Rhythm Nation | Business Post

Kang and Kim on the classical pieces that most inspire them

German violinist Clara-Jumi Kang and South Korean pianist Sunwook Kim reveal why the greats like Bach and Maria Callas mean so much to them

Elaine Howley on the best electronic song ever made in Ireland

The Cork singer/songwriter picks the ten tunes that mean the most to her creatively and artistically, including Roger Doyle’s Spring is Coming with a Strawberry in the Mouth

Pete Best: ‘Barry White’s voice means instant romance for me and millions of others’

The original Beatles drummer reflects on the tracks that have inspired him over the years and on why he has no regrets about leaving the band

DJ Stephen Byrne: Scandinavian artists are just too good at making people dance

The 8Radio presenter’s show Perfect Cadence eschews the traditional playlist model of mainstream radio to showcase completely new songs

Delyana Lazarova on the inexpressible beauty of Brahms

Bulgarian conductor Delyana Lazarova, who will perform with the Hallé Orchestra in Dublin later this month, lists the pieces of music that have inspired her

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh on the perfect pop of Prince’s Purple Rain

The former Altan frontwoman, who embarks on a nationwide tour next month, has looked to far more than traditional music for inspiration during her career

Local Boy on the sweetness of Irish hip-hop act Sourfruit

Singer-songwriter Jake Hurley, whose new single is out now, veers from underrated grime heroes NU Brand Flexxx to Ugandan activist and MC Ecko Bazz in compiling his top ten list of musical influences

Neil Dexter on why the Cocteau Twins are dream pop perfection

The Dublin singer, who is embarking on a solo career after a decade in indie outfit Spies, draws creative inspiration from acts as diverse as 10cc, the Sigur Rós, and the Blue Nile

Christy Leech of Le Boom picks his ten favourite tracks

The main man of the Dublin-based electronica outfit selects Sinéad O’Connor, Caribou and the Dig among his personal platters that matter

Producer-singer Chameleon on the heartbreaking beauty of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon

Winner of A New Local Hero award and producer behind Dublin rapper Malaki, Chameleon is building his own musical reputation with a series of eclectic singles

Patrick Stefan on the disarming simplicity of Nick Drake

The Irish-Dutch singer-songwriter cites musical influences from Mali to Brazil. His new single Drinking Alone in the Moonlight is out now and his debut album Wayfare will be released in September

SJ McArdle on being a fanatical Kate Bush fan and her ‘shockingly direct’ Army Dreamers

The folk luminary’s latest album is a song-cycle inspired by the historic port in Drogheda – and he lists another, Granuaile by Rita Connolly and Shaun Davey, as one of his influences

Poet Paul Muldoon on how the Rolling Stones and Duke Special have inspired him

The literary luminary and Princeton professor says Christy Moore’s Ride On is the ‘definite version’ of a heartbreaking masterpiece

Ailbhe Reddy reveals her musical inspirations

The Dublin singer-songwriter on the tracks that mean the most to her, from Fiona Apple to Arcade Fire . . . and John Denver

Robocobra Quartet reveal their musical inspirations

Ryan Burrowes and Chris W Ryan of the Belfast post-punk collective have a new album out and sat down to discuss the music that shaped their creative path

Jazz star Camilla George picks the tracks that shaped her

The saxophonist counts Wayne Shorter, Wynton Marsalis and Michael Brecker among her artistic inspirations

John McSherry of the Olllam picks the tracks that shaped his creative path

The Belfast-born piper plumps for John Martyn, Joni Mitchell, the Bothy Band and others as his artistic inspirations

Wild Rivers on their musical inspirations – from Charli XCX to Big Thief

The acclaimed Toronto pop-folk outfit pick the ten tracks that mean the most to them

Rhythm Nation: Fiachra Treacy on his musical inspirations from the Cure and Joan Armatrading

Wicklow electro-pop band Columbia Mills’ third album will be released later this year. Here, lead singer Fiachra Treacy talks about the music that has influenced him over the years

Rhythm Nation: Daragh Lynch on his musical influences from Planxty to Nirvana

Daragh Lynch of folk band Lankum has built up an eclectic list of collaborators over the years and will perform a gig with Scottish singer and multi-instrumentalist Iona Zajac at the National Concert Hall on June 16