A&R Department: Archy Moor, Chalk, Bricknasty, Jazzy, Amy Michelle

We’re seriously liking ‘Skin’, the second single of the year from Reii who mixes acoustic guitars, breakcore drums and pop elements to supremely good effect.

“The song is about not being wanted by someone and eventually coming to terms with the fact,’ the 20-year-old Laois student tells us. “I currently write, produce and mix all of my songs from my bedroom. I started singing over beats I made during quarantine until eventually I became comfortable releasing them.”

Stay in the reei loop on his @fl.ygon insta.

In the same week that her fellow Mullingar-ian Niall Horan performed in the White House – Uncle Joe says he’s welcome back whenever he wants – Amy Michelle released ‘Ode To Praying To The Answer Machine’, an atmospheric slice of pop delivered in her trademark breathy style.

Clearly in thrall to Billie Eilish but bringing lots of her own to the party, it’s lifted from the 22-year-old’s upcoming Felicity Stories six-tracker.

Having been a major part of the Belters Only success story, Jazzy opens her solo account with ‘Giving Me’, a stomping house anthem that reinforces the Irish-Jamaican singer’s star potential.

With over 1.2 million monthly Spotify listens, we’re fully expecting her to repeat Belters’ top 5 success.

Fresh from gracing our Hot For 2023 list, Chubby Cat returns with ‘Big Dog Barking’, a funky divil of a single, which also features some dirty Prince/Lenny Kravitz-esque guitar.
Add in the razor-sharp look and industry knowhow gleaned from being a BIMM Dublin graduate, and the Leesider is quite the prospect.

Also living up to their Hot For 2023 billing are Spearside, the Meath lovers of all things loud and punk/modish, whose ‘Not Up To Much’ is their strongest offering yet.

Redolent of ‘80s revivalists like The Chords (only much louder), it’s got the likes of Steve Lamacq all fired up and will likely get ‘em signed.

Themes such as Catholicism, alienation and spiritual paralysis are examined on ‘Go Gracefully’, the third single to be lifted from M Stevens & The Ghasts’ Birds album.

Accompanied by a clever 3D scanned video produced by keyboards/mandolin/melodica player High McCabe, it’s a wonderfully evocative piece of music from the quintet whose collective CV includes Si Schroder, Large Mound, Spook of the 13th Lock, A Ritual Sea and Sweet Jane.

Bag yourself a copy from mstevenstheghasts.bandcamp.com.

Fresh from signing to London’s FAMM label whose roster also includes Maverick Sabre, Ballymun neo-soulsters Bricknasty team up with alt-rapper KhakiKid on the slinky ‘Fashion’.
With BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders already on board; a triumphant trip to Eurosonic in January; and A-ha, George Ezra, Holly Humberstone and Paolo Nutini bookers Pure looking after their live work, there’s real momentum building.

khakikid by fnati.c

Archy Moor steps it up a gear with Bonnie Hill, a six-track offering recorded with Loyle Carner, JGrrey and Finn Askew producer Earl Saga who clearly recognises a hot prospect when he hears one.

Standouts include ‘Pray My Ma’ and the piano-driven ‘Belly Of A Queen’, both of which are warm-hearted celebrations of his mum.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson & Co. get a deserved lambasting on ‘PTS.DUP’, the latest from angry post-punk Belfast men Enola Gay whose admirers include a certain James Osterberg Jr.

It’s from a forthcoming EP that’s being released by Modern Sky, the UK label who also have Crawlers and Malady on their books.

There’s definitely something in the Lagan water with Chalk following in Idles and Gilla Band’s noisy wake with ‘Asking’, a take zero prisoners tease of their debut Conditions EP, which follows in May. They’ve gotten in bed with Jawdropper, the Dublin management company who are also looking after “sexy new alt-rockers” The Fae.

If it’s sleek vocals paired with clever, diaristic lyrics you’re after, look no further than ‘Mr. Perfect’, the latest from 22-year-old Dubliner Essiray who also answers to the name of Rachel Murphy.

Taking notes from the likes of Kynsy and St. Vincent, it’s the latest in a string of singles – ‘Summer Fling’, ‘Pink Flowers’ and ‘City’ among them – that have been getting lots of people excited.

Read the full A&R Department in the new issue of Hot Press.