Derry's most exciting pop export JC Stewart treated fans to an intimate performance on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions' Y&E Series.

Kicking off at the slightly later-than-usual time of 9pm, fresh from an all-day photo shoot ("Hence why I'm wearing nice clothes for once," he quipped), JC launched the acoustic set with his latest single, the acclaimed 'I Need You To Hate Me'.

"That sound is exactly how I've wanted to sound," he said of the new track, in a recent interview with Hot Press. "They're some of my favourite lyrics I've written, too. Out of the songs I've written, it's one of the few I can actually to listen to – usually I can't listen to my own stuff!"

The performance also included a stunning cover of 'Tennessee Whiskey' – our second Chris Stapleton cover on the Y&E Series, following Ryan O'Shaughnessy's moving rendition of 'Whiskey And You' last week – as well as a playful performance of Harry Styles' hit single 'Watermelon Sugar'.

Among the highlights of the set were two sneak previews of upcoming tracks – including a new collaborative single, out on Friday.

Revisit JC Stewart's performance on the Y&E Series, supported by the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, below:

 

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Een bericht gedeeld door Hot Press (@hotpressmagazine) op 10 Sep 2020 om 1:32 (PDT)

Take a look at the upcoming line-up below:

Monday, September 14: ROSIE BYRNE
At just 15-year-old, Rosie has already built up an enviable reputation – drawing major crowds as an acclaimed busker on Grafton Street, Dublin, with performances of both covers and stunning originals, including her single 'Proud', released last year.

Tuesday, September 15: THE OCELOTS
Wexford twins Brandon and Ashley launched their career as The Ocelots in 2016 – crafting their sound as they busked across Europe. Following extensive touring and high-profile support slots for the likes of Jack Johnson and Glen Hansard, they released their long-awaited debut album, Started To Wonder, earlier this year.

Wednesday, September 16: LLOYD JOHN
Limerick-raised, Cork-based singer-songwriter Lloyd John has rapidly established himself as a rising star, following the release of his debut single 'Forget' in 2018. 'Alive', one of the standout tracks from his 2019 EP Growthhas already clocked up over 145,000 streams on Spotify.

Thursday, September 17: STEPHEN JAMES SMITH WITH GARETH QUINN REDMOND
A Dublin poet and playwright central to the rise of the thriving spoken word scene in Ireland today, Stephen James Smith's poetry videos have amassed over 3 million views online. He's joined on the Y&E Series by acclaimed artist Gareth Quinn Redmond – an ambient composer who has collaborated extensively with David Keenan.

Friday, September 18:  BRENDAN MURRAY
Hailed by Robbie Williams as an artist with “an impossibly perfect pop voice”, Irish singer-songwriter and former Hometown member Brendan Murray's career highlights already include reaching the semi-final of The X Factor in 2018 and representing Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017. His performance on the Y&E Series coincides with the release of his new single '500 Days'.

Saturday, September 19: PAJ
Since the release of his debut single 'Friends Confused' last year, Paj has established himself as a captivating emerging artist – selected for the 'Play The Picnic' stage at Electric Picnic, and scoring a coveted spot on Spotify's 'A Breath Of Fresh Eire' playlist. He released his latest single 'Superman', featuring Uly, Rob de Boer, Zeenie Summers, Joe Furlong & Fiachra Kinder, last month.

Sunday, September 20: MEGAN BURKE
The Dublin singer-songwriter Megan Burke has built up an impressive following online – clocking up hundreds of thousands of views for her stunning covers and originals. She releases her debut single 'Where Did You Find Love', on September 18.