KNEECAP sign deal with Heavenly Recordings ahead of the release of their debut album

Less than a week ago, KNEECAP announced that their "debut album is finally 100% finished." Now, they've shared another major announcement – revealing that they've signed a deal with Heavenly Recordings, a lauded London-based independent record label.

"The day has finally come where a record label, Heavenly Recordings, is mad enough to sign us," the Irish hip-hop group wrote on social media last night – alongside a video, where Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí sign their contract with feather quills.

Heavenly Recordings, which Jeff Barrett founded in 1990, has released projects by the legendary likes of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Mark Lanegan, Fionn Regan, Confidence Man, Doves, Katy J Pearson, Beth Orton, The Magic Numbers, Working Men's Club, Baxter Dury, The Orielles, Mattiel, H. Hawkline, Saint Etienne, and more.

The label is also home to fellow Belfast artist David Holmes, who releases his eagerly anticipated new album, Blind On A Galloping Horse, on November 10.

KNEECAP's debut album is expected to be released some time next year.

The West Belfast group dedicated the milestone moment in their career to Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcaster Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí, who passed away yesterday following a long illness, aged 53.

Earlier this year, the trio had urged fans to help raise funds for Rónán's treatment.

"He always believed in us, regardless of the amount of shit people got for it at the start," they wrote online at the time. "He wanted to play CEARTA on his show on RNAG, which subsequently got the song banned which gave us publicity we could never dream of, he was always takin chances in things he believed in. And he believed strongly in the survival of our language and the need for contemporary Irish language music.

"It was Rónán who gave us our first gig in Gaoth Dobhair, a gig that would really cement the rest of our musical journey," they continued. "KNEECAP is a result of the endless gigs and radio shows he put on around the country to try and create a buzz around contemporary Irish Lang music. A genuine passionate man that we owe a lot too and have a lot of love for..."

🖊️…. We are delighted to announce we have signed to @heavenlyrecs ahead of our debut full album release next year. 🤝

Big thanks to Jeff Barrett and all the team at Heavenly. 💚🤍🧡

Suaimhneas síoraí dár gcara mór Rónán Mac Aodh Bhuí xxxxx pic.twitter.com/AGzTqq5jO4

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) September 19, 2023

Revisit KNEECAP's Hot Press cover story here.