Live Report: EVIE captures the hearts of her Y&E audience

Taking over last night’s Y&E Series, Dublin native artist and producer EVIE debuted unreleased tracks from her forthcoming EP, commanding her audience with her evocative vocals and heart-wrenching lyricism.

The young and emerging singer-songwriter has been making waves in the Irish music front with her alt-pop tunes since the release of her debut single ‘Famous Behaviour’ in 2021. Her forthcoming EP is released after Christmas, with the next single ‘Devil’ out November 10.

Tuning in, EVIE began her Friday evening set by thanking her audience for being there, adding, “Big thank you to Hot Press and the Department of Tourism and Culture.”

Things kicked off to a brilliant start with ‘Mighty Boy,’ an unreleased track of her forthcoming EP. With haunting, chesty vocals, her usual dreamy alt-pop sound was stripped back, pulling her emotionally tinged voice to the surface.

She eased into ‘Paris’ effortlessly, plucking a soft, frail melody on her acoustic guitar. A tune of observation, EVIE’s songwriting is laced with acute, deeply personal details that bring her narratives to life.

“That was a song called ‘Paris,’ it’s about Paris,” she concluded. A woman of few words if not lyrical.
Building on the eloquent metaphors and images present in her songwriting, ‘Magpie’ was the kind of slow-burning melody that one wishes would last for longer.

“We don’t rust the same, magpies won’t stay,” EVIE coos before the shattering close, dragging out the emotion in her song as she pushes, pulls and plays with silence and sound simultaneously.

“This next song is an old song, it is called Dublin Bay,” the singer shared, already strumming the track. “I hope you like it.”

A song about someone else’s tragic story, ‘Dublin Bay’ opened with a moving, finger-plucked string arrangement. EVIE sang such heartbreaking lines as, “So in love with the pain he created, he made daisy chains before he broke the rules.” It was a quiet, sombre tune — but one that feels both familiar and of the long-ago past.

“I always love playing that one,” she shared at the end.

After plugging her gig in Whelan’s on November 14, EVIE introduced her final song of the night, ‘Simple City,’ one of the artist’s previous releases.

It was an Irish tale of leaving; the singer’s voice shook with understanding and empathy as she sang, “Simple city, there’ll be riots in the street, I’m afraid I have to leave.” Her voice swayed from high and sweet to deep and full of grit, as much an instrument in her heartfelt sound as the guitar strings beneath her fingers.

“It’s been a pleasure, thank you so much for joining and listening,” the artist said before logging off, adding, “Hopefully I’ll see you in Whelan’s on the 14th of November!”

Re-watch EVIE’s Y&E Series performance below. Tickets for her single release Dublin gig in Whelan’s on November 14 are available at the link here.

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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 (@hotpressinstagram) at 7pm each night.

Catch the following acts performing this November:

Saturday 4th: Garron Noone
Garron Noone is a Ballina comedian and musician who’s earned himself a mammoth online following, with a reputation for his hilarious reviews of Irish culture, whether it be sharing his thoughts on Irish towns, or giving his expert step-by-step guide on dining on a spice bag. He’s earned plaudits for his comedy, featuring on the BBC’s Big Comic Energy, he also boasts over 480k followers on TikTok alone. His talents extend to the realm of music too – releasing his characteristically humorous single ‘Ready For Go (Chicken Roll Song)’ in May earlier this year.

Sunday 5th: F3miii
A Dublin-based musician making waves with his melodic voice and vibrant guitar skills, F3miii has been involved in music ever since he got his start singing in a gospel choir. He has since collaborated with some lauded Irish acts, including Jafaris, Haresquead, Monjola and Moio. Finding solace in creating music on love and heartbreak, the young producer has an impressive string of live appearances under his belt, including shows at Irish Music Week, Trinity Ball and Forbidden Fruit. F3miii has also featured on popular Spotify curated playlists such as Our Generation, Chilled Pop Hits and Alternative Ireland.

Monday 6th: Plantain Papi
Hailing from North Dublin, Plantain Papi is a multifaceted artist and producer, popular for creatively infusing rap, afrobeat and pop sounds. Since sharing his first single in late 2017, he has gone on to garner radio play on stations across Ireland. A maverick behind the mixing desk, Plantain has produced for Tolu Makay, F3miii, Sophie Jane and MangoxMathman to name a few. Having sold out his first headline show at The Academy , Plantain Papi was chosen to perform at last year's Longitude Festival on the main stage, as well as at the 3Arena with international megastar Burna Boy.

Tuesday 7th: Chubby Cat
Possessing tracks that are creating waves in the UK & Ireland, and stamped with an unmistakable style of her own, Cork-born BIMM graduate Chubby Cat is one of the country’s forerunning electro-pop artists. Her songs have earned spins on stations both at home and abroad, including BBC 6 and Radio 1, and a host of Irish stations. An enigmatic performer, she's supported the likes of Crawlers and Tourist at sold-out Dublin shows, and appeared at the ever-popular Indiependence Festival in her native Cork.