Category: Entries 2011 A-E

Champagne Animal – Wild Mast

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Q1. Where are you from?

Champagne Animal get around, we have a mancunian on keys, a californian/galway girl on backing vocals and the rest of us are different corners of Ireland. Resulting in a collective that is interesting to say the least. Most of us met through The Dublin Gospel Choir.

Q2. Musical influences?

The influences in the band are so varied but it works in our favor because no 2 people have the same opinion about how our songs should sound and everybody brings something different to the table. Our keys and guitar player are classically trained and are influenced hugely by this, I (lead singer) love the divas, Whitney, Mariah, Christina, Regina Spektor etc…..And then our bass player is old school with Guns n Roses, Metallica and Elvis on his favorite playlists.

Q3. What’s your song writing process?

Our writing process varies, myself and dave the guitar player would usually construct melodies and lyrics together and then bring it to the band and jam it out but everybody in the band has musical ideas and so we try and meet up and see what we can create collectively, sometimes it’s an absolute disaster but more often then not we create something we love.

Q4. Most bizarre gig experience?

We found supporting Fight Like Apes a little surreal as we had only been together a few months and suddenly we were supporting the band on New Year’s Eve in The Village. As far as dodgy gigs go, we have played on a stage where there were no lights, which posed many problems as you can imagine. We also played a stage that had a pillar right in front of my microphone, strangely enough it was one of my favourite gigs trying to manoeuvre myself around that pole made for a very interesting night!

Q5. If you could share the stage with anyone, who would it be?

Such a hard question to answer, but I suppose any of our influences mentioned above would be amazing. Right now though we are really very happy to be sharing the stage with each other. We have been together just over a year and have had some brilliant gigs and experiences and long may they continue!

 

In their own words

Champagne Animal formed a year ago after members met through The Dublin Gospel Choir.

The unique, yet accessible, sound of Champagne Animal stems from their eclectic tastes and experiences in music, which range from rock to gospel, pop to classical. This broad spectrum of styles results in a sound which is fresh, punchy and emotionally charged.

While they have been together for just around a year, they have managed to pack in a lot and have secured themselves some much sought after slots, such as appearances at The Ruby Sessions, The Sunday Roast, Balcony TV, and The Workman’s Club as well as the launch of the Irish Glastonbury 2011 Competition supporting ‘Shouting At Planes’. They were especially grateful to end 2010 on a high when they were asked to support Fight Like Apes in the Village at The Phantom New Year’s Eve Ball.

They have just finished recording their first EP, which will be launched mid- 2011. Until then, they continue to write and plan their world domination.

Q1. Where are you from?

Champagne Animal get around, we have a mancunian on keys, a californian/galway girl on backing vocals and the rest of us are different corners of Ireland. Resulting in a collective that is interesting to say the least. Most of us met through The Dublin Gospel Choir.

Q2. Musical influences?

The influences in the band are so varied but it works in our favor because no 2 people have the same opinion about how our songs should sound and everybody brings something different to the table. Our keys and guitar player are classically trained and are influenced hugely by this, I (lead singer) love the divas, Whitney, Mariah, Christina, Regina Spektor etc…..And then our bass player is old school with Guns n Roses, Metallica and Elvis on his favorite playlists.

Q3. What’s your song writing process?

Our writing process varies, myself and dave the guitar player would usually construct melodies and lyrics together and then bring it to the band and jam it out but everybody in the band has musical ideas and so we try and meet up and see what we can create collectively, sometimes it’s an absolute disaster but more often then not we create something we love.

Q4. Most bizarre gig experience?

We found supporting Fight Like Apes a little surreal as we had only been together a few months and suddenly we were supporting the band on New Year’s Eve in The Village. As far as dodgy gigs go, we have played on a stage where there were no lights, which posed many problems as you can imagine. We also played a stage that had a pillar right in front of my microphone, strangely enough it was one of my favourite gigs trying to manoeuvre myself around that pole made for a very interesting night!

Q5. If you could share the stage with anyone, who would it be?

Such a hard question to answer, but I suppose any of our influences mentioned above would be amazing. Right now though we are really very happy to be sharing the stage with each other. We have been together just over a year and have had some brilliant gigs and experiences and long may they continue!

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Chris Keys – City Lights

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Q1. Where are you from?

Portstewart, currently living in Newtownards

Q2. Musical influences?

Bob Marley, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, U2, Sheryl Crow, John Martyn, Van Morrison & many more…

Q3. What’s your song writing process?

Get a tune going, then a vocal melody over the tune and finally write the lyrics.

Q4. Most bizarre gig experience?

Tripped on a lead and pulled a drum cymbal down on top of me, this hit me right on the nose while on road show through a performing arts course.

Q5. If you could share the stage with anyone, who would it be and why?
Any of these three, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, U2 just because I love their stuff and there live performances are amazing too!

 

In their own words

Northern Irish Singer/songwriter Chris Keys had a passion for music from a young age. He grew up in Portstewart, a small seaside town where the beach, night sky and surfing brought out his creativity and had a big influence on his songwriting. As a teenager Chris played in many bands gigging around the north coast area and began writing original material. In 2005 he won North Down ‘Pubstar’ wowing the Judges with his increasing catalogue of songs. Chris has been performing for years as a solo artist at a wide range of events. In 2010 he has made appearances on Balcony Tv, Blast Fm, feile Fm, Bandwagon Tv, Drive Fm, Iur-fm and performed at many great venues in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland. Also in August 2010 Chris went to No.1 on the N.I Chart with ‘City lights’, followed by a second No.1 in December with ‘There for you’. He is continously writing new material and looking for opportunities to showcase his music to a wider audience. Check out his website for up and coming shows.

 

Conan – The Only One For Me

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Q1. Where are you from?

Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.

Q2. Musical influences?

Michael Jackson, Prince, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, Smokey Robinson, John Legend & Stevie Wonder.

 

Q3. What’s your song writing process?

Both my dad Eamonn and I come up with themes for a song and he then writes the lyrics and I add the melodies and also advise on necessary changes to the lyrics and as such we’re co-authors for the music created.

 

Q4. Most bizarre gig experience?

Singing soul “Mustang Sally” with a trad band in Wexford. They loved it and somehow it worked.

 

Q5. If you could share the stage with anyone, who would it be and why?

Stevie Wonder, because he is simply my favourite singer of all time.

 

In their own words

Born on the 1st of August 1986 Dublin, Conan has been singing since about the age of six and has twice appeared in the live TV Finals of RTE’s You’re A Star in 2007 & 2008. He also made a brief appearance on Joe Duffy’s Funny Friday RTE Radio 1 in Oct 2010. Recently Conan’s debut single “The Only One for Me” has played on Dublin City FM with Sean Brophy and RTE Radio 1 with Alf McCarthy. Presently he gigs fulltime in Captain America’s Tallaght Dublin 24 Ireland and many other venues around Dublin. His main music influences were Michael Jackson, Prince, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, Smokey Robinson, John Legend & Stevie Wonder. His genre being soul, blues, jazz, but mainly R & B.

The Only One For Me is co-written with his father Eamonn and his aim is for an EP release in September 2011 and an album at year’s end or early 2012. Presently they have about 3 songs complete & ready to record with 4 others nearing completion as well as about dozen others in the works. So there it is they both come up with themes for a song and Eamonn then writes the lyrics and Conan adds the melodies and also advises on necessary changes to the lyrics and as such they’re co-authors for the music created. The main aim is of course to get a major break in the music business through that work. Both Eamonn and Conan are current members of IMRO.

 

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Cryss Simons – Healing

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Q1. Where are you from?

Originally from Philly, the City of Brotherly Love, but currently residing in Atlanta, GA.

 

Q2. Musical influences?

My musical influences range from the broad scope of gospel, jazz, soul, R&B, rock and funk.  When you listen to me, you will hear all of those aspects.  But most of all you will hear the whaling, yet sultry sounds of my Granny who taught me how to leave everything you got on the stage.

 

Q3. What’s your song writing process?

I really don’t have a process.  When I get an idea for a song, I instantly record it to my phone – regardless of where I am.  An idea can hit me based upon an experience I am having or when my friends and I talk and hang out and from there I form the song.

 

Q4. Most bizarre gig experience?

I haven’t any bizarre of crazy gig experiences, but I look forward to the day I will so I can share them with everybody! J

 

Q5. If you could share the stage with anyone, who would it be and why?

OMG!  This question is soooo NOT fair!  I want to share the stage with sooo many people.  But if I had my way right now today, it would be with Gladys Knight.  She is sooo amazingly talented and I hope someday to be just as acclaimed as her.

 

In their own words

Hailing from the City of Brotherly Love, her music is raw, honest and soulful with a smidge of grit. Just as straight ahead is her attitude to this hustle we call music; a sultry vocalist in this Soul Jazz movement that blends her roots of Gospel, Jazz, R&B and Funk. Cryss Simmons lays it all out for us to hear and see, “I’m not really feeling the commercial music, I’m grown and I want to give you real grown folks music – just like my momma and Granny gave it to me.”

Cryss is always looking for a freedom of self expression – one that very few producers are scared to jump into; something that has yet to be done.  “There was a moment when I had to buy my own equipment and start to record my own music so people could hear where I was coming from and where I was going.  I went into making my music with the attitude that my music is MY music and it would be great with no frills attached, that it would still have the fullness of old school soul but with more of a modern day street edge.”

Drawing on the influences of the soul family like Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway and Gladys Knight, three of the artists who inspired her during her most persuading years – their tell-it-like-it-is musical statements inspired me to do what I do and do it well. Like most artists, Cryss came up in the church and a musical family where her Grandmother was the matriarch of the family and knew how to take you on a musical journey.

Currently, Cryss is recording her debut album, “House of Cryss”, where you will hear about the triumphs, love, dreams hurts and pains that everyday people go through.  Her music is one that a REAL music lover will not want to miss as you will enjoy endearing bass lines, gritty melodies and compelling stories of her experience.  Hold on to your seats, as this is one artist you will love to sit back and have an eargasm with.

 

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Des Lee – New york

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Q1. Where are you from?

I am from Coolock but have been living in Portmarnock for the last year.

Q2. Musical influences?

Most recently a Norwegian duo called Kings of Convenience have had a huge influence on me but also KOL, Beatles, Paul Weller, Classical, Burt Bacharach, Smiths, Doves…..off the top of my head.

Q3. What’s your song writing process?

Melody and chords first whilst mumbling incoherent lyrics which sometimes become real lyrics and I then try and feel what the song is about and put a story or message to it.

Q4. Most bizarre gig experience?

Every Tuesday at the Music Medium night in Sweeney’s! Oh and two lesbians getting off with each other right in front of me when I was playing in Howth a few weeks backJ which was so random and out of place for the pub I was playing in.

Q5. If you could share the stage with anyone, who would it be and why?

Ok the cheesy answer is; All the fantastic acts lined up for The Dublin City Soul Festival! J The real answer is Paul Weller if I can only choose one. Or Mary Harney so I could kick her off it.

 

In their own words

I’m Des Lee a singer/songwriter originally from Coolock living in Portmarnock. I thought myself to play guitar as a teenager by recording live performances on TV and mirroring the artist’s finger positions for each chord.

I started playing open mics and small gigs on and off a few years ago but never kept the ball rolling. Until now, having lost my father, aunt and uncle in the last year I have realised life is too short to not be doing the thing I enjoy most.

So! Since October 2010 I have been playing at least once a week at open mics and music sessions around Dublin. I’m a regular in Findlaters/Wrights bar in Howth that has an open mic every Wednesday which I hobble to after football every week. I also play regularly play in Sweeney’s Dame Street, The Ivy house and The Waterside in Howth. I can sing, I can play, I can write and I would be really very happy if I was given the opportunity of performing at the Dublin City Soul Festival.

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