Local Boy – the alter-ego of Burner Records co-founder Jake Hurley – has rapidly established himself as one of the most captivating forces in Irish music. Fusing elements of laidback hip-hop, R&B and smooth funk with off-kilter indie sensibilities, as well as some of the sharpest lyrics on the scene, he treated fans to a special stripped-back performance on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions Y&E Series, to celebrate the release of his new single, 'Thoughts'

Opening the set with 'Al Bundy', his natural charisma and positive energy was infectious – with his talents as a songwriter taking centre stage in the intimate setting, featuring only Jake's vocals and electric guitar accompaniment. From there, he launched into a selection of highlights from his lauded 2019 EP, Local Boy Ruins Everything – featuring epic tales of beautiful absurdity and dreams of rock 'n' stardom.

Following a brilliant performance of fan favourite 'Haircut' – which has clocked up over 360,000 streams on Spotify – he closed out the set with the highly anticipated live debut of his new single, 'Thoughts'. The track – which finds Local Boy channelling his inner André 3000 – explores the frustration of attempting to improve your mental health through the use of for-profit self-help resources, and offers a further taste of what to expect from Local Boy's sophomore EP, out this summer.

Watch Local Boy's performance on the Y&E Series below:

 

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Local Boy plays The Workman's Club in Dublin on January 15, 2020.

Take a look at the upcoming line-up for the Y&E Series below:

Friday, April 23: LORRAINE NASH
The independent release of her debut EP, Wildflower, last year established Lorraine Nash as a star-in-the-making – garnering widespread radio play and critical acclaim.  Now the Kerry singer-songwriter has signed with FIFA Records – and is set offer us a taste of what to expect from her highly anticipated debut album with the release of her new single, 'Sing With Her', on April 30.

Saturday, April 24: PAUL JENKINSON
Having built up an impressive following performing on Grafton Street, Paul Jenkinson contributed to the acclaimed virtual rendition of 'One Love' last year – recorded by some of Dublin's favourite buskers during lockdown. After a string of well-received singles, he released his A Smile And A Wave EP in 2019.

Sunday, April 25: SAM CLIFFORD
One of several phenomenal talents to emerge from Dublin’s busking community in recent years, singer-songwriter Sam Clifford has garnered over 13,000 Instagram followers with his captivating repertoire of both covers and original tracks. Although still in his teens, the Dublin artist has been tipped for stardom...

Monday, April 26: MIA BLACK
From busking in Galway, to sharing her stunning voice with millions of people on YouTube, Mia Black has attracted a major fanbase on these shores and beyond – with over  92,000 YouTube subscribers, and 45,500 followers on Instagram. In addition to her remarkable covers, the 14-year-old singer-songwriter has also been busy writing her own original material – and is poised for a major international breakthrough.

Tuesday, April 27: MATTHEW NOLAN
21-year-old singer-songwriter Matthew Nolan has established himself as a serious force to be reckoned with over the last few years. Following a string of acclaimed solo singles, which have clocked up Spotify streams in their millions, the Drogheda artist found major international success as a member of the group Since September – who won Little Mix: The Search in November, and are set to join Little Mix on their arena tour next year.

Wednesday, April 28: DANI LARKIN
Hailing from the Armagh-Monaghan border, folk artist Dani Larkin has been heralded as one of Ireland's finest songwriters. In addition to high-profile support slots for the likes of Rufus Wainwright, Lisa O'Neill and Joshua Burnside, she  made a lauded appearance at this year's Folk Alliance International, and is set to play The Great Escape Online in May. Her highly anticipated debut album, Notes For A Maiden Warrior, is out June 18.

Thursday, April 29: MEL MARYNS

Initially rising to prominence as a busker on St Patrick's Street in Cork and Grafton Street in Dublin, singer-songwriter, musician and producer Mel Maryns has emerged as a captivating talent – with a string of genre-blending singles that draw influence from the legendary likes of Guns N' Roses, Skid Row and Evanescence. She released her latest single, 'Butter Wings', earlier this month.

Friday, April 30: TANAKA X
After establishing himself as a serious force in alternative R&B back in 2018, with a high profile support slot for former JLS member Aston Merrygold, Tanaka X, aka Johnson Tanaka Furusa, stepped back into the spotlight with his debut single, 'Let You Know', last month. The 22-year-old rapper, singer-songwriter and producer – who was crowned the winner of NiStars Talent Competition in 2015, and Belfast Nashville Young Songwriters in 2017 – has built up a reputation as a multi-talented star-in-the-making.

Saturday, May 1: LUKE POWER
After high profile support slots for Picture This, Luke Power – the son of The Script's drummer Glen Power – took a three-year hiatus from the spotlight. Now he's back with an arsenal of new tracks ready to go. Bringing together elements of electronic music and radio-ready pop, he has emerged as a compelling solo artist, with the release of 'Penance', 'Drinks', 'Every Night' and 'Tell Me Lies' already this year.

The Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' Y&E Series is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Watch the performances live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) every night at 7.30pm.