The weekend is just around the corner – and to celebrate, we're bringing you a special performance from Lea Heart, going live on the Hot Press Instagram at 7pm...

After clocking up millions of streams over lockdown, Lea Heart will make her Irish headline debut with two nights at The Academy on April 19 and 20. As well as getting her song ‘A Million Goodbyes’ featured in an episode of Love Island, she's also proved a hit on social media over lockdown – garnering 1.8 million likes on TikTok. Fellow Kildare act Picture This have also been early champions of Lea, with the band selecting her as one of the support acts for their Malahide Castle show on June 18.

Revisit our recent interview with Lea Heart here.

Watch the Hot Press 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...

Friday, April 8: Sinead McConville

The Wicklow musician released her debut solo single, 'Doorstep', back in May 2020. Recorded at home in an attic with rising singer/songwriter and previous Y&E Series performer D. Cullen, the song is an expression of love on a summer’s day in Ireland. Her follow-up single, ‘Running From You’, stayed on the RTÉ Recommends playlist for three weeks. The Irish folk-pop artist released her stripped back, harmony-driven piano ballad 'Break My Heart' in June.

Saturday, April 9: Liliana

Aged just 17, singer-songwriter Liliana has already established herself as a thrilling new force in Irish music, following the release of her latest single 'Again', earlier this year. Inspired by the likes of Dua Lipa, Adele and Olivia Rodrigo, the track follows her debut single, 'What Are We Now?', released in 2021. More recently, she's been busy writing songs, and working with her team to ensure there's plenty more singles in the pipeline.

Sunday, April 10: Viscose

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue and Dagny – while incorporating his own sophisticated, sultry synth sounds – Irish electronic-pop artist Viscose is a star-on-the-rise, whose love of dance, house and pop is wrapped up in his love of LGBTQ and pop culture. After taking a year out to refine his production skills, collaborate and create magic, Viscose is set for a jam-packed year full of exciting releases, visuals and projects. Earlier this year, he unveiled his latest single, 'I.L.Y.'

Monday, April 11: KhakiKid

Over the course of 2021, the 22-year-old rapper kept busy, injecting an eclectic new energy into the homegrown scene, with a string of acclaimed solo singles and collaborations with the likes of TrippyThaKid, Bricknasty and Ahmed, With Love – while his track with 49th & Main, ‘Alcoholics’, has garnered over 1.7 million Spotify streams. With a tongue-in-cheek delivery and a refusal to be pigeonholed, this Dublin artist looks set to make some major waves over the months ahead. In November, he released his latest single, 'Cozy'.

Tuesday, April 12: Amy Ellen

After the last few years, Amy Ellen has carved out an importance presence on the Irish indie- rock/pop scene, with her delicate vocals and carefully layered harmonies. Her eagerly-awaited debut EP, Only You Will Know, was released last year, showcasing her influences such as Kurt Vile and Mazzy Star. In addition to her acclaimed solo work, she also joined forced with recent Y&E Series performer Tommy Cullen in November, for the collaborative track 'In The Winter'.