The Independent Artist: Talking it Easy with Timmy Rough of German Rock Band, The New Roses

11-May-2026 By Meagan Clements

Published: Jan. 2026 | Reading Time: 16 minutes | For Musicians, Promoters, Rock Fans & Event Organizers

From pub stages to fronting German rock quintet The New Roses, troubadour Timmy Rough hones in on his unfiltered rise, making his mark in the music industry.

Part 1: From Starting Small to International Rock Royalty

From the comfort of his home studio in Germany, Timmy Rough, singer/songwriter and frontman of The New Roses, clicks on a Zoom link. He’s taking a short break from recording the band’s upcoming studio album.

His face appears on screen. He’s unshaven and wearing a cap backwards. He smiles politely, reassuring a music journalist thousands of miles away with his husky accent that she has nothing to worry about — time can run over if need be.

It seems as if two worlds have collided. The music journalist adjusts the screen of her laptop. She’s sitting on a cozy chair in Orange County, Calif., as Rough explains the challenges his band faces when asked if The New Roses plan to tour The States.

The Big Question

“If an American band tours in America, why would [they] take a European band on the road?” he pointed out. “Logistically, it’s so much easier to just take an American band with you or even have local bands open up. That’s what happens a lot of times. You know, they’re playing in Texas, they get a Texas band. If they’re playing in Florida, they get a Florida band.”

Rough thought for a moment.

You can’t just say [to KISS], ‘Hey — when are the US dates?’ because they have big names opening in the US. It’s very difficult to get those slots even when they’re in your own country, you know?

Often, Rough relives unforgettable memories from life on the road in Europe.

“We were very fortunate to open for the Scorpions and KISS,” he said, remembering the experience fondly. “We toured with Black Stone Cherry and Foreigner and all of those guys. Those opening slots are like a currency. It’s like, ‘You owe me one so I put my band on this slot next time’ and stuff like that. Those slots are not just for the best band. It’s not like the biggest potential gets the shot.”

Although a tour in The States isn’t yet in the works, Rough, who enjoys country music and all things Bruce Springsteen, remains hopeful.

“We haven’t planned anything,” he said. “I spend a lot of time in The States, and I’ll be in The States next week for Christmas and New Year’s in Florida. I love the country, I love the people, and I especially love the diversity of the music.”

How youbloom Can Help

Rough is thankful for platforms like youbloom that aim to close geographical barriers, making live music more accessible for all.

“There’s so many of us out there who don’t get the chance to [expose] their music to their main target group,” he admitted. “To have a platform, I suppose, where people that like a certain kind of music can just login and get updates like, ‘Hey, you might like this or you might like that and here’s tickets and here’s the videos and everything so you can find your bands much faster’ is a good idea.”

Rough is optimistic that youbloom will assist The New Roses in reaching fans outside of Europe.

“When people get together and team up for a certain thing, it’s always fantastic,” he said, exuberantly. “Any kind of movement you start is always a good sign of, ‘Hey, we’re still here, rock music still matters, and we still want new artists.’”

Drawing a Parallel

Rough compared youbloom’s mission statement to a similar movement in Europe.

“We have this thing in Europe — they call it The New Wave of Classic Rock. It’s a UK group and they do kind of the same thing,” he shared. “They team up and they have a Facebook page and everything. They just spread the word, and they did this multi-artist kind of record. They put their favorite newcomer bands on it and then they walk around at concerts and hand it out to people so that they can listen to that stuff.

Rough says it isn’t about money.

“They’re not making any profit off of that stuff. They’re doing it for the love of music,” he said.

Part 2: Breaking Barriers: Touring Realities and the Global Rock Scene

Artist Development

These days, Rough admits many record companies are failing at artist development.

“It’s not like, ‘Hey, we got this new artist and we’re gonna spend tons of money on advertising or putting them on the road with big names,” he said. “That’s not happening anymore. The band has to find their own way to get recognized.”

The Creative Landscape

Rough is thankful for additional platforms putting in the time it takes to shift the creative landscape.

“It’s always a great sign to meet people that say, ‘I’m not making any profit. I’m just trying to spread the word. I’m just trying to give people the chance to [hear] bands that I really enjoy and I want people to [experience] the same joy as I do,” he said. “Maybe one of those radio stations or one of those blogs doesn’t make the difference but if you see how many interviews I give when I promote a new record and how many smaller radio stations and platforms I talk to, I’m pretty sure in the end that it makes a difference. If you would take all those components out of the equation, I would say there would be a big chunk missing.”

Human Juke Box

Before signing with independent label, Napalm Records, alongside his New Roses bandmates — drummer Urban Berz, bassist Hardy W. Heart and guitarists Norman Bites and Dizzy Daniels — Rough earned thick skin performing in pubs with an acoustic guitar.

You’re like a living juke box. Sometimes they treat you like a superstar and sometimes they treat you like a thing, like an object.

Rough looked up.

“You learn that it has nothing to do with you,” he said.

By the time Rough formed The New Roses, he had already played 1,000 shows for more intimate audiences.

“You do the same show every night,” he began. “Sometimes it goes great and sometimes it sucks. Sometimes people are nice and sometimes people are rude. Sometimes you make a lot of money and sometimes you make no money at all.”

Part 3: Turning Suboptimal Circumstances into Unforgettable Live Performances

The Elephant in the Room

Rough says performing in pubs taught him how to deal with suboptimal circumstances.

“The best way to deal with suboptimal circumstances is humor,” he said. “We call it, ‘calling out the elephant in the room.’ That’s my strategy always. If we play a show and there’s not a lot of people there, of course the crowd recognizes there’s not a lot of people there.”

Rough reflected on a show The New Roses played in England. An estimated 35 people were in attendance.

“I remember that night,” he said. “I took the acoustic guitar out, unplugged it, and just sat down in the middle of the audience and played it [without an amplifier].”

Rough smiled.

“If you go out and try to pretend that the house is full and you play the same show and do the same moves and do all these things you do when you’re opening for KISS in front of 15,000 or 20,000 people, you make a fool out of yourself,” he admitted. “What I do is I go out and I call out the elephant in the room. I say, ‘Wow — this is very cozy in here tonight. Let’s all get up here on stage. I bet I could fit all the people in the crowd onto the stage.’ What started as a suboptimal circumstance turned out to be something that the audience of that evening will never forget.”

Engaging with Audiences

Rough isn’t shy about having fun on stage, imagining how it must have felt for one special fan.

“I actually danced on stage with the band [that night],” he said, putting himself in her shoes. “It was so cool, and they handled it so well. They were so nice.”

Rough added, “I guess, to move toward the difficulties and call them out and use them as fuel for the show is always, in my experience, better than trying to pretend it’s a fantastic event or maximum audience or whatever. If the lighting is shit, I call it out. If the sound is shit, I call it out. I try to use it as fuel for the show.”

Regardless of whether it’s 35 people or 35,000 people in attendance, Rough cares deeply about his craft.

“You know, of course you try always to win the evening or win the audience, so I don’t wanna come across as someone who doesn’t give a shit,” he confessed. “I care a lot about winning the evening, about winning the audience, making everybody happy and satisfied.”

For Rough, flexibility is the key.

“You have to be open and flexible on how to achieve that goal. You can’t do it with the show itself,” he said. “Maybe something is wrong. Maybe the audience is very small, or the lighting is shit or whatever. You have to find another way. You always have to be open and flexible to make the audience feel special and remember the night as something that was worth the money.”

From Troubled Teen to Sophisticated Songster

Although Rough is a college-educated musician — the saxophone is the first instrument he learned — he says he wasn’t always grounded in his passion for playing music.

“[As a kid], I was always in trouble and I was not going to school,” he said. “Every day, the school called my parents because I wasn’t there or I did something stupid. I was brought home by the cops many times [for doing something]. I never like punched anybody. I was never mean. I was always just an idiot. Never trying to hurt anybody, but always in trouble, silly trouble.”

Discovering music was the turning point for Rough.

“When I discovered music, it was the first time that I was drawn to something, you know? It was like a magnet,” he said. “I didn’t even recognize that I was practicing. It didn’t feel like practicing or learning like, I don’t know, history for the next test in school. It didn’t feel like this. It was like time passed by so fast. It was six hours, seven hours, eight hours of playing the saxophone. I was spending [every day] in my room practicing and playing, listening to records and trying to hear what was being played.”

When asked what he feels is the most overrated quality in a performer, Rough remains skeptical.

“If you’re a Bruce Springsteen kind of guy like me, you know, I’m more [into] street clothes, but I’ve met a lot of people that are more like David Lee Roth and they’re doing a great job,” he said. “They couldn’t do what I do, and I couldn’t do what they do. I wouldn’t say it’s something overrated if you do what you do very [well]. It doesn’t matter what it is if you’re awesome — a great guitar player or a storyteller, a songwriter or whatever. Whatever quality you have, if you take it as far as you can, you have a right to show it to people.”

As for Rough’s superpower on stage, he says it’s his voice. Impressively, the songster has a three to four octave range.

I wouldn’t say I’m a Dave Grohl kind of person. I don’t have [his] presence and I’m not that loud. I’m pretty introverted. I go out on stage, and I try to sing as good as possible.

Rough’s on-stage persona is a package of powerhouse pipes and good, clean fun.

“Art and creativity are presented in many ways and many times, it’s a combination of things,” he said. “It’s the way somebody writes songs and sings the songs, so if you hear a Johnny Cash song, he’s a terrible singer on paper but nobody can sing his songs the way he did. Nobody can sing the Bob Dylan songs the way he sang them. That’s great. It’s a gift to have this. I would argue that Johnny Cash had maybe just one octave of range which is nothing special. People like me or Chris Cornell have like a three to four octave range, [which] is very rare and it can impress people or take them on a journey. If you only have one octave like Johnny Cash, you can still make it, bring people to tears, make them believe your stories or engage in any way with your music. It’s a great gift.”

Rough doesn’t deny the talent that has come from casting shows on television — “American Idol,” “The Voice” and “X Factor” to name a few. He admits, however, that many solid artists in the music industry wouldn’t stand a chance in those formats.

“It’s one thing to have those programs and maybe stumble upon a couple of great musicians — Michael Bublé, Adele or Carrie Underwood or something, but if you were to just depend on that thing only and say that all the other people are not worth taking a look at, I would totally disagree,” he said.

Rough added, “For a lot of artists, it’s the sound, the voice, the look, the story and the song. It’s the whole thing. It’s the whole package.”

Rough paused.

“I think every artist has something to offer and that isn’t always visible at the first glance,” he said, throwing in his two cents.

Part 4: Voice, Vulnerability and the Benchmark for Success

An Album on the Way

As for his personal and professional motto, Rough laughed.

“It can’t be bad to be good,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

Rough gave die-hard and casual listeners alike insight into The New Roses’ upcoming album.

“So far, it looks like it’s gonna be a little more classic rock than the last one [Attracted to Danger],” he said. “The last one was pretty rough, pretty hard rock and [featured] a lot of distorted guitars and a lot of meaner riffs and stuff. It can still change, but from the material that I have at the moment, I would say it’s a little more classic rock. It’s a little more like the ‘Nothing But Wild’ record.”

Expressing Gratitude

Additionally, Rough and his bandmates are appreciative of their loyal fanbase.

“We appreciate people spending their time with us,” Rough said. “Time is a very valuable thing and to know that right at this moment as we’re talking, somebody is driving in their car or working out in the gym or whatever, having a party at their home, a birthday party or something and they’re listening to our music, [it’s great].”

Rough beamed.

“It’s a great feeling to sit down in my small studio here and write a song and the next thing you know, people from all over the world can say like, ‘Hey! That song was played at my wedding’ or ‘That song was played at [my dad’s funeral]’ or ‘I play this when I drive in the summer and we’re at the lake,’” he said. “I know so many stories from people who say, ‘I did this road trip to Australia and that song was on 24/7! I have so many great memories of that trip when I hear that song.’”

Rough considers how songs not only travel the world, but travel through people.

“You get the song back charged with all these stories,” he said.

When the first chord of “All I Ever Wanted” set sail inside fan Patricia Marie’s eardrum, she knew Rough was a force to be reckoned with.

“I find The New Roses frontman Timmy Rough to have a strong stage presence,” she gushed. “A rock star with a touch of country in his voice. Just enough gravel in his voice to pull you in, whether it’s screaming lyrics or soothing love songs. He’s mesmerizing!”

Rough’s uncanny ability to make sense of his surroundings weaves throughout his music.

“Every headlight tells a story, every face passing me by, there’s a million lights before me and a touch of perfume in the evening sky,” Rough sings. “I brush the shoulder of a young man, I hear a distant slamming door. An old lady’s searching trash cans and I wonder who she was 20 years ago.”

Perhaps it’s the grungy, greasy-haired rock and roll performed inside an antique ballroom with a crystal chandelier — The New Roses music video for “My Kind of Crazy” hailing from the band’s 2022 release, “Sweet Poison.” It begins as Rough swings open cotton candy-colored doors with yellow gold and white trim. Moments later, he’s singing, “The taste of Heaven and danger right upon my lips, I wanna lick a little poison off my fingertips.” He’s wearing a maroon shirt unbuttoned and revealing an array of chains around his neck. No matter what the setting is, his demeanor is calm yet confident.

The Man Behind the Music

Off-stage, Rough is a father of two children.

“I’m a father, which is the most important thing for me,” he said. “I’m not advertising that, but if you [were to] ask me, ‘What defines you?’ I would say, ‘Being my children’s father is the most defining thing for me or the most important thing. I put a lot of energy into improving being a good father, you know?”

Rough is often seen wearing a rosary without a cross around his neck.

“That was a gift from a friend, so it didn’t have a particularly spiritual [meaning] for me, but I’m very interested in many things that widen your horizon,” he said. “From my experience, it kind of narrows the lessons that you can learn if you judge right away whether you believe [something] or not. You can just spend some time with it and listen and think about it and sometimes one thought or the other goes through your conscience and leaves a mark.”

Rough’s punchline statement is strong.

I try to live like I believe. I don’t really question, ‘Do you really believe in some sort of god?’ I think it can’t hurt to assume, pretend so to speak, like, ‘Hey — let’s just assume that we all get judged.’ So, I try not to fuck up and be a good person.

Rough occasionally reflects on Western Christian society.

“I would say all of our fundamental behaviors are based on one book [The Bible],” he said. “It took me a while, but then it crossed my mind and [I thought], ‘Hey, everything you know and what you believe, your whole society that you know is based on that book so you should probably just read it at least one time and find out, ‘What is it? Why is this book so famous and how could it stand the test of time?’ It’s a very interesting book.”

For more information, visit The New Roses official website.

Being A Great Lead Singer Is Rough Business: Learn How To Be One

11-Jul-2020 By Leave a Comment

(Post via Mike Murphy) Fronting a band is no easy task and Mike examines the issue of how to be a great lead singer. Anyone that thinks to be a great lead singer is easy does not understand the skill. Sure, anyone can stand up in front of a band and pose as a lead singer and vocalize in some manner, but that is not what makes them great. Mastering the skill takes developing charisma, timing, having a solid understanding of the material being presented, delivery of the material, and a voice that fits the genre. We have all seen lead singers we have loved and hated. It’s a rough business.

How many of us have looked at and listened to a band and evaluated the singer to a higher standard? I think we all have; it is instinctive. Why? I think many people, especially non-musician types, do not recognize being a lead vocalist as a real instrument; like drums, guitars or keyboards. Being the lead vocalist is perhaps the hardest instrument to master! A band can have all great musicians, but if the singer sucks, the overall opinion of the band suffers.

Sure there have been lots of bands who have made it in the music industry without the luxury of a serious and strong lead vocalist. Some last only a short time and have lineup changes. Other bands, adapt the music around the singer’s voice and make it work. I won’t cite specific examples because my opinion may differ from someone else’s as to what is good and what is bad. However, I can think of great punk bands and rock bands that made the music work around the abilities of the singer.

When I evaluate a lead singer’s talents, I first decide how his or her look fits with the band. Let me give you an example. If you are watching a heavy metal band and the singer is dressed like he is in a surf music band, in Hawaiian shirt, shorts and flip flops, I might wonder what is going on. I would be distracted by that personal presentation because it does not fit the genre. I don’t care how good the singer is, he or she is a fish out of water. A singer has to look the part depending on the music being played.

I want to know if the lead vocalist can really sing and/or is singing on key. Granted, different genres have different ways of “singing” the lyrics. I get that, but the important part is how he or she will manage that vocal ability throughout the show. Is he or she going to lose power with their voice or lose it entirely? Singing death metal and pop music are two completely different styles and presenting the vocals are very different. Some would argue that yelling vocals and screaming are not singing. It is expression and singing is just that; expression. Some singing is just more melodic than other styles.

I grade hard on what the lead vocalist is doing with themselves while performing or while the band is playing and they are anticipating the next line. Is the posture good and appropriate for the tune being performed? Certainly, you would not want to see a vocalist presenting an aggressive posture while doing a soft ballad! Turning your back on the crowd is a big no-no in my book. Back away and go get your sip of water, tambourine or whatever you need to do. How much does the singer interact and look at the crowd; not just the people upfront, but the sides, the middle, and the back of the venue? Using the entire venue is critical.

Being a lead singer is definitely not easy. It is very much a skill. Mastering that skill takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Many will fail a bunch of times before he or she finds the right fit and can consistently perform the craft. In many ways becoming a professional lead singer is a survival of the fittest activity. The music industry, especially for a lead vocalist is a rough business. The strong will survive unless he or she has self sabotaging behaviors. That’s a topic for another blog. Happy singing!

About the author
Mike G. has been writing songs for 35 years. He studied voice at United States International University in San Diego California and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Check out youbloom Connect and/ or sign up here: https://www.youbloom.com/artist-apply/ where you can get partnered to perform with other local artists, build a steady fan-base, and even get your band on the road.

BEFORE I DIE: youbloom | HEADROOM #7 with Featured Artists from the Dublin 2016 Music Festival

26-May-2016 By Leave a Comment

Life is short, so it’s good to have a list of the most important things to accomplish while doing the thing you love most. In BEFORE I DIE, we want to know what youbloomDublin 2016 Music Festival featured artists think should make the cut.

Daryl, Fresh Ré:

1 | I’d like to do a track with Ty Dolla $ign.

2 | I’d love to meet up with Zara Larsson.

3 | Win awards for production.

Some of the youngest artists ever to play at youbloom – and we’re guessing most any other place they’ve played as well – five-piece pop musicians Fresh Ré play modern cover tunes with so much fun and energy they blow musicians twice their age off the stage. They’re sincere, they’re dedicated, and most of all, they’re good. For fans of: Vazquez Sounds, AJ Silva, Leeloo Love.

Siobhan, singer, songwriter, occasional keys & synths, Great White Lies:

1 | To tour the world playing my music and getting paid!!

2 | Write a stunning score for a feature film.

3 | Play a belting headline gig at Glastonbury.

Great White Lies blend jazz, 60s soul, and singer-songwriter styles so seamlessly it’s hard to tell what genre you’re helplessly bobbing your head to. Addictively groovy, captivating and skillful tunes. A true surprise. See them live at The Wiley Fox on Wed, June 1 at 11.30pm. For fans of: Natalie Merchant, Stevie Wonder, Minnie Riperton

Nicole Curry, Mo Kenny:

1 | I’ve always wanted to play Massey Hall.

2 | A Polaris Prize nomination would be neat.

3 | Have one of my songs in a movie.

Canada’s own Mo Kenny is the answer to our singer-songwriter prayers, delivering sweetly sung yet deadly lyrics in a confident, dark style that evokes the take-no-prisoners best in all of us. By turns built on driving rhythms and skulking guitars, Mo’s gives it to us straight with a crisp, clear voice and an instrumental deftness that’s hard to beat. She plays The Grand Social acoustic stage on Wed, Jun 1 at 10.40pm. For fans of: Sky Ferreira, Florence and the Machine, Oh, Land

Dolly Daggerz, vox, Tokyo Taboo:

1 | One of our goals was to be played on BBC Radio 1 and that happened this year! So TICK! Now our goal is to be playlisted and endorsed by a Radio 1 DJ.

2 | Another would be to do an arena tour supporting a well-known band. Don’t care which one! Even if we think they are boring!

3 | Write a blacklist for new musicians and name and shame pay-to-play venues and promoters along with other scamsters!

Catchy, edgy garage pop outfit Tokyo Taboo have outrageous on speed-dial. Crafting ballsy tunes with a grungy edge, the duo demand attention – whether it’s through their relentlessly hard-to-forget hooks or their videos, sun-soaked odes to avant glam fun. You won’t forget these guys. Check them out on The Workman’s Club main stage on Thu, June 2 at 10.10pm. For fans of: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Louis XIV, The Breeders.

Tom Lucey, singer-songwriter:

1 | I would love to play the main stage at Electric Picnic. I’ll be going this year again and the vibe is unreal. To be on the receiving end of that would be a dream come true.

2 | Record with Rick Rubin. The list of hits he has and the sounds he comes out with are mind-blowing at times.

3 | Sell out the INEC in my hometown. It’s been host to some of Ireland’s biggest acts and fits 3,000 people. There would be huge pride in doing that.

A true homegrown talent, both vocally and instrumentally, singer-songwriter Tom Lucey marries gentle trad and folk elements into a contemporary sound, crafting an easygoing story-telling style that will please the most avid fans of the genre. It’s soundtrack of your life type stuff. Brilliant. He plays KC Peaches on Thu, June 2 at 8pm. For fans of Tom Rosenthal, Daughter, Villagers

Jay, lead vox, The Smoking Giants: ‘When you are independent like us in this cutthroat business, it’s very hard to answer this question because you set goals to jam as much as you can, you set plans to record, to book gigs, plan release dates for singles,EPs and videos and so on. So yeah we all want to get a record deal, have the number one album, go on a world tour. That would all be amazing; what band wouldn’t want it?? The Rock N Roll Bible may say ‘Sex, Drugs & Rock’n’Roll, but in our case it’s Sex, Drugs & On The Dole!
The mains thing is to do it for the right reasons. The buzz of playing live is who cares if one person claps? We’re doing it for the love and passion of music and to be playing with lads who feel the same way. I have no goals set beyond continuing to do what I do. Music will always be a part of my life.’

Superbly crafted pop songs to accompany your next big adventure – think road trip into the great wide open – with all the elements in their right place: skillful guitar hooks, driving drums, and anthemic vocals to belt with friends at the top of your lungs. They play The Wiley Fox on Wed, Jun 1 at 10.40pm. For fans of: The Last Shadow Puppets, The Las, Muse

What’s on your list? Share your Top 3 in the comments below:

MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #6 with Featured Artists from the Dublin 2016 Music Festival

25-May-2016 By Leave a Comment

For some, it’s the golden memory to last a lifetime. For others, it’s a horror showreel that haunts those delicate pre-sleep moments and is best left…in the past.

MY FIRST TIME is youbloom | HEADROOM‘s look into the variously-coloured pasts of featured youbloom Music Festival artists and asks them to spill the beans on what they can remember about their very first band experiences. After all, you had to start somewhere. We just hope all the evidence hasn’t been totally destroyed.

Sarah Buckley, singer-songwriter: ‘This is my first band! When I was growing up I didn’t know anyone – family or friends – who played music so I only started playing music as an adult in the last few years!’

Cork native singer-songwriter Sarah Buckley has a talent that is almost colossal in its potential. Her style blends intuitive songwriting with a raw, honest, soulful vocal twang that recalls some of the best acousto-folk and country singers of all time. It’s a pleasure getting lost in that voice. Come see for yourself at The Grand Social acoustic stage on Thurs June 2 at 7.40pm. For fans of: First Aid Kit, Laura Marling, Bon Iver

Damien McFly, singer-songwriter: ‘My first band was named The Shoulder To Cry. I was the only one who could actually play some tunes on the guitar. I had to teach the bass player how to play bass and the keyboard player how to play keys. We played one gig at a birthday party and then it was over. Everything was so funny at that time; one gig and I felt like a rockstar.’

With a voice that recalls the late, great Jeff Buckley and a fervent style that bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary styles, the Italian-born Damien McFly is an exciting find in the world of acoustic singer/songwriters. With stripped back instrumentation and daring melodic choices, he’s one to watch. See him do his thing live on The Grand Social acoustic stage on Thursday, June 2 at 9.10pm. For fans of: Jeff Buckley, Antony and the Johnsons, Ben Harper

Ahren-B: ‘Gateway City was the first, last and only band I’ll be in. It was fun while it lasted; consistency lacked towards the end and we all wanted different things out of music and decided to go separate ways.’

Ahren-B has come a long way since we last saw him, with a sound and style that progresses relentlessly from strength to strength. His latest release, this year’s Friends With The Devil, finds Ahren-B blending blues and gospel inspirations into the mix; a heady brew when you add in his signature social commentary and sharp-as-knives delivery. We love this artist, and know you will, too. Come see him play The Workman’s Club main stage on Wed June 1 at 8.10pm. For fans of: Immortal Technique, Saul Williams, Talib Kweli

Nicola Karen Creighton/Byrne AKA Karmony, backup vox, Stone & Jezreel: ‘At the age of 8 I first sang in the Rathfarnham Inn with my uncle Eddie Creighton and the Pearse Butler Band every Sunday.‘

Dorothy Momodu AKA JEZREEL, lead vocalist, Stone & Jezreel: ‘Living Waters. (We were) a singing group in secondary school and we sang on Sundays in church. We were actually really good, LOL.’

With fresh lyrics, mixed vocals, laid-back beats, and unusual, addicting instrumental choices, Stone& Jezreel have tapped into the hinterlands of great hip-hop, and are busy blazing new trails to the frontiers of what’s possible in the genre. Infectious and satisfying, they play The Workman’s Club main stage on Wed June 1 at 10.10pm. For fans of: Childish Gambino, Asher Roth, Angel Haze

Dan, bass guitar, Toya Delazy: ‘My first band was a punk/metal band called Dutch Courage. We weren’t too bad for a bunch of angsty teenagers, although we probably spent more time getting silly than actually rehearsing. But isn’t that the point of being in a band with your best mates?’

Zulu royal (yes, you read that right), jazz pianist, producer and singer-songwriter Latoya Buthelezi spends her days crafting jazz-electro-hip-hop dancefloor fillers that have received critical acclaim in her native South Africa as well as abroad. It’s crisp, smart music with depth and groove from a backing band that have it on lockdown. Don’t miss their show at The Workman’s Club main stage on Wed June 1 at 9.30pm. For fans of: Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, Young Money

Jay, Color Palette: ‘We were called Tension Mounting. And we were horrible! LOL. We did Rage Against The Machine covers, mostly.’

With the epic feel of some of the best to come from the 80s Manchester scene mixed with unexpected elements of hard rock and electronica, this band is a total surprise. We can’t wait to see how this translates live at The Wiley Fox on Friday, June 3 at 11pm. For fans of: The Stone Roses, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana

We’re willing to bet some of you readers have been in bands with questionable material and even more questionable fashion sense — or have seen a band perform for the very first time. What lurks beneath the murky surface of that brain of yours? Share the memories in the comments below:

MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #2 with Featured Artists from the Dublin 2016 Music Festival

09-May-2016 By Leave a Comment

Welcome back!

Now that we’ve got the hotline to the youbloomDublin 2016 Music Festival artists themselves, I’m thinking we take it #tbt and dig a little deeper. You’ve already tuned in to the music of some of our artists (like The Smoking Giants and Kidd Kidd), but what about where it all began?

MY FIRST TIME isn’t afraid to ask the juicy Qs, namely: What was your first band? Check out some of the – rather surprising – answers below:

Chris, singer-songwriter, A Happy Accident: ‘I was the drummer in a rock band with my brother and a few of his friends, and funnily enough we were called Cringe… However, we were not too shabby as groups of young teens playing Audioslave covers at school discos go!’

Piano-driven and sentimental, sparse, reflective, and pure, with enchanting string arrangements and a measured, near-sleep breath pace, there’s so much to love about the music of Happy Accident. It’s nearly impossible to draw one direct line to anything similar, past or present, but so many legendary elements stand out on this year’s Waiting To Happen EP it’ll more than satisfy For fans of: Tom Rush, Leonard Cohen, Red House Painters, and more

Jay, Color Palette: ‘We were called Tension Mounting. And we were horrible! LOL. We did Rage Against The Machine covers, mostly.’

With the epic feel of some of the best to come from the 80s Manchester scene mixed with unexpected elements of hard rock and electronica, this band is a total surprise. We can’t wait to see how this translates live. For fans of: The Stone Roses, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana

Luke Clerkin, singer-songwriter: ‘Clover Coast was the name of the first band I was in; we played quite a lot around Dublin, and we played a festival outside in Duleek once. It was an alt-rock band, and where I learnt how to sing properly and how to carry my voice throughout a room.’

The heart-on-the-sleeve musical stylings of singer-songwriter Luke Clerkin may seem straightforward, but underneath the meandering acoustic guitar and raw, tell-all vocals, lies a darker heart, one seemingly inspired by the mysterious great beyond. Fantastic stuff. For fans of: Tim DeLaughter & The Polyphonic Spree, Brendan Benson, Josh Rouse

Harriet, Hattie Webb: ‘The Webb Sisters. It’s a band I am in with my sister. That’s when I’m not busy playing in Leonard Cohen’s band. Leonard calls us the quietest band in the world.‘

Dancing somewhere between light and ethereal and mournful and bewitching, the vocals of Hattie Webb (of the famous Webb Sisters) have a style reminiscent of the nooks and crannies of some of Kate Bush’s best while never releasing hold on that distinctive Webb sound. Beautiful, impressive, what can I say? A must-see. For fans of: Luka Bloom, Julie Feeney, Kate Bush

Auxy, keys, Stone & Jezreel: ‘ My first band was church choir and it didn’t go so well. I was very young and scared and still learning and felt put on the spot.’

With fresh lyrics, mixed vocals, laid-back beats, and unusual, addicting instrumental choices, Stone& Jezreel have tapped into the hinterlands of great hip-hop, and are busy blazing new trails to the frontiers of what’s possible in the genre. Infectious and satisfying. For fans of: Childish Gambino, Asher Roth, Angel Haze

Yikes, Auxy, sorry to hear that. At least the awkward phases have passed and all these rad artists are out there rocking our socks.

**What about you? Were you ever in a band or have you seen one that was obviously brand-spanking-new? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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