Bjork, FKA Twigs and Joni Mitchell are cited as influences by Holly Munro whose debut Up Against Your Nature EP is released on November 3 by the Kartel Music Group.

With its folk-pop sensibilities and ambient electronic textures, lead track 'Glow Up' sounds both reassuringly familiar and thrillingly new.

Munro, who happens to be Harry and Alfie Hudson-Taylor's sister, spends most of her days working alongside producer Luke Potashnick in the same Somerset studio that Tears For Fears recorded Songs From The Big Chair in.

 

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"A romantic outlook on a stormy relationship"  is how Limerick alt. popper Kellie Lewis describes her 'Stumble' single, which was co-written with former Little Hours man John Doherty and recorded in Cologne with up-and-coming German producer Luca Janzen.

Formerly mentored on the Voice Of Ireland by Dolores O'Riordan who became a trusted musical confidante, the Limerick singer swoops and soars with the best of them.

Kellie Lewis / Photo credit: Miki Barlok

There's more pop of the alternative variety from Diffusion Lab artist Valerie Rose whose 'September' single is also being worked by Warner Music Ireland. Having finished her Leaving Cert in May, the 18-year-old Dubliner is now studying at BIMM but already sounds fully formed.

With previous 45 'My Head' going top 20 on the Irish Homegrown Chart and BBC Radios 1 and 6 showing her airplay love, we're expecting big things from Rose who (like the rest of the world) clearly has a few Phoebe Bridgers records in her collection, but also has her own unique take on musical matters.

Valerie Rose

Toria, a classically trained musician who enjoys playing the 'Moonlight Sonata' on piano as much as Bowie on her guitar, impresses with widescreen new single, 'Touch Me'. You can also find trace elements of Jeff Buckley, Tamino and All About Eve (remember them?) in the Dubliner's music which is laced with heavenly harmonies.

 

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Having formerly been part of Ambience Affair and Divan, Meath's James J. Clarke opens his solo account with 'The Dark Of The Night'  which is billed as a "Deeply personal meditation on family, grief and change" and certainly packs an emotional punch.

Folk of the darker variety, it's impeccably crafted and explains why James has previously helped soundtrack the likes of CSI: NY and Ringer.

 

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Lo-fi bedroom hip-popper - we've made the genre up but it does encapsulate his sound- Daire Patel releases his most complete single yet, 'Alone With You'.

Influenced by the likes of Frank Ocean and Mac Miller, his music has scored the likes of Kin and Smother, and lead to Patel's participation in RTE's acclaimed Illuminations project.

Daire Patel by Ayesha Ahmad.

I Have A Tribe whets appetites for his Changing Of The Guard album this month with 'Sunshine', a paean to love all in its wondrous forms.

Blessed with a truly remarkable voice and a neat line in guitar picking, the Artist Also Known As Patrick O'Laoghaire opens for Gemma Hayes at the Mayo Festival (October 29) and then plays his own Whelan's, Dublin headliner (November 10).

Variously compared (by us and other people) to Anohni and Devendra Banhart, he previously collaborated with Beirut, Feist and Damien Rice as part of The National's PEOPLE festival.

I Have A Tribe.

Chubby Cat's run of 10/10 singles continues with 'Kissin' In The Valley-O', a late Summery Single of the Year contender which marries a jazzy vocal to a groovesome drum 'n' bass backbeat.

As playful as she is pitch perfect, the Cork singer plays The Workman's Cellar, Dublin on October 5 as part of Irish Music Week.

There are more cool jazz vibes to be had on 'Mother', the latest from Zimbabwean-Irish sensation Shiv who played an All Together Now blinder in August. The accompanying performance video highlights the impeccable group of players she's assembled around her.

"A beautifully rendered acoustic love song that could have been penned by Dolores O'Riordan" was the hotpress.com verdict on her debut 'You've Got Me' single- 1.3 million radio impressions and rising- and the same is true of Sarah Buckley's 'The Puppet Show' follow-up.

Shiv by Matilda Hill-Jenkins.

Hailing from Cork but currently based in Berlin, Buckley is one of the stars of the Irish alt. folk scene and has previously worked with Glen Hansard, Damien Rice and Fionn Regan engineer and producer Karl Odlum.

Another frequent A&R Dept. flyer is Plantain Papi, one of the biggest names on the Dublin rap scene whose autotune-heavy 'Vela Cinderella's trays into Afrobeat territory. A romantic fool at heart, his notable supports include opening for Burnah Boy in the 3Arena.

 

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