- Culture
- 06 Apr 22
The Dublin duo delivered an effortlessly excellent set on last night Y&E Series, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media...
Dublin alt-pop duo Blondmodel served up the slow jams on last night’s Y&E Series, cementing their 'rising star' status.
They started the evening off with 'Leftover Wine', the first of several songs off their self-produced album Doom, Gloom, And Cheap Perfume. The LP, which dropped back in February, proved the duo to be a fresh and exciting new voice in the Irish music scene. 'Leftover Wine' is just the kind of slow ambient song of melancholy and heartbreak that they have really proven to be their specialty.
Their next song ‘SLOW’ is, as its name suggests, a leisurely, gentle, and unhurried tune that carries the same easygoing vibe as the two primary school pals themselves. The pair let themselves feel the moment and played whatever peaked their interest at as they went. The young duo explained that the format of the Y&E Series allowed them to play a number of slow songs that they wouldn't be able to play at a gig for fear that "people would be too bored."
Next, Blondmodel played a cover of 'By Your Side' by Nigerian-born British singer Sade. The track earned Sade a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance back in 2001. "I think that might be in my top three all time," Steven declared after finishing the tune. "It’s class," Sean agreed.
Before their last song, the duo spent a few moments deciding if there was anything else that they felt like playing. A few chords for 'Say It Ain't So' by Weezer and 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen were casually tossed around before settling on 'BLISS', another song from their recent album. “And it's even more exciting because we have practiced this one,” Steven prefaced before starting the tune. If they were out of practice, it was impossible to tell as the song was performed flawlessly- as was the entirety of their Y&E Series set.
Advertisement
View this post on Instagram
Watch the Hot Press Y&E Series – supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media – live on the Hot Press Instagram (@hotpressmagazine) at 7pm each night.
Coming up on the Y&E Series...
Wednesday, April 6: Clara Tracey
There’s a big buzz around the Fermanagh-born, Dublin-residing Clara Tracey, who’s played in assorted bands with Maija Sofia, Aoife Nessa Frances and Paddy Hanna. Now concentrating fully on her solo endeavours, the title-track from her upcoming Black Forest album has dropped on Dundalk’s Pizza Pizza artists’ collaborative label. Jazzy, poppy and Motown-y in equal measure, it features Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox on bass and calls on the titular 1920s stained glass artist to melt down his Eve of St. Agnes masterpiece so that the young lovers depicted in it can be reunited.
Thursday, April 7: Lea Heart
After clocking up millions of streams over lockdown, Lea Heart will make her Irish headline debut with two nights at The Academy on April 19th and 20th. Lea Heart’s pandemic success reflects bold new changes currently underway in the music industry. As well as getting her song ‘A Million Goodbyes’ featured in an episode of Love Island, her phenomenal popularity is also largely owing to social media. Fellow Kildare act Picture This have also been early champions of Lea. The band selected her as one of the support acts for their Malahide Castle show in June.
Friday, April 8: Sinead McConville
The Wicklow musician first released her debut solo single, 'Doorstep', back in May 2020. Recorded at home in a sticky and sweaty attic with rising singer/songwriter and Y&E Series performer D. Cullen, the song is an expression of love on a summer’s day in Ireland. Previous single, ‘Running From You’, stayed on the RTE Recommends playlist for three weeks. Highlight performances for Sinéad include The Late Late Show and supporting Mundy in Lost Lane; ‘Ireland Music Week’ with ELKAE and John Barker’s ‘TILT’ with Munky in The Button Factory. The Irish folk-pop artist released her stripped back, harmony-driven piano ballad 'Break My Heart' last June.