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ELLYD Interview Part1

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Photo: Courtesy of ELLYD

Photo: Courtesy of ELLYD

ELLYD has played on some of Ireland’s best stages including Electric Picnic, The Secret Village Festival, Battle of the Lake Festival, The Button Factory, Whelans, and The Workmans Club. In January, the young folk-singer released her latest EP, Lighthouse, accompanied by an Irish tour which she is now in the midst of.  In between gigs, ELLYD found some time to answer my questions about her career and where she sees her music taking her next.

You’re in the middle of an Irish tour right now. How is that? Where are you visiting?

Yeah it’s been great so far. I’ve been playing various venues with very different vibes so it’s been so much fun. I started off this tour with a private show at Davey Davey Salon in Dublin. Then I played at The Ruby Sessions, followed by my official launch for my EP ‘Lighthouse‘ at The Underground. I was in The Gallery Wine Bar in Westport at the start of the month and my next gig on this particular tour will be in The Spirit Store on March 15th. The wonderful Elga Fox will be joining me again so I’m very excited for that one.

How has this tour been different from your previous tour in Germany?

Germany was amazing and I really hope to go back soon. The venues I played over there were very intimate and the audiences were insanely attentive. The venues I’m playing in Ireland are mostly bigger and therefore not as intimate so it’s different in that sense. Also, over there I never knew what to expect, from the venue, sound, and the crowd. Whereas over here, I’ve a bit more of an idea. The beer is better in Germany though :)!

I’ve gotta ask, is that you in the jabawokee mask in the Lighthouse music video?

It is!

Could you tell us more about the ideas influencing the video and music for “Lighthouse?”

This song started out about a young man who didn’t feel he could go on in this world anymore. It’s obviously a sad, emotional song and I wanted to reflect that in the music. Originally the video was being made by an outside company but that fell through because of weather issues so I had to quickly come up with a different concept.

Because I was making this video myself, I needed it to be simple but effective. My friend Emma helped me out a lot and did some of the camera work for me. I wanted something that would stand out in a meaningful way so that’s where the mask came in. I suppose the idea behind the mask was that this song is not about just one person, it’s about many. The person behind the mask could be anyone.

There were times in the past when I was afraid to share songs because it made me feel very vulnerable and now that vulnerability is an ally in my creative world.

 

What kind of music/bands are you listening to right now?

Right now this minute, I’m listening to Dermot Kennedy. The past few days I’ve been listening a lot to VINCI’s new tune ‘We Are Ghosts‘ and James Brown has made his way back into my ears this past week too.

What’s the best show you’ve ever played? Why?

It’s hard to top Electric Picnic – just because it’s Electric Picnic.

Strangest show?

I remember I did a small Irish tour with my friend and singer/songwriter Thomas John. This one night we had a gig in Fanad – a beautiful part of Donegal. There was a small shop a few miles away that we walked to the next morning and TJ brought his guitar with us for some reason. We were just walking down this narrow country road with a guitar and singing songs.

Keep writing, keep learning and keep it fresh.

Anyway when we got to the shop (that was also a post office, chemist, butchers – you name it) the owner became a bit curious and asked us to play a few tunes. More customers came in and we kept playing. We were there for hours! It was such a mad little morning and nobody left until we did. Was definitely the strangest impromptu show I’ve ever been involved in!

You’ve come back to youbloom festivals. What benefit do you think networks like youbloom and youbloomConnect provide up and coming artists?

It’s of huge benefit. I’ve always said this music business is an endless learning environment and what better way to learn than from other people who are actually involved in this business, in whatever form. There’s such a great variety of music and people from various parts of the world that attend the youbloom Festivals.

What type of support do you think is most beneficial to independent artists trying to become successful/well-known.

Radio play, radio play, radio play.

Photography by @callmeferdia

Photography by @callmeferdia

With her EP “Lighthouse” now out and a tour underway, 2018 is bound to be a hectic and promising year for EllyD. Next week we will be releasing the rest of our interview with the artist and you can find plenty more of EllyD on YouTube and Spotify and at @ELLYDMUSIC on twitter. Youbloom is striving to help talented, independent artists gain the attention they deserve. If you like what we’re doing here, check out our newest development, youbloomConnect, where we help artists to find their fan base. 

After a Brief Hiatus, Griffin Anthony to Release New Album, Refuge

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Griffin Anthony, after taking a brief break from touring, is releasing his first full-length album since 2015’s, “Making of A Man”.

The album is set to be released this summer on Big Eye Records. During Anthony’s hiatus he has composed film scores for the Woodstock Film Festival selected documentary, Catskill Park and HBO’s I Wanna See You and Call to Action, amongst others.

 

“Scoring was invaluable to my evolution as a songwriter”

“Scoring was invaluable to my evolution as a songwriter”,says Anthony, “but I grew to miss writing the stories that I wanted to tell.”

Since scoring music for various films, Anthony became anxious to get in the studio and return to his first love, writing songs connecting to people emotionally. His new album, Refuge, was recorded at the Bomb Shelter in East Nashville with producer Jon Estes (Kesha, John Paul White, Steelism), in collaboration with Andirja Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Margo Price, Langehorn Slim).

Truly returning to his musical roots, Anthony recorded Refuge live to two–inch tape. He completed the recording of the album over 6 days in October 2017. Given the opportunity to listen to Anthony’s new album prior to his release and sitting down with him at his home in Ridgefield, CT, Anthony went into depth over his thoughts on his new music and how it is different from his previous works.

“I just aimed to write songs you can trust,” Anthony said. “I took a bigger swing on this record. The tunes have some heavier themes.” Never preachy or fussy, Anthony’s unwavering vocals and pointed lyrics deliver on the nine-song LP. Starkly more nuanced than his previous work, Refuge, offers character-driven narratives ripe with perspective and humility that sneak up and grab you by the throat. This album is a return home for Anthony and provides a hopeful feel through risk.

“From time to time, we all have to take great risks in order to find safety. These songs explore the risks, failures, and steps towards finding our safe-haven.”

Refuge is set to be released later this summer.

 

https://open.spotify.com/user/griffinanthonyofficial/playlist/1moQbmpMfjpPHP2FiQruaS?si=fpuhIAjpRWakuplEJ-wHMQ

Author’s bio: Gabe Crawford has been a music and vinyl enthusiasts for over 20 years. Although originally from Oklahoma, he currently resides in New York with his 1200 vinyl albums.

Jessica Meuse Talks about Life after American Idol: Artist Spotlight

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Photo Courtesy of the artist

Photo Credit: Jessica Meuse

It can be difficult to build up clout as an independent artist, but it sure does help when you’ve got your own hashtag and a squad of fans dropping it on the daily. Ever since Jessica Meuse made it to the Top4 Spot on American Idol’s 13th season, her faithful fan base, #MuseMafia, have been tirelessly repping for the country-singer. If you’re like me, that’s probably where you first heard this soulful singer with that infectious southern twang.

I’ll either be a broke musician or a successful one.

I just want to make my music.

Since her time on Idol, Miss Meuse has signed with Warrior Records, released a music video for “Love Her Better,” and taken up a tour across the country. Despite her hectic performance schedule, the Idol finalist spared some time to talk with youbloom about her roots as a country singer and what new stuff she has been cooking up.

Jessica Meuse on Touring

Talking Points: Living on the road, Playing the Maltese Islands, and getting pampered on American Idol.

On her Roots

Talking Points: Stage-side meltdowns…they happen, and Bringing your real self into your music despite the haters.

The Writing Process

Talking Points: Finding inspiration for music in daily life

Jessica Meuse – “Love Her Better” Official Music Video Recorded on The Maltese.

Best Show Ever Played & Youbloom

Talking Points: Playing the Viper Room in LA, Shout out to the Muse Mafia, youbloom, and the Unfortunate lack of Irish pubs in Texas.

Going Forward and Giving Advice

Talking Points: 2018 Album release, Recording at Capitol Records, and what a Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks’ baby would sound like (Spoiler, it’s Jess).

 

You can keep track of what Jessica Meuse is up to by following her on twitter @JessMeuse, instagram, or her official website. There’s a possibility she will be back playing with youbloomDublin or youbloomLA Music Festival & Summit and same for you. For any bands or artists interested in expanding their musical family, meeting and learning from industry leaders, and playing some of the hottest venues in Dublin, make sure to Apply to Play for youbloomDublin. Hurry, the application deadline is February 19th, 2018! And keep an eye out for Jessica’s debut album that is to be released in 2018 or join the #MuseMafia. You know you want to.

 

Robert Loustaunau is a content writer for youbloom and is a member of the social media team there. He is an avid music maker and listener. He enjoys the simple things in life: coffee, a good book, and quality time with his lovely girlfriend.

Why Live Music Changes Lives

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Picture this..

It’s a beautiful, sunny day in your local city – except you are unaware of this as you stand, shoulder to shoulder with strangers from all degrees of life. Packed like farm animals inside a dark auditorium awaiting the blinding of strobe lights and deafening of speakers with enough SPL per watt to uproot a forest. And yet, you leave this loud, crammed, seemingly undesirable experience as an inspired, satisfied and overall happier individual; and the question is: why? Why humans not only love, but crave the live music atmosphere, dates back to practically the dawn of mankind.

Even in prehistoric times, the art of live music was believed to play part in the lives of cavemen and women.  Artifacts found revealing cave drawings of people dancing—and let’s be honest, who dances without music? Jump forward a few hundred-millennia to Ancient Greece where live performances of theater and music became not only a source of entrainment but also a means of projecting societal norms.

1700s: Opera emerges as a new type of live music performance; initiating a need for large showcase venues such as La Scala in Milan.

1850: Jenny Linda makes her debut in America, exceeding the crowd size brought out by any preceding artist.

1950s: Rock and Roll broke down the race barrier by showcasing black and white artists side-by-side on a shared stage.

Maybe it’s just in our nature or maybe there truly is something different, something unexplainable about live music. On that note (pun intended), the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center conducted a study which analyzed the compared human reaction to live and recorded music. According to the data retrieved through this study, live music resulted in greater relief of stress among patients than recorded tracks. The setting, the physical vigor and connection between fan and artist has the power to pull audience-members out of their busy lives for a moment, where nothing else matters but the art in front of them.

And that’s not even the best part. Concerts not only have illustrated a unique ability to reach people in a way no other means of art can, they are also -dare I say- saving the music industry. Mind you, this is a debated topic amongst music connoisseurs. Many argue, that as the profit from purchased music decreases with the incline in streaming, the touring and live music industry will pick-up the income slack.

Despite the outlandishness of this claim, it is valid considering the immense growth in live music profit over the past decade. Concerts and live tours, which were once mere means of promoting a new album, have evolved into a multibillion dollar industry. Millennials have undeniably taken part in the live music fad; however according to Ticketmaster’s 2014 Live Attendee Study, their presence was solely thirty-five percent of overall attendees. Therefore insinuating that older generations too have increased in concert attendance, and today take up sixty-five percent of the documented audience.

So picture this…

It’s sixty degrees in Dublin, You’re in an outside venue in close quarters with the stranger on your left. You take a moment to appreciate that one festival brought all of these people together. The lights of the stage dim, and outsteps the artist you came to see. And thus, you leave this loud, crammed, seemingly undesirable experience as an inspired, satisfied and overall happier individual; and the answer is: music.

Josey is a content writer for youbloom as well as a member of the marketing team. She is music obsessed and a diehard Tom Petty fan. Josey currently lives outside of Los Angeles where she enjoys excessively sunny days, train adventures and organic chai (yes, Josey is high-maintenance about her chai).

Dreaming of Jupiter : Up Close Interview

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Photo Courtesy: Dreaming of Jupiter

Interview with Dreaming of Jupiter

Dreaming of Jupiter may seem very relaxed, but they have had an incredible year with a hectic touring schedule. Dreaming of Jupiter played several times in Dublin and London, and are branching out as far as Madrid. They have also released their debut single “Let me down” earlier this week from their upcoming EP. If that wasn’t enough, they have much more on the way for their fans to be looking forward to.  Dreaming of Jupiter have share some of their secrets and experiences of their success, and also reveal what they have in store for 2018.

How did you come up with the name of the band?

Zoe: It came pretty naturally, like Dave and I would be pretty nerdy about space. We are interested in space, space exploration, space movies and all that stuff. We initially conceived the name of the project even before we just before we met Sam, or maybe just after, even before the band was properly formed.

“It’s a really nice thing to go into a trance and watch a really cool space movie”

The reason for the name of the band, when we were gigging alot at that time. With different bands, getting home really late sometime, we used to throw on space documentaries to kinda chill out. When we get home, trying to kinda wind down from a really busy night. It’s a really nice thing to go into a trance and watch a really cool space movie. We particularly felt  intrigued by Jupiter for whatever reason. I think that movie Europa report, it’s a very interesting movie, where a group of astronauts tried to go to one of Jupiter’s moons called Europa. On a quest to try to find life, because they believe there’s water on this moon, and if there’s water, there could be life. The whole human race is kinda dreaming of Jupiter, somewhere we can go, we don’t have to stay here. That’s kinda where the conversation all started, seems kinda abstract conversation to have, we used to talk about that alot.

In Barcelona, how was the local reaction to hearing some Spanish in your songs, were they surprised? do you think it make it easier for them to sing along?

Dave: The Spanish lyrics comes from Zoe, who is a fluent speaker after living there for quite a few years. From the initial conception of the project, we always knew we want to target a Spanish market as well, obviously that would be a very cool thing to include south America and parts of Europe as well. I think the Spanish lyrics is nice, because it often comes across as a better surprise to people for being more than they had expected, also possibility making it easier to stick inside the head.  Even though we haven’t officially released anything with Spanish on Spotify. People who have come to the gigs, they actually do remember the words. You see them in the crowd, singing along.

Having played in, Ireland, UK and Spain recently, where would you like to play for 2018?

Dave: We are looking at to pushing out, more to UK and to Germany. We are hoping to get back to Spain as well, and Mexico at some point.

“there’s a showcase going to be done this year of Irish music over there”

Zoe: In Spain, we are definitely interested in Barcelona, especially with the Primavera music festival that happens there every year. That would definitely be a target we would really like to achieve, that opportunity to represent the emerging. At this festival, there’s a showcase going to be done this year of Irish music. We would really love to be part of that.

Based on our experience we have had so far, London is definitely somewhere we feel quite happy and quite at home there. Having played some pretty big gigs and we also did a couple of solo gigs there as well, and all of them have been amazing. We definitely want to keep that going and we are growing a fan base there, and we are very grateful for that.  Outside London, Manchester is definitely somewhere we are interested in, because the director for our last 2 videos is based there. We are really excited about the new video coming soon, for our new single “Let me down”. I think that’s going to be really visually, just beautiful, beautiful film that he has put together. We are looking forward to putting that out, and of course we would definitely love to go back there, and play there too.

With some of your lyrics in Spanish, how hard is it to write it? Do you do it yourself, or done collectively? Is there alot of switching back and forth between languages?

Zoe: It’s very much a collaborative effort, we all sit down together, certainly the music idea comes together as a group. The lyrics generally, most of them I would write them myself, I’m one of those people that always jotting ideas, keep a notebook on me. Eventually I will have a notebook the size of a bedside locker if I wake up in the middle of the night with ideas, wherever I am, I’m always scribbling ideas

The lyrics would be mostly mine, but that’s not to say they just tell stories that is just about my life, that’s not the case, we talk a lot, and we are very close as a band, and we are very close friends as well, we share our thoughts and experiences.  Usually I might be the one writing the lyrics down but it wouldn’t be necessary that I’m just reflecting my own experience.

“I would never force one language over another”

For any part of a song to be written in Spanish or even a whole song, I would never force one language over another. The nature of being bi-lingual you don’t necessary choose the language you think about, it depends on what you are thinking about, or who are speaking to. I wouldn’t sit down and write this in Spanish to hit the Spanish market really hard. Honestly, I would write it in a more organically, that’s not to say I don’t considered the audience I’m writing. I have no shame of saying I absolutely do, but I wouldn’t be so contrived that I’m directed to writing it in one language over another. There’s a couple of songs that we do live that moves in and out of both languages.

Congratulation on having one of your songs featured in a well known Irish television series. With the new single being release, the timing for this feature on television was impeccable, was this meant to happen?

Zoe: We just got the news that we are going to be featured, like about a week or two before the show was aired. As fantastic as it was, it was pretty quiet, it was a small picture, nothing too crazy. No, that was not pre-mediated or organised in any way, we were just as shocked as everyone else.

“We were chuffed that we were chosen”

With lots of our peers also selected, we weren’t overly surprised that an Irish band was picked. Plus the music from this series tend to be from Irish bands. We were chuffed that we were chosen, as we have only worked for a short time together. We were very happy to be placed along side with other bands who have been around for a long time.

What are the plans for 2018?

Obviously, we have just release the new single “Let me down” , available on all major platforms. This is the first single released from our upcoming EP, the plan is we will release the EP before the summer. A nice video to come out in the next couple of weeks for our single “Let me down”.  We also have a cool remix coming out with a top secret dj using the new single “Let me down”. We have 4 shows coming up in the UK, hoping to keep branching out with new shows in Spain and maybe as far as Mexico

On Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/0aJ4crl4UpV4Xju8ueAdHH

Lastly, for fans of Dreaming of Jupiter, they can also catch them live at the Button Factory in Temple Bar on Saturday 17 February supporting Ralph Rolle (CHIC) & The Funk Patrol. For all fans, their single “Let me down” is available on major platform including  iTunes and Google Play.

Alex Lau is a content writer for youbloom and is a member of the social media team there. He is part time photographer who love photo journalism of unique locations. He enjoys listening to music as much as he can.