Max HeyraudFrom leftfield bass and cinematic downtempo to tribal rhythms, euphoric house, and future-facing club sounds, this year’s On The Pulse finalists stitch together a rich tapestry of underground styles as they take over this weeks Local Selection Mix series.
On Friday, May 30th, Tengu plays host to the second edition of CUPRA’s On The Pulse DJ Competition, an initiative spotlighting the next wave of Irish electronic talent. Six emerging DJs, selected from over 450 nationwide submissions, will compete for a €2,500 artist development fund and a set at Beyond The Pale 2025.
The finalists selected from over 450 entries are Joshua Neville aka STITCH, Bláthnaid O’Toole, Ryan Smyth, Caoimhe O’Donoghue aka Kiva, Paul Jarvis aka Kipunji, and Emmanuel Alonge aka Osaema.
The evening is capped off by headline sets from Ngoni Egan and Síofra, two of Ireland’s most coveted current contemporaries in electronic music.
First up is STITCH, the alias of Joshua Neville, whose taste for underground sounds sees him blend leftfield bass, dubby wubs, and funk-laced elements into tightly constructed, high-energy sets. Both as a DJ and producer, STITCH thrives in genre-fluid territory.
A familiar figure in Ireland’s festival and club scene, Bláthnaid O’Toole is usually seen behind the camera, documenting nightlife as a filmmaker and camera operator. Hailing from Kerry and now based in Dublin, she’s stepping into the booth for the first time with this competition, bringing the same curiosity and care she’s shown through film to her DJ debut.
Producer and multi-instrumentalist Kipunji, real name Paul Jarvis, comes from a background few DJs can claim. After touring with Clannad and Moya Brennan, his solo project draws from ambient folk, downtempo, and electronic traditions. His breakout track “Fortress” racked up nearly two million streams, while recent releases have garnered radio and blog support across Ireland. His DJ sets mirror the cinematic warmth of his productions, organic, melodic, and deeply human.
Born in Rome with Nigerian heritage, Osaema (Emmanuel Alonge) describes his sound as a cross-cultural journey. Influenced by tribal African rhythms and the pulse of European club culture, his sets are emotionally charged and storytelling-driven.
Dublin-based Ryan Smyth brings the energy of a newcomer with the taste of someone twice his age. Inspired by deep house and the golden era of 90s rave, his influences range from Chris Stussy and Kettama to Kerri Chandler and MK. Armed with broad musical knowledge and a love for euphoric basslines, his sets draw from disco, trance, house, and beyond—vivid and floor-focused.
Originally from Dundalk and new to the Dublin scene, Kiva (Caoimhe O’Donoghue) channels her time immersed in Melbourne’s doof culture into rhythmically expansive sets. Her sound blends breaks, trance, electro, and progressive with an undercurrent of hypnotic techno, aiming to create meditative dancefloor experiences.
Free tickets are available here. Entry will be given on a first come first serve basis so get down early!
