Waterford neo-soulster Carrie Baxter is already generating a big buzz in the UK – and it looks like Ireland finally catching on too. Ahead of the release of her new EP Placebos,  listen to the project's first single 'Love Me Better'.

This fortnight saw Ireland's thriving hip-hop and R&B worlds collide, with collaborative single 'Last Flight [Remix]' from AikJ and JyellowL.

Proving that protest music is officially alive and kicking on these shores, the eve of this month's historic general election saw the release of a multitude of damning political anthems from independent acts across the country – including Panik Attaks, Lethal Dialect, TPM and Post Punk Podge.

We also reviewed tracks from Mick Flannery & SON, Gaptoof & Kojaque and Jess Young.

In the 'On Our Radar' section, we interviewed Moon Looks On and Cooks But We're Chefs.

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