Live Report: The Zen Arcade on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' Y&E Series

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, as evidenced by The Zen Arcade's brilliant set on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' Y&E Series last night.

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, last year.

Their Y&E Series set was an immersive experience from the get-go – opening with a stunning three-part harmony, before embracing their self-described "cowpunk" sound on 'Wallflower'.

Drawing from a sound indebted to The Flying Burrito Brother as much as The Jesus And Mary Chain, highlights of the Cavan crew's performance also included a captivating selection of as-yet-unreleased tracks, as well as covers of John Leyton's 1961 hit single 'Johnny Remember Me', The Housemartins' 'The Mighty Ship', and The Rubs' 'Wrong/Right Girl' – before capping off the set with their acclaimed single, 'Don't Say A Word'.

Watch The Zen Arcade's performance on the Y&E Series below:

 

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Take a look at our spectacular upcoming line-up for the new edition of the Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media – going live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) every night at 7.30pm:

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 singles 'Platinum' and 'Goodbye' – which have together clocked up nearly a quarter of a million streams on Spotify alone.

Thursday, April 15: NERVES
Formed in 2016, NERVES began playing DIY punk shows in their home counties of Mayo and Galway. Since relocating to Dublin for college, they have really hit their groove with an electrifying mix of noise-rock, post-rock and shoegaze – releasing their acclaimed single 'Time Trial' in 2020, followed by their Time Trial Remixes EP.

Friday, April 16: LOCAL BOY
Fusing elements of laidback hip-hop, R&B and smooth funk with off-kilter indie sensibilities, Local Boy – aka Jake Hurley – has been busy crafting some of the most exciting sounds in Irish music in recent years. The Burner Records co-founder’s tracks have scored coveted spots on high-profile Spotify playlists – and his appearance on the Y&E Series coincides with the release of his highly anticipated new single, 'Thoughts', from his upcoming sophomore EP.

Saturday, April 17: ROOUE
Dublin-based pop duo ROOUE – made up of twin sisters Ro and Lou – have rapidly established themselves as one of the most exciting emerging acts on the Irish scene, through their signature blended harmonies and diverse counter melodies. Drawing inspiration from the likes of NAO, Banks and Lennon Stella, the pair brought their sound to thrilling new heights on their latest single, 'Bad Blood', released last month.

Sunday, April 18: FYA FOX
Hailing from the Monaghan/Armagh border region, FYA FOX draws influence from the likes of London Grammar and Lana Del Rey – to present a captivatingly unique electronic pop sound, combined with deeply emotive lyrics. FYA's approach to alternative pop is also informed by her background as a classically-trained vocalist – as evidenced in her latest single, 'Body', which earned widespread airplay and coverage.

Monday, April 19: EMMO
Cork singer-songwriter Emmo, aka Emmett Crotty, has already made a splash in the UK – with a show-stealing appearance on BBC's I Can See Your Voice. Bringing a fresh, genre-defying approach to Irish music, Emmo’s highly anticipated new single, 'Make You Mine', is out on Friday, April 16.