Music
Watch this space: the growing popularity of artist retreats
The pandemic and lockdown have revealed that what artists need most is not money but the freedom to create, and retreats around Ireland have been giving them that lifeline
Rhythm Nation: Wyvern Lingo make us a playlist
The Bray trio reveal the songs that inspired their latest album
Album reviews: Julien Baker, Maximo Park, Wyvern Lingo
A fearless US songwriter, down-to-earth Newcastle band and resilient Bray trio are reviewed this week
Classical Notes: Female composers reap the rewards for original music
The NCH’s Female Commissioning Scheme offers established and emerging female and female-identifying composers from all musical idioms a platform to create work
David Gray interview: ‘All that matters is the thing you’re doing and how much heart, energy and creativity you’re giving it’
He should be on his 20th anniversary White Ladder tour right now, but with that on hold, the singer-songwriter has taken the opportunity to release a new record, one that has an Irish connection
Willie O’Reilly: The unlikely stars whose little treats brighten our days
From 1980s pop stars to gifted musicians, thank heavens for those social media performers coming up with new ways to make lockdown more bearable
Let off the Laoise
When the coronavirus lockdown put her career on hold, Galway singer/songwriter Laoise Ní Nualláin’s response was to embrace the joys of island life
‘Even hearing the sound system felt nostalgic’
The compilers of a new report on stricken performers during the pandemic were left ‘in tears’ by testimonials from artists
Off Message: Selling out is the new rock ’n’ roll
The sight of stars such as Bob Dylan and Neil Young cashing in on their back catalogues tells us that we are now in a new era of music
Malaki: ‘My notebook and pen were my best friends at times where I struggled’
Acclaimed Dublin-born rapper Malaki says his music has served him well as an outlet for his thoughts
Enya: A Treatise on Unguilty Pleasures: In defence of much-maligned musical comfort food
A slim polemic arguing the case for Enya’s back catalogue barely scratches the surface of its subject
Vincent Boland: Dylan ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s Farm no more after $300m deal
Popular culture – movies, music, football, cricket, GAA matches – is simply a collection of assets to be bought and sold. That is the context in which the entertainment industry now operates
Nadine O’Regan: Damien Dempsey reminds us of the power of live music
After nearly a year starved of live gigs, the virtual Other Voices festival brought the genius of the singer-songwriter fresh to my ears
Classial notes: From Kilconnell to Hollywood, a conductor at the top of her game
Eimear Noone, conductor and one of the best-known video games composers, is leading a special concert of film music on St Stephen’s Day on RTÉ Lyric fm
Album reviews: Miley Cyrus, the White Stripes and Mark Lanegan
Reviewed this week is Miley Cyrus who moves away from pop and country music on her new album; the White Stripes return with their unique sound intact and Mark Lanegan brings us a melancholic Christmas record
Rhythm Nation: John Barker selects the tunes
The Irish radio presenter presents some songs that would make his playlist
Robbie Williams: ‘I’ve stolen a living, so what do I have to complain about?’
After almost three decades of success and riches, the former Take That man is well aware of his good fortune as he awaits an eventual return to the big stage
The Andrson tapes: a music platform aiming to unearth new stars
Andrson, which uses audio analysis to match music labels and artists, is proving a hit with users since it launched last year
