A&R Department: Monjola, Ailbhe Reddy, piglet, Saige and more

Not content with being a pivotal part of Ye Vagabonds, Alain McFadden has released the impossibly beautiful ‘Rising’ under the nom de studio of All The Brave Hunters. The first taster from his debut solo EP, Painted Glass, which follows in March, it was recorded in West Cork with guest vocalist Elva Carroll the perfect counterbalance to Alain’s trademark tremolo.

With fiddles, bouzoukis, guitars, drones from a prophet synth and an Indian harmonium, it’s definitely not your average Irish single…

Roisin El Cherif journeyed to Thailand to shoot the video for ‘Without You’, a shimmering pop tune that the Galwegian co-wrote with Niall Horan band member Jake Curran.

Not since Duran Duran’s ‘Rio’ promo have we been so jealous of an artist basking under the tropical sun.

Further produced by Danny Lanham who’s worked the board for the likes of Denise Chaila and Hazey Haze, it’s the first offering from an album that’s been four years in the making…

Also teasing their new long-player – Endless Affair, which lands on Paddy’s Day – is Ailbhe Reddy whose ‘Shitshow’ single marks a quantum jump in her already very fine songwriting.

Accompanied by a gaff party video that includes cameos from SOAK, MayKay and a dozen more of her pals, it’ll doubtless get a live airing when the Dublin-born, London-residing singer heads to SXSW in March, then runs round Europe and returns home for May 5 and 6 shows in Whelan’s.

We wouldn’t be at all surprised if Ailbhe follows bezzie Orla Gartland into the UK top 20…

We’ll tell you all about them in our Hot For 2023 special issue, but in the meantime check out the debut single from Dublin indie rockers Spearside, ‘Crack In Your Brain’, on their Bandcamp.

Spearside.

Young fellas who are being guided by well-known indie mover ‘n’ shaker Philip Cartin – he previously looked after Chicks and Conor O’Brien’s pre-Villagers outfit The Immediate – they’re redolent of early Oasis, Ride and Arctic Monkeys before they decided to turn into Scott Walker.

It’s fast, extremely furious and guaranteed to get them noticed by industry types...

Receiving BBC Introducing and BBC 6Music nods is Siobhán Winifred, a London-based alt. popper with Irish roots, a sizable TikTok following and a pearler of a new single in ‘Black Hole’.

@siobhanwinifred voice is a lil tired but thought id share #singersongwriter #songwriting #fyp #original #originalmusic #musician #phoebebridgers #voiceeffects ♬ original sound - siobhán winifred

Arlo Parks and Holly Humberstone are handy reference points, but only tell part of her musical story…

DJ Mona-Lxsa, a woman very much in the hip-hop and R&B know, points us in the direction of Monjola whose ‘Big Fat Liar’ single has a deliciously lazy feel and a hook that once heard will never be forgotten. 'Mama Always Says' steps it up a notch, though.

The Lucan artist, who joined Fontaines D.C. and Biig Piig at this year’s Jameson Connects St. Patrick’s Day knees-up, is part of the same Chamomile Records set-up as Aly Coulibaly…

Mona-Lxsa is also all over ‘Pick Up’, the latest from Dublin’s Naomi Jeremiah who grew up listening to the likes of Lauryn Hill and Fela Kuti, both of whom filter into her music.

She’s got a voice like hot butter and a pop sensibility that will hopefully lead to lots of Irish radio airplay…

There’s a distinct Latino flavour to ‘Andale’, the latest from DBO who’s joined by fellow A92 member Ksav and Northwest London rappers Brandz and Tizzy.

It’s been a great year for all of the seven-strong A92 crew whose production values go up a notch every time they venture into the studio. They’ve already conquered the UK and will doubtless be hoping to venture Stateside ASAP…

BIMM graduate Saige drops several f-bombs on ‘Outgrown’, a high-octane pop single redolent of Stock, Aiken & Waterman-era Kylie.

One of our Hot For 2021 picks, the Wexford singer pays a March 24 visit to the Workman’s Cellar, Dublin to coincide with the release of its parent Sparks EP…

Making major waves in London where he’s now residing is piglet, the Belfast Artist Also Known As Charlie Loane who’s signed to the same Blue Flowers label as Hot Press faves Puma Blue.

He’s just released his seven songs mini-album, which details piglet’s experiences of mental health, substance abuse, self-identity, trans experience and friendship.

Formerly part of bedroom electronica outfit Great Dad, he spills real blood in the video accompanying lead single ‘to you tonight’, which was shot by filmmaker Harv Frost…

Those of a kickass rock ‘n’ roll persuasion are going to love ‘What’s It Gonna Be?’, a White Lies-meets-Royal Blood thunderclap of a song from SWELTR.

If the North Dublin duo can generate the same adrenalised noise on stage, we could have something very special on our hands…

Former X Factor The Band contestant Jennifer Yusuf can be found hanging out on TikTok where she’s amassed over a million likes with her skits and covers of R&B classics.

A very special vocal talent – seriously, she’ll put goosepimples on your goosepimples – Jennifer also has original songs on the way.

@jenniferyusuf most special song out there @samsmith #fyp #foryou #singing #samsmith #samsmithchallenge #imnottheonlyone #alto #voiceeffects ♬ original sound - Jenny

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