunlight
    Matt Ó: Sonny
    Sampa The Great: Never Forget [Feat. Chef 187, Tio Nason, Mwanjé]
    Myles O’Reilly: Coocooning Heart
    Matt McManmon: Out Of THe Cold
    Keeley: Shadow on The Hills
    Plan B: ill Manors
    Swimmers Jackson: Summer’s Herald

    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. Catch you next week!

  • The London Ear #394 – Pride Edition

    The London Ear #394 – Pride Edition

    Welcome to The London Ear #394 – Pride Edition! Happy Pride y’all!! Firstly, again, I adore having a platform like 2XM to do things like this: An episode of The London Ear completely devoted to the LGBTQ community to celebrate Pride.

    I really enjoyed the chance to play some music I don’t normally play on the radio as well as chatting with Paul Maddern, Poet and Editor of ‘Queering The Green.’

    Chat with Paul Maddern, Poet and Editor of ‘Queering The Green’

    Screenshot of Poet, Paul Maddern, chatting to Nessy on Zoom For The London Ear #394 - Pride Edition
    Poet, Paul Maddern, chats to Nessy on Zoom For The London Ear

    ‘Queering The Green’ is a poetry anthology featuring 21 Irish Queer poets, edited by Paul Maddern. It was really lovely to speak to Paul. I’m not a huge poetry buff by any means but this anthology has some beautiful poems, gorgeous words, and meaning.

    Paul is a published poet in his own right, you can find his work on Templar Poetry. He also runs The River Mill in County Down which is a boutique writing retreat, which looks absolutely gorgeous

    ‘Queering The Green’ is published by The Lifeboat Press

    From The Vault: Boy George – No Clause 28

    George O’Dowd’s family hail from Co. Offaly and I think it’s important to remember his input into the LGBT rights movement. He’s the first gay person I ever remember on telly or radio. In 1998, Boy George released ‘No Clause 28’, which is basically a protest song against the ridiculous ‘Section 28’ law in the UK which basically made the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality illegal.

    I played the Pascal Gabriel Mix of Boy George’s No Clause 28.

    Sound Of The Underground: Joviale

    Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London based musician or based with whom you may be unfamiliar. This week’s artist is Joviale, a truly unique artist who I’m overjoyed that I’ve found.

    Follow Joviale on Insta, Bandcamp and Spotify.

    The London Ear 394 – Pride Edition Playlist: June 24 22

    Here’s what was on this week’s Pride Playlist of The London Ear.

    Hour 1:
    George Michael: Outside
    Wallis Bird: F.K.K. No Pants Dance
    Elkae: Girls Like You Like Me
    Apollo Munroe: Sweet Tooth
    Sack: Angel
    Paul Maddern chats about Queering The Green
    Ailbhe Reddy: Inhaling
    From The Vault: Boy George: No Clause 28
    Viscose: Focus
    Oliver Sim: Romance With A Memory (Midlake Remix)

    Hour 2
    Scissor Sisters: Let’s Have a Kiki
    Pillow Queens: My Body Moves
    Sound Of The Underground: Joviale: UW4GM
    Pastiche: Disco Junkie
    Paper Tigers: Graceless
    Phoeno: Kelly Brook
    Big Daisy: Without Dreams
    Keeley: Shadow On The Hills
    Soak: Last July
    Josh McClorey: Puffin’ Clovers
    Matt Taylor: April 13th
    Bobbi Arlo: Fever Thoughts
    The Late David Turpin: The Hotel
    Years & Years: It’s A Sin
    Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield: What Have I Done To Deserve This

    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. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME OF MIDDAY!

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

  • The London Ear 393: Tadhg Daly + Etaoin and Lee Rogers

    The London Ear 393: Tadhg Daly + Etaoin and Lee Rogers

    The London Ear #393

    I’ve got three fantastic guests on The London Ear for you today. Hope you enjoy!

    Interview: Tadhg Daly + Etaoin

    Tadhg Daly and Etaoin speak to Nessy on Zoom
    Where’s Etaoin?? Tadhg Daly and Etaoin speak to Nessy on Zoom

    What a talented pair! It was great to catch up finally with Tadhg Daly and Etaoin to chat about their new collaboration ‘Not Over You’. It really shows off both their talents remarkably. They are both really great singer songwriters and both seem to have elevated themselves over the past year or so.

    I really enjoyed chatting about what their Irish identity means to both of them and as I said during our chat, there are as many ways to be Irish as there are Irish people.

    You can find out more about Tadhg Daly on Insta and you can find Etaoin there too

    Interview: Lee Rogers

    Lee Rogers chats to Nessy on Zoom
    Lee Rogers chats to Nessy on Zoom

    Lee Rogers is a seriously talented guy. He’s just back from an American tour with Foy Vance and Gareth Dunlop and in the middle of it all, released his new album ‘Gameblood’.

    I really enjoyed the chat with Lee and felt that we got to know him and his work better through our chat.

    The gig in St Pancras Old Church that was due to take place this week was postponed due to rail strikes, it has been rescheduled for October 22nd. All tickets will be honoured.

    Find out more about Lee Rogers on his website: LeeRogers.co.uk

    From The Vault: Juniper: Weatherman

    This week’s Irish track From The Vault comes from Juniper, featuring Damien Rice and members of BellX1 they were bloody awesome! I chose to play ‘Weatherman’.

    Sound of The Underground: Piper Grace

    Sound of The Underground is the section of the programme where I introduce you to a London-based artist or band. This week’s artist is Piper Grace. Piper is a musician and model based in London. You can Piper on Insta and Spotify.

    Pretty Promo Pics of Today’s Guests

    Lee Rogers, Tadhg Daly & Etaoin: Today’s guests on The London Ear

    The London Ear Playlist: June 18 2022

    Here’s what was on today’s playlist on The London Ear.

    Hour 1:
    Ham Sandwich: Le Soleil
    Inhaler: These Are The Days
    A Boy In Cords: Stupid Like That
    Etaoin: Cold Blood
    Chat with Tadhg Daly & Etaoin
    Tadhg Daly: Still Not Made It
    Chat with Tadhg Daly & Etaoin Part 2
    Tadhg Daly & Etaoin: Not Over You
    Yard: Autoerotic
    From The Vault: Juniper Weatherman
    Riona Sally Hartman: Lui Liom
    Haai & Jon Hopkins: Baby We’re Ascending
    Hour 2
    Suede: She Still Leads Me On
    Ailbhe Reddy: A Mess
    Sound of The Underground: Piper Grace: In My Head
    Roe: Scared of Being Lonely
    Chat with Lee Rogers Part 1
    Lee Rogers: Uneasy Love
    David Hope: Whiskey Mornings
    Maria Kelly feat Sive: Like I Used To (Postcards Version)
    Wekin: F Demented
    The Housemartins: The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death

    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. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIME OF MIDDAY!

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