Max HeyraudIt’s the first Friday of the month, which means just one thing – Bandcamp Friday. We’ve selected 7 new Irish releases to support as Bandcamp waives its revenue share to support artists and labels, and this month we have a plethora of incredible music from some of our favourite Irish artists.
Since March 2020, Bandcamp has waived its revenue share on the first Friday of each month to compensate the many artists whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the epidemic. Over the course of 17 days, fans contributed more than $73 million to artists and businesses, helping with rent, mortgages, food, medications, and other costs.
We chose seven of our favourite Irish releases for Bandcamp Friday today.
Kjinn – ’24 Freq Sessions [Self Release]
Rising producer Kjinn shows no signs of slowing down as he releases his second self-released EP of the year, and it just keeps getting better. Four swingy garage weapons infused with house and techno flair. The youngster flexes his range of this one showing shades of French house to rough-edged speed garage. All killer, no filler.
Shannen Blessing – 909 Heatwave [Self Release]
Bray’s Shannen Blessing has been on a winning streak lately, and her latest single, ‘909 Heatwave,’ is one of her best productions yet. Blessing keeps things moving on this one, offering us an ensemble of groove-laced 909 percussive strikes wrapped around a sun-soaked lead synth and melancholy string part. This is bouncy and fun techno with some ethereal flair.
Ar Ais Arís – Volume 1
Galway-based party Ar Ais Arís debuts as a label with a 5-track EP from some of Ireland’s renowned bass merchants such as Roo Honeychild, Sloucho, Plus One, and more. The collection is aimed to capture the vibe of their parties alongside showcasing modern club-ready bass music from Ireland. The offering is ripe with intricate glitchy sound design, slamming hard drum rhythms, and gripping soundscapes.
Dufi – Natural Selection EP [Nurture]
Staying on a Galway tip, Dufi arrives on his newly formed label, Nurture, with acid submerged EP of proggy dancefloor-ready cuts. The debut EP is a powerful yet minimalist introduction to the label. Dufi showcases classic chunky Detroit moments while also devoting attention to squelchy UK acid moments, drifting into 303 clouds and off-kilter percussive rolls.
Indent – Phantom Pressure (Small Crab Remix) [Meld Records]
Small Crab steps up to remix Indent for UK label Meld Records, and the Dublin-based producer once again hits the nail on the head with a menacing bass-heavy rendition of the original. Small Crab demonstrates her ability to compose elaborate drum compositions while simultaneously intertwining dark synth lines and mutated patterns, resulting in a jerking groove that commands attention.
Dylan Fogarty – 4AM [Frenzy Recordings]
Dylan Fogarty, Dublin’s reese bass king, returns with another funky yet functional UK-tinged techno bomb for Amsterdam’s Frenzy. ‘4AM’ is a homage to the late hours, notably in Amsterdam and the city’s mecca, Radion, and the track, like the club, is gritty, fierce, and fun. This new offering cuts through the fluff; it doesn’t do much, but it doesn’t need to; it’s brave to keep things simple, and Fogarty is the master at it.
RIA RUA – Asking For It (Arveen Remix)[Self Release]
Ria Rua, an Irish Alt-Pop artist and producer, releases her sophomore EP ‘Asking For It’ which features live and remix versions of the fan-favourite title track. For the remixes, Ria collaborated with acclaimed Irish DJ and remix artist Arveene. The refix has a bit of a noughties electro-house vibe; you can envision some really dodgy haircuts moving to this beat, in the best kind of way. Bouncing rhythms, pulsing synth stabs, and smoky vocals… this a big roller.