The X Collective, Oíche Events' music initiative launched in May 2020, has gone from hosting 70 musicians and artists to over 100 in the last year, announcing their newest additions to the team - including Jess Kav (BARQ), Chloë Agnew, Decarteret, UNQ, Cooks But We're Chefs, Rob DeBoer, and Dena Anuk$a.

The first of its kind in Ireland, The X Collective creates a collaborative artistic environment that allows independent artists to benefit from higher creativity and wider exposure while receiving support from fellow music industry professionals.

Co-founder Emily Shaw commented that, "Ireland’s music scene is thriving, there is more variety in genre out there than there’s ever been before. There’s more creative roles, and encouragement towards carving out a career in the arts. With some support from government funding our industry has helped to stay afloat, but we are still lacking in opportunities and platforms during this pandemic and in recognition for the importance of creative and artistic spaces in Ireland which has resulted in so many of our own seeking opportunities abroad."

"Community is absolutely integral to the development of these sectors and the nourishment of our craft," Shaw continued in the statement. "We need more spaces to come together and express our creativity, to share ideas, meet new people, tell stories, collaborate and perform freely for one another. There is so much talent out there, and I believe that we have the potential to be at the cusp of a breakthrough in music, if our government steps up to help save the arts.”

Co-founder and music artist Ele Breslin (Zapho) stated, "The pandemic and the virtual world has shaped the model for how we work and continue to make music in a time where we need it the most. In a way it’s allowed for more opportunities than we could have imagined from the time when it was a seed of an idea.  It created a new virtual space and a way to connect with so many other creatives regardless of borders or time zones, all in the same boat, on the same journey, or in periods at a stand still not knowing what to do."

The X Collective has performed with Irish Arts Centre NY, US Embassy Ireland, been awarded the FMC Stimulus where they hosted a covid-safe songwriting camp in Kilkenny, played at Galway 2021, The Soul Tree & Popcycle Festival, released collaborative singles including ‘Collide’ from Tolü Makay and Zapho, and ‘WB’, featuring Chloe Agnew, Zapho, Senita, Toshín and Gemma Bradley. They have recently recorded a mass-collaborative album with over 35 contributors due for release 2022.

Check out the new slate of artists in the video below: