Live Report: Christian Wethered on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' Y&E Series

Drawing influence from the legendary likes of Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed, Dublin-based singer-songwriter Christian Wethered is poised for major success on these shores and beyond, with the release of his debut album, Mon Petit Jardin, later his year. His debut poetry book, I Don't Love You, was shortlisted for the Melita Hume Prize in 2018 – and this passion for poetry continues to inform his stunning singles.

The easygoing talent gave a riveting delivery of unheard tracks ('Isa' was a highlight, in particular) and previous releases during his Y&E Series set, which happened to be his first ever livestream gig.

Performing his most recent single 'Mon Petit Jordan', 'Way Back' and 'Mr Medicine Man'; Wethered showcased the deep connection between the words which inform his poetry and lyrics which are the bedrock of his music. From summertime love anthems to vulnerable, down-tempo numbers exploring mental health and physical illness, the musician is open with his listeners from the first note.

Going into detail about his experience of ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, otherwise known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), Wethered has been struggling with the disorder for five years. Infusing his personal life into his music, the artist implores listeners to "Please forgive me all that time I wasn't there", the lyrics to the track describe the feeling of exhaustion and mental dissociation which chronic illness sadly breeds. Affecting the relationships around him as well as his mental health, Christian paints a painfully loyal and accurate portrait of ME for his audience - a generous gift.

His next single is due to arrive on May 10th, ahead of his highly anticipated debut album. The single will be accompanied by an atmospheric music video, created by Christian's friends in their production company.

Watch this space, 2021 will be a big year for the Dublin-based creative.

Check out the full performance below:

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In the meantime, we're delighted to present our spectacular upcoming line-up for the new edition of the Y&E Series – going live every night at 7.30pm:

Sunday, April 11: BOBBI ARLO
Arriving on the Irish scene with a powerful, arena-ready pop sound and indisputable star quality, 22-year-old Dubliner Bobbi Arlo is tipped for mega success. Bobbi's 2019 debut single ‘Berries’ was a radio smash hit – and following the release of two equally remarkable singles, 'Signs' and 'Breathe', she returned earlier this year with her acclaimed feel-good anthem, 'Feel It'.

Monday, April 12: BABYLAMB
Specialising in high-energy, dancefloor-friendly bubblegum pop, Babylamb are primed to go supernova over the next 12 months. The quartet of self-described "sad, fresh-faced queers" first announced their arrival as a captivating new presence in Irish music with their debut single 'Bodyright' in 2019 – followed by 2020's 'Icky', and their explosive synth-pop anthem 'Mister Magic' earlier this year.

Tuesday, April 13: THE ZEN ARCADE
Rising from the ashes of The Strypes, three former members of the Cavan crew have joined forces once again – with a new emphasis on doing things their own way. Having launched their own zine and podcast series, The Zen Arcade announced themselves as a very serious, smart new force in Irish music with the release of their debut, ‘Don’t Say A Word’, on their own label, Dental Records.

Wednesday, April 14: FINTAN MCKAHEY
A lo-fi indie singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer from Cork, Fintan McKahey has been releasing music since 2016, and playing support slots for the likes of The Scratch, Junior Brother and Róisín O. His debut EP God Games was released in 2019 to widespread critical acclaim, followed by his 2020 single 'Platinum' – which has clocked up nearly 135,000 streams on Spotify alone.