Live Report: SIIGHTS on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions’ Y&E Series

Formed by Scottish songwriter Toni Etherson and Mia Fitz, a Dublin musician who has played live with Hozier, SIIGHTS are a duo firmly on the rise. The pair released their new single 'A Little Lonely' earlier this month, following the arrival of their highly-anticipated debut EP back in April.

Kickstarting their pop-filled livestream with 'Shoulda Been' off their first EP, the luscious harmonies and irresistibly catchy chorus mark the track out as a gem from the first line. The chemistry between Toni and Mia as songwriters and performers shines through the screen, it's easy to see why they clicked after meeting in LA a couple of years ago. Having amassed over three million streams so far, SIIGHTS have already created enough material for their second EP and are building up to a debut album.

Toni, despite hailing from Glasgow, maintains in the livestream that she's " basically a Dub" after spending a huge amount of time here, with Mia and herself having a deep connection with the city as well as Toni's home turf in Scotland. They visit home whenever they can, but travel has been restricted as a result of the pandemic. Despite having their tour cancelled, SIIGHTS are now more than accustomed to performing live on their Instagram, and their ease in front of the camera is palpable. The next track delivered to the viewers is 'One More', a bubbly song about wanting to refrain from making more mistakes and experiencing more heartbreak.

Toni's gorgeously smooth lead vocals match Mia's harmonising to perfection, and the pair never hit a bad note. Up next is one of the first songs SIIGHTs ever released, 'Nobody Like You'. The summer jam is obviously one of their favourites to perform, and you'd have a difficult time getting it out of your head after hearing it even once. Their knack for scribing pop tunes which sound born for the radio is what allows them to work so well with other artists and collaborators, having written songs for other musicians on many occasions. The duo offer a rendition of the beautiful lead single from their debut EP, 'Blue Skies', a melancholy track that speaks to the grief and struggle of losing a loved one. SIIGHTS worked on an alternative version of the song with fellow Irish artist JyellowL, who just released his debut album 2020DIVision. With personal lyrics offering vivid imagery, 'Blue Skies' is a poignant antidote for anyone feeling the pang of loss.

Concluding their set with a memorable cover of Harry Style's upbeat summer hit 'Watermelon Sugar', complete with faultless vocal delivery and charm to burn, SIIGHTS can put their electro-pop spin on any track. The group are currently working on reams of new music in the studio, set to be released in the new year, but are looking forward to playing shows in Ireland again in 2021. With an energetic livestream set, tickets will fly out the door to any future performance the pair put on.

Watch the full Y&E Series performance from SIIGHTS below:

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The Y&E Series continues to shine a light on some of the best new and emerging talent that Ireland has to offer in 2020 – with a brilliant selection acts joining Hot Press on Instagram every night for special live-streamed performances.

Watch Matt McGinn tonight, December 2, as part of the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' The Y&E Series, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media – live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) at 7.30pm.

Up next on the Y&E Series...

Thursday, December 3: GEORGE HUTTON
Acclaimed Irish folksinger and lyric tenor George Hutton has shared stages with Glen Hansard, Phil Coulter, Hozier, Moya Brennan and more. He launched his solo career with the release of Chapter One in 2018, followed by Home earlier this year. George recently returned with an acclaimed new single, 'The Light'.

Friday, December 4: VERY SPECIAL GUEST!!!