Live Report: D.Cullen on the Hot Press Y&E Series

The Dublin singer-songwriter gained attention in 2019 when his single 'Alright' made waves at radio and led to an acclaimed performance on The Late Late Show. He followed up in 2020 with a slew of equally addictive releases: The Rising Tide EP, 'Rainbow Weather'; 'Birch Street' and a festive collaboration with Sinead McConville, 'Christmas Ain't The Same (Miles & Miles Away)'.

2021 saw the release of psych-pop tune 'All The People', romance-twinged gem 'She Is A Song' and instant pop hit 'Heartline'. Cullen's melodies and soundscapes aim to bridge the gap between Elvis Costello, Tom Petty and Taylor Swift; as demonstrated on his most recent musical number 'Radio'.

Beginning his set with the aforementioned single, 'Radio' got D.Cullen off to a flying start. "I'm a big fan of watching the Y&E Series, so it's an honour to be playing one," he tells his live audience, which saw numbers grow by the minute. The laidback pop track focuses on intimate snapshots of daily life experiences.

"I forgot how fun livestreams are!" Cullen declared, thanking a viewer who referenced the Major 7ths. "Thank you for noticing how nerdy I am with chords."

Up next was the chilled out track 'All The People', which simply must take inspiration from the songwriting talents of Sir Paul McCartney. It's got Beatles written all over it, with simple yet addictive melodies and universal thematic appeal.

The Dublin native gives viewers a tour of his "jam studio" before leading into a brand new song, his next single 'Sing My Story, Tell My Song'. The track is set to land in May, and is taken from his upcoming crowdfunded debut album. Currently in the mastering process, the LP is finally set to land in the autumn.

The single itself is about Cullen's love for music and decision to embark on the industry as an overall career. Given the amount of singer-songwriters watching the set, it went down a treat. His next offering arrives in the form of 'Wait', taken from the musical Heartstring with brother Ronan Woods - who wrote the script. The musical will be performed in April at the Greystones Whale Theatre in Wicklow.

The down-tempo number takes romance to a whole new level. It's the perfect advertisement for the project, if you ask us. Cullen takes the time to curate a tribute to one of his lifelong heroes, Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters. The 50-year-old drummer tragically passed away last weekend. The singer-songwriter covers 'Times Like These' with emotion, having "fallen in love, had my heart broken, graduated, done everything to the sound of the Foo Fighters". He saw the band live four times, and affirmed that they were "four of the best nights of my life".

Lastly, Cullen delivers a rendition of his usual closer 'Alright'. It's a note of optimism that aptly rounds up a gripping, fun-filled set from the rising star.

Check out D.Cullen's full performance below:

There are still many more nights to go on the Hot Press Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Tune in every night at 7 to the Hot Press Instagram to see another exciting performance from an Irish up and comer.

Coming up on the Y&E Series....

Thursday March 31: Tara Nome Doyle
In April 2018, the Berlin-raised Norwegian/Irish musician's first single ‘Down With You’ was unveiled. It has since been streamed more than four million times, with her first EP Dandelion landing that same year to similar numbers and acclaim. Debut album Alchemy came in 2020, cementing Tara’s status as a star on the rise before 2022's hugely unique sophomore offering Værmin arrived. Previewed by captivating singles 'Snail I', 'Crow' and 'Caterpillar', the album landed via Modern Imprint. Catch her live this March at Doyles' Ruby Sessions.

Friday, April 1: Tommy Cullen
The former frontman with Dublin alt-rock band The False And The Fair, Tommy Cullen has been building up a strong following over the past year as a solo singer-songwriter. Having spent recent years writing and producing new music, in 2021, he showcased the versatility of his approach with a string of well-received singles, including 'Night Moves', 'Violet Rainbow', and 'In The Winter', featuring Amy Ellen.

Sunday, April 3: Chris Leonard
Born in Dublin and raised in Ballivor, Co.Meath, Chris Leonard's passion for music was first shaped by watching his father play in sessions with the likes of The Fureys, and Barney McKenna of The Dubliners. Chris initially rose to prominence on The X-Factor, as a member of the band Stereo Kicks, who ultimately reached the quarter finals of the show. He's now a solo artist – and following the release of 'Fix' last year, 2022 will see him travel to America to record his debut album.

Monday, April 4: Molly O'Mahony
Initially rising to prominence as one quarter of art-folk group Mongoose, the Ballydehob native has struck out on her own over lockdown – armed with a serious knack for intricate, intimate songwriting, and one of the most uniquely resonant voices in the country. Following two well-received singles, her crowd-funded debut solo album, The House Of David, is set to be released later this year. Back in January, O'Mahony was tipped as one of our 'Hot For 2022' Irish Acts.