Live Report: Ellen Arthur Blyth brings emotion and power to the Y&E Series

Dublin singer-songwriter Ellen Arthur Blyth took her singing talents to the Hot Press Instagram last Friday night, with a soulful, emotional set.

Sitting in front of her kitchen, with the Dublin sunlight streaming in, the set-up was warm, comfortable and inviting. It's from here that she spoke to the audience, saying hello to the invisible faces behind the screen before launching into her performance.

Kicking off with 'Keep Dreaming,' a track that showcases her impressive vocal range, Blyth signalled from the start that her set would be rife with delicate poignancy. Swelling and powerful, yet still intimate and softly romantic, the track perfectly displays the prowess Blyth has become known for.

Whether it's the sweetly optimistic tracks the likes of 'Keep Dreaming,' or the smokey jazz-room ballad 'Time Heals,' Blyth powerful vocals support every type of style. Diving into low power notes or soaring into the upper registers, the clarity and tone of her singing never wavers — a feat even more impressive when carried out over livestream.

"I don't know if my niece is watching, but she knows every word to this one," she laughed before 'Young Ones,' a bluesy, nostalgic and high-reaching track that was released as a single earlier this year. Following was, 'Nine,' the other sneak peek into the Dublin native's upcoming debut album.

Equal parts Amy Winehouse and Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee and Lana Del Ray; Blyth has defined her sound at the intersection between old-school jazz and modern blues. Having released two singles, the singer's hotly anticipated debut album, Nine, is set to release later this year. Bringing a fresh perspective, passion and an incredible voice, she is set to be one of the biggest up and comers in the local scene.

"I miss the reverb! That was 'Nine,' minus all of the reverb, because I'm singing into my iPhone. It's good for my humility," she laughed. "This song is jazz standard, and on the album it has the most beautiful trombone part — I'm not going to sing it because that would be weird."

What followed was an acapella version of 'Cry Now;' an emotional, beautiful and lyrically driven track on letting go and falling apart. It's a brave approach, but sitting in her kitchen bathed in late-afternoon light, Blyth's risk paid off — further illustrating her vocal mastery by delivering an equally profound performance of what is sure to a wonderful track.

Finishing off her set with 'God Knows,' an upcoming single, Blyth was sure to leave viewers clamouring for the next release. Both lyrically and sonically impressive, she also smiled throughout the entire set — bringing a warm, indelible energy to the Hot Press livestream.

Watch Ellen Arthur Blyth's performance on the Hot Press Y&E Series, below:

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Watch the Hot Press Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media – live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) at 7pm each night.

Coming up on the Y&E series:

Thursday, April 21: Dáwna

Hailing from Tipperary, Dáwna initially built up his reputation busking in cities and towns around Ireland. Since 2019, he's steadily been releasing a selection of well-received singles – including his latest track, 'I L L I A D'. He's also clocked up support slots for the likes of Hermitage Green and Susan O'Neill, and launched his latest single with a sold-out headline show at The Kenyon Bar in Nenagh.

Friday, April 22: PrYmary Colours

Featuring Cayisha on vocals and Daz on production, PrYmary Colours have brought a bold new energy to the Irish dance music scene. This duo have already made their mark at the House Of Yes club in New York, the Olympia Theatre in Dublin and a wide selection of festival stages. In October, they released their powerful single ‘The Movement’ – a rallying cry against racial injustice.

Saturday, April 23: Caleb Kunle

Drawing inspiration from the three locations he calls home – Lagos, Laois and London – Caleb Kunle is rapidly emerging as a captivating new talent on the international stage, with his unique blend of soul, folk, jazz and more. Back in November, he shared his latest single, 'Could Be Good' – which is his first release on Hackney-based independent label Pony Recordings.

Sunday, April 24: BRÍDÍN

Hailing from Co. Sligo, BRÍDÍN carries the tradition of Irish music into the fourth generation of her family – playing harp, flute, piano and dancing sean nós. After achieving a master’s degree in music, she’s continued to develop her own unique style, bringing a modern energy to her traditional influences. She released her Ocean Of Stars EP in 2021, which featured an appearance from Colm Mac Con Iomaire.

Monday, April 25: Amberlight

Made up of vocalist Lauren Doherty and guitarist/producer/songwriter Paul Casey, this Derry duo have been busy over the last two years, releasing an exciting selection of singles and accompanying videos, including the likes of 'The Song My Heart Sings' , 'Strong Enough', 'Only Love (A Fisherman's Lament)' and 'Peace at Last'. They also contributed to the Rave On, Van Morrison series, performing a cover of 'Celtic New Year'.