Live Report: Uppbeat on the Hot Press Y&E series

Uppbeat took Instagram by storm last night, performing a blend of high-powered punk and energetic hip-hop on the Hot Press Y&E series.

Streaming from his studio, the Mayo-native began with a quick, "what's the craic?" before launching into his set — rapping with the same flow and speed as his recorded tracks, proving not only his metal as a musician, but as a performer.

Amassing over 40,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Uppbeat (real name Finn Costelloe) has been genre bending since the start, creating tracks that have the angst and power of punk with the intensity and danceability of rap/hip hop.

Focusing on issues from mental health to homelessness, Costelloe has always created with a message in mind. It's this blend of of socially conscious lyrics and heart-thumping instrumentation that has set Uppbeat apart, allowing him to rise to the top of the burgeoning Irish hip hop scene.

From fan favourites the likes of 'Exhale,' featuring BVDLVD and 'Jellyfish,' to unreleased high-voltage tracks such as 'PTSD,' the performance was almost hypnotic; a clear display of an artist who above all loved his art.

Even in the more mellow pieces like 'Coffee, tar and the devil' the passion seeped through the screen.

“I’m working on a project at the moment called HyperPunk, it’s an EP," he explained. "We’re doing a lot of interesting NFT stuff around it as well... We’re just trying to do something different and include more people, and make it a more accessible world."

He went on to share two never-before heard tracks – with the rapper listening along to 'Psychotic,' a grunge-tinted track to be released later this year. “I need to know what you think – so if you like it put fire emoji’s, and if you don’t say nothing,” he joked, before sharing 'Never Enough,' a raw, emotional demo still in the early stages of production.

Displaying his range of lyricism, skill and devotion, Uppbeat made the most of his time on live, delivering a performance that oozed with energy.

Watch the Hot Press The 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...

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Sunday, April 3: Chris Leonard
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