Hot Press Playlist: Irish Electronic/Dance Artists To Watch

Ireland is full of emerging talent, especially in the electronic dance sphere. The rise of new releases has been incredible, despite the relatively small island we inhabit.

Although there's still plenty of work to be done in terms of diversity and inclusion, with the growing number of new collectives and initiatives popping up, it seems like we're going in the right direction. Hot Press has compiled a list of some of our favourite current electronic talents around the country; DJs who are pushing the boundaries further afield with their beats.

With a new EP release this year from German-born, Dublin-based DJ Small Crab, who supported The Cope at their Button Factory headline set last Friday. Anastasia (0ka Small Crab) is a producer, DJ and one of the founding members of Skin & Blister, a platform dedicated to nurturing and encouraging female-identifying, trans and non-binary creatives in the realm of music and the arts. Don't miss out on her Flowing with Honey EP, out now on Marie Montexier's label Paryìa.

ImniLeaba's 'YTYKM' was produced and written by Alba Molina and Corelife91, arriving in April this year. Initially down-tempo, immersive and ambient, it later goes in all kinds of brilliant and faster-paced directions.

Aero is part of All City’s Gurriers sub-label with Shelter - the first physical release following a string of well received digital-only singles. The Baldoyle techno stalwart delivers four diverse cuts steeped in dancefloor tradition whilst forward facing in sound and intent, including the hypnotic 'Bounty'.

Roo Honeychild also made our list. The talented DJ, producer and A&R expert has worked between Dublin and Glasgow, and is a founding member of music and party collective Club Comfort. As well as playing clubs, festivals and radio shows across Ireland, the UK and the EU, she is the co-founder of City Imp Records, a label for Irish club and pop music with a freak edge. Her Honeypot DJ sets are heaps of fun. Her track 'This Generation (Pass The Dutchie To Roo Bootleg)' was one of the most addictive tracks of the year from the Glasgow-based act.

Shannen Blessing is another DJ to watch, having risen up the ranks as a young act since her first gig in March 2019. You can catch her at Bow Lane, Index, Wigwam and more around Dublin. The producer hails from the east coast of Ireland, and has supported artists such as Jeff Mills, DAX J, DVS1, Sunil Sharpe, Lag, Introversion, Inhalt Der Nacht and Parallx to name a few.

R O I B I's October 2020 track 'Pussy in Pixel' remixes Sylvester's 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)' in the best way. It was debuted at haus of whorrors with City Imp and BoDi3z.

Don't forget to check out Soria's new EP Storegga, with proceeds going towards MASI. Soria's trance infused and genre bending sets and production has led to her being dubbed one of the most experimental talents in Ireland in recent times. The performer's musical influences range from ambient to 90s trance, hard house and pop, all of which can be heard through her unique musical output. The DJ made recent a appearance in the Izakaya Basement, and has also performed at other notable parties like Dublin Modular while DJing at ‘Thrust’, ‘Club Comfort’ and ‘Honeypot’ events. Soria recently supported TAAHLIAH at the Racket Space.

 

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Cork native Syn is a founding member of Flood – a record label that’s flown the flag for hard drum and high impact club sounds over the past few years.

Three years ago, she started the club night CXNT in a room above a bar that serves as the local record shop by day, creating a monthly safe space for hard tracks and powerful feminine energy by night. Syn’s first release on ETS, Temper, is dark, brooding and intense. The vocals could be pained shrieks or sensual cries, wit push-pull rhythms, tightening loops and sub-laden floor-toms.

"It’s partly an expression of the frustration associated with the treatment of transgender folk in Ireland; the ever-growing waiting lists for hormone replacement therapy, unnecessary psychological evaluations and the lack of education in the public sphere about the reality of trans people," she said at the time of its release.

Check more electronic tracks in the playlist below!