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The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // Show 149 with Video Blue

Show 149 of The London Ear, I was delighted to have been contacted by Jody from Bokito with their new track, ‘Better at Getting Worse’. There are two Irish guys in the London based band and their track was perfect to kick off the show.

Interview with Video Blue

It’s great to know that a guest from Show 1 of The London Ear is still making music. Then, Jim O’Donoghue Martin was a member of Bold Things. Now, he’s combines jangly guitars and electronica. He’s just released his debut album ‘Love Scenes’, which was recorded in his bedroom in Hackney. It really is worth your time.

You can find Video Blue on his website, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and you can buy the album on Bandcamp

The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // Show 149 April 1 2017

1. Bokito: Better at Getting Worse
2. Formation: Friend
3. Chat with Video Blue
4. Video Blue: Bombshell
5. Chat with Video Blue (Part 2)
4. Video Blue: Dusk Moves
5. Chat with Video Blue (Part 3)
6. Video Blue: Magpies at Dawn
7. Billionaire: World Loves a Trier
8. Liza Flume: Sheets (Elaine Mai remix)
8. Davy Flats: Snowflakes

Listen Again

Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

Check out The London Ear on Facebook and Twitter

Check out the video for ‘Dusk Moves’ from Video Blue

April 5, 2017
Tune of the Week // Liza Flume: Sheets (Elaine Mai Remix)

Elaine Mai
It’s a while since I have posted a ‘Tune of the Week’ but this track was more than enough to get me out of retirement.

Elaine Mai has taken Liza Flume’s track ‘Sheets’ and put her own stamp on it. Coupled with a video made by Bob Gallagher, who has previously made some vids for Girl Band, the story is told of a relationship on the rocks. The production is beautifully haunting and while filling your ears with a sonic wonderland of electronic beats and reassuring repetition.

Bob Gallagher is currently working with one Mr. James Vincent McMorrow, before he heads off for a stint under the mentorship of film director, Werner Herzog.

Liza Flume Photo: anitakshoots

Liza Flume was born in Australia and now is based in London. I got to know her work while she was living in Dublin and she was working with the Office Toast collective. Her time in Dublin saw her reputation, quite rightly, grow. This led to opening slots for the likes of John Grant in Vicar Street. If you follow Liza on Instragram, then you’ll see she has been in the studio recording. Can’t wait to hear the new stuff!

The instrumental track, ‘Enniscrone’, was Elaine Mai’s last release, coming to us in late 2016. Since 2011, Elaine has been working as a solo artist but many people will have got to know her as the voice on Le Galaxie’s ‘Love System’.

Her new EP, ‘The Colour of the Night’, will launch on May 5th with a shindig in The Workman’s in Dublin. Grab your tickets for ten euro from the venue website.

Photo of Liza by anitakshoots from here

March 26, 2017
The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // Show 148 with Davy Flats and Peter M. Smith

It’s been a strange week here in London. Wednesday saw people die in Westminster at the hands of a crazyed lunatic. When you hear about events like these on the news, it always seems to have a huge effect on a city. London took it on the chin and was determined not to let events like this dictate our lives.

Yesterday, I walked from St Thomas hospital and walked across Westminster Bridge to Westminster Tube Station. There were flowers laid at each lamp post. The tourists were back and traffic was flowing. There’s guy who plays AC DC on the bagpipes there normally. Yesterday, it was Amazing Grace.

Last weekend was St. Patrick’s Weekend. I had decided I’d go to the parade here in London last Sunday. I woke up to find I had completely slept through. I had a quick bite and headed to Trafalgar Square, only to find it was closed off. So I watched a few acts from beyond the barriers and decided to go home. It was freezing anyway.

Interview with Davy Flats

This week on the show, I chat with Davy Flats, a London based Galway drummer who has just released a new track called ‘Snowflakes’.

He recently caused a stir with ‘Snowflakes’, song about Brexit. Davy has received airplay from Steve Lamacq and been featured on Joe.ie and The Irish Post, which is like a local newspaper for Irish in the UK.

You can keep up with Davy on Facebook and YouTube

Interview with Peter M. Smith and Jimmy from Lax n Busto

I also had the opportunity to catch with Peter M. Smith. Originally from Dublin, Peter lives in Barcelona. He originally came to our attention on Pop Stars The Rivals and later as a member of Fix.

More recently, Peter worked with JD Kelleher on ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, released before the Marriage Equality referendum in 2015.

Peter is a busy man and has a number of musical projects on the go. He has teamed up with Catalan band, Lax’n’Busto. Jimmy from the band also joins Peter for our chat.

Peter is also involved with a project called Sonic Brother. We hear a track from that at the end of the show.

Peter has a few UK tour dates coming up supporting legendary Irish guitarist Bernie Tormé

Sat 1st April: South Shields, National Unionist Workers Club
Sun 2nd April: Glasgow, Nice n Sleazy
Mon 3rd April: Edinburgh, Bannermans

You can follow Peter M Smith on Facebook and Twitter and on his website.
You can find out more about Lax’n’Busto on Twitter and Facebook

TheLondon Ear on RTÉ 2XM // Playlist March 25 2017

1. Liza Flume: Sheets (Elaine Mai Remix)
2. Chat with Davy Flats
3. Davy Flats: Snowflakes
4. Davy Flats: Avocado
5. Chat with Peter M Smith and Jimmy from Lax’n’Busto
6. Peter M Smith and Lax n Busto: Crazy World
7. Chat with Peter M Smith and Jimmy from Lax’n’Busto (Part 2)
8. Peter M Smith: Rockstar

Listen Again

Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

Check out The London Ear on Facebook and Twitter

Watch the video for Davy Flat’s Snowflakes

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Watch the video for Peter M Smith and Lax n Busto: Crazy World

March 25, 2017
The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // Show 147 with Mark Geary

Ah, the day after St. Patrick’s Day! I had yesterday off, which was great. I’ve been working here in London for a few years now and it’s always a bit weird when you have to go to an office and do a day’s work. Always felt a little hard done by! Not this year though, I had a lovely, chilled relaxing day. Hope you had fun whatever you got up to.

Chat with Mark Geary

I love chatting to Mark, it’s so easy to have a conversation with him. It’s a couple of years since I spoke to him. For this week’s show, we chat about family life, his forthcoming album, ‘The Fool’ and we get a sneaky listen of the first single from the album. The single ‘Battle of Troy’ which will be released in May.

You can find out more about Mark on his website and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The London Ear on RTÉ 2XM // Show 147 March 18 2017 // Playlist

1. Davy Flats: Snowflakes
2. Meljoann: Personal Assistant
3. Cry Monster Cry: Things We Can’t Take back
4. Chat with Mark Geary (Part 1)
5. Mark Geary: Volunteer
6. Chat with Mark Geary (Part 2)
7. Mark Geary: Battle of Troy
8. Shookrah: Gerascophobia
9. Rusanango Family: Heathrow

Listen Again

Thanks for listening, The London Ear broadcast on DAB radio, Saorview and outside Ireland you can listen online.You can listen to the show again on the RTE player. The show is broadcast every Saturday at 1300.

Don’t forget to check out the RTE 2XM website. You can keep up with me here.

Check out The London Ear on Facebook and Twitter

Photo of Mark from here.

March 18, 2017