Live Report: Mark Caplice joined by friends during a powerful perfomance for the 2023 Y&E Series

Wicklow native Mark Caplice has taken the last couple of years by storm. From co-writing songs which represented Ireland at Eurovision, to grabbing the attention of Lindsey Buckingham with an impassioned rendition of ‘The Chain’ by Fleetwood Mac - Caplice has gone from strength to strength.

No stranger to streamed performances (he was invited by the Grammys as a featured guest for their ‘Reimagined at Home’ series in 2022), Caplice took over the Hot Press Instagram last night for an intimate, stripped-back set - live from his stylish London apartment.

The artist's first song of the evening, ‘Pocket of Time’, saw him playing the acoustic guitar alongside his friend Angel on the cello. Upon hearing the first chord, the excitement surrounding Mark Caplice became evident. The confessional love ballad - accompanied by the melancholy mood of the cello - was a befitting introduction to the singer's trademark heartfelt lyricism. As the song drew to a close Caplice joked to the camera, “And the crowd goes wild…”  (from our side of the screen, he wasn’t wrong).

The next track saw Caplice alone with his guitar for another original, ‘Catch a Tear’. The folk ballad deals with the experience of seeing a loved one struggling, and not knowing how to help. A testament to his skill as a songwriter, the poignant lyrics and heavy subject matter didn’t prevent the song from feeling uplifting. Caplice seamlessly slowed down and ramped up the tempo, with his emotions on full display as he belted out the melody.

Despite having played sold-out shows across Ireland, the U.K. and Europe, Caplice admitted to feeling nervous for this Instagram live set. Nevertheless, his vocals remained unfaltering as he embarked into song number three of the evening - my personal favourite, ‘Leave the Light On’- a wistful track which asseses the lack of closure after a relationship and the urge to leave the door ajar. Caplice's singing soared over the strumming of his acoustic guitar, giving the song a dynamic and personal feel.

As Caplice turned to the camera while tuning his guitar, he revealed the inspiration for the next track of the evening - ‘Brighter Side of Sorrow’ (the title track from his debut EP)-  a personal story about a family friend who chose to hold onto love and positivity during challenging times. The glass-half-full anthem allowed viewers to witness his vocal range in all its glory - deliberately shaky at parts, leading into a jagged chorus, before delicately ascending to a haunting finale.

Caplice capped off his set with the heartfelt ‘One Wing’, a tribute to his late mother who passed away earlier this year. For his final number, the singer re-recruited Angel on the cello, as well as friends Katie and Laura on backing vocals. The groan of the cello combined with Caplice’s personal and confessional lyrics, as harmonies from Katie and Laura during the chorus gave way to a powerful crescendo. A bittersweet finale to a powerful set, Mark Caplice demonstrated his renowned talents as a lyricist and musician.

 

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Rewatch Mark’s Y&E contribution on the Hot Press Instagram.

Catch these artists in the coming days as part of the Young & Emerging Series.

Wednesday 18th: Sammy Copley
Tipped as one of Hot Press' 'Hot For 2023 Irish Acts', the singer-songwriter's fearlessly vulnerable approach has resonated with fans around the world – clocking up millions of streams and a phenomenal online following. His Y&E Series performance comes hot on the heels of his latest release, 'Terms Of Endearment (Demo)' – and will offer a promising taste of what to expect from his highly anticipated Whelan's headliner on November 4.

Thursday 19th: Krea
After initially rising to prominence as a member of Wyvern Lingo, Krea – aka Karen Cowley – emerged as a dazzling solo act last year with the serene ‘September Sun.’ With her debut EP The Callows now out in the world, the artist’s luscious melodies and captivating storytelling invites listeners on a soulful ride. Her promising Y&E set will arrive after a premiere of her forthcoming video, so stay tuned!

Friday 20th: Bernard M
Marked by his standout passion for creating genre-bending music and for bringing that sound to life onstage, the 23-year-old Crumlin native and multi-instrumental singer-songwriter/producer brings it all to the table. His shows are something of a spiritual experience, his magnetising energy and boundary-defying sonics captivating anyone lucky enough to be present. His new single ‘Young,’ a story of young love, is an earworm of an electric pop anthem.

Saturday 21st: Daragh Daly
Following his first encounter with his granddad’s guitar, the now-21-year-old Co. Meath artist has established himself as a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who isn’t afraid to break beyond the confines of genre. As well as being crowned a regional winner in the A New Local Hero talent earlier this year, he's garnered impressive radio and streaming attention.