NEW MUSIC: Mahalia

I can't pinpoint exactly what I was doing at 13, but I imagine it was something to do with superheroes and comic books, and maybe even an A-Team van. I'm pretty confident I wasn't the talk of music heads all over the UK, with my stunning, heartfelt and mature lyrics, and delectable vocal talents. I'll double-check with my Dad, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't.

There have been some very fine female singer-songwriters emerging out of the UK in the last number of years (just take Amy Winehouse and Adele as an example), and this new face is certainly no less talented. Mahalia is just 13 years old, but her musical capabilities are – both vocally and lyrically – far, far, far beyond her years. This is another little lady who, along with the likes of Birdy and Gabrielle Aplin, proves that you’re never too young to crack the music industry nowadays.

Mahalia's songs, particularly the noteworthy 'Let the World See the Light', exhibit a sincerityand maturity that many people twice her age only wish they had. Her acousitc tracks are brimming with beauty and grace, and her stunning, raspy vocals would melt the iciest of hearts.

Intrigued? Hooked? You should be...

Find out more about Mahalia by following her on Facebook or Twitter on the internet machine.

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NEW MUSIC: Of Monsters and Men

 
Here's a gang who haven't been featured on Rarities before. Of Monsters and Men are a six-piece indie-folk band from lovely Iceland, who in 2010 won Músikilraunir, the country's annual music competition.

Of Monsters and Men have already had major success in the United States since their song 'Little Talks' was recorded live over the 2010 Iceland Airwaves festival by Seattle-based radio station KEXP. In August 2011, the song was also debuted on Philadelphia station Radio 104.5, and quickly went into heavy rotation due to an overwhelmingly positive response by music listeners. This led to the band picking up a record deal with Universal Republic Records.

The mild-mannered six pack released their EP, Into the Woods, on December 2011 and are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album, set for release later this year. 'Little Talk' is the first official single from Of Monsters and Men and is available to download now on iTunes. Check out the stunning new video below.

Follow Of Monsters and Men on Facebook here.

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The Purple Sessions Re-launch in Boyle's of Slane

Presented by the Last2Leave Music & Video Promotions in association with 2UIBestow, a music blog independently run by Peter Nagle, The Purple Sessions will once again bring a fine selection of music to the intimate and charming venue Boyle's, located in the heart of Ireland's original rock village, Slane.

Re-launching on the evening of 24th February with a line-up that includes Dublin band The Riot Tapes, Waterford's Marc O'Reilly, up and coming Cork singer-songwriter Polly Barrett and Meath native Rory Bowens, The Purple Sessions will also provide an excellent opportunity for bands to purchase a high quality mastered ‘In Session’ video, which will give the acts a solid platform to reach new audiences through YouTube and other video streaming sites. 

For more information on The Purple Sessions, have a look-see here. To find out more about 'In Session', try here, and for more on the 60-capacity venue of Boyle's in Slane, have a gander at this.

Check out Peter Nagle's brilliant Irish music blog, 2UIBestow, here.

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Lana Del Rey Unveils Tracklisting for Forthcoming Album

2011 wonder and 2012's most heavily-tipped One to Watch artist, Lana Del Rey has just recently revealed the tracklisting for her highly anticipated album Born to Die.

Having generated a colossal amount of internet and media buzz with one of 2011's finest singles, 'Video Games', the singer has been propelled into the spotlight in the last number of months. Her new album will feature the above-mentioned track 'Video Games', as well as the album's title track and a feast of other singles already available on YouTube, including 'Off to the Races' and 'Blue Jeans'. 

Media speculation regarding her manufactured image and music aside, this lady's "debut" should be a cracker.

Born to Die drops January 30th.

Tracklisting:

Born To Die
Off To The Races
Blue Jeans
Video Games
Diet Mountain Dew
National Anthem
Dark Paradise
Radio
Carmen
Million Dollar Man
Summertime Sadness
This Is What Makes Us Girls

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Rarities' Top 20 Song Picks of 2011

The songs that were on repeat on MyPod in 2011... 

20. Charlene Soraia - 'Wherever You Will Go'



19. Adele - 'Someone Like You'



18. The Horrors - 'Still Life'



17. Foster the People - 'Pumped Up Kicks'



16. Anna Calvi - 'Blackout'



15. Laura Marling - 'Sophia' 



14. Noah and the Whale - 'L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N'



13. James Blake - 'The Wilhelm Scream'



12. St. Vincent - 'Surgeon'



11. Feist - 'How Come You Never Go There' 



10. Fleet Foxes - 'Helplessness Blues'



9. Florence + the Machine - 'Shake It Out'



8. The Black Keys - 'Lonely Boy'



7. Lykke Li - 'Get Some'



6. Lisa Hannigan - 'Knots'



5. The Staves - 'Mexico'



4. Ryan Adams - 'Lucky Now'



3. Bon Iver - 'Holocene' 



2. James Blake - 'A Case of You'



1. Lana Del Rey - 'Video Games'

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Rarities' Top 30 Album Picks of 2011

This year has been an incredible year for music, both in our homeland and abroad. Here's a list of my personal favourite releases of the last twelve months. These are the albums that, at one time or another (or constantly!), gave me solace and smiles in 2011.

30. Austra - Feel It Break

29. Beirut - The Rip Tide

28. The Antlers - Burst Apart

27. The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From the Vaccines? 

26. Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys!

25. Gemma Hayes - Let It Break

24. The Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

23. The Horrors - Skying

22. Jape - Ocean of Frequency

21. Tom Waits - Bad As Me



20. Adele - 21

19. Florence + the Machine - Ceremonials

18. ASIWYFA - Gangs

17. Foster the People - Torches

16. Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm

15. Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi

14. Noah and the Whale - Last Night on Earth

13. Wild Beasts - Smother

12. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See

11. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

10. Feist - Metals



9. The Black Keys - El Camino

8. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

7. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

6. Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know



5. Lisa Hannigan - Passenger

4. Ryan Adams - Ashes and Rain

3. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

2. James Blake - James Blake

1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
(Stream the entire Bon Iver album here)

Happy New Year, everyone!

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SETLIST: Mick Flannery - Dolan's Warehouse, 28th December 2011

On Wednesday night, Mick Flannery played a stellar gig at Limerick's Dolan's Warehouse. The Blarney stonemason treated fans to songs from both his debut concept album, Evening Train, and his sophomore offering, White Lies, as well as a selection of new tracks from his forthcoming third studio release. 

Mick's trademark husky voice was as captivating as ever; powerful, gravelly and almost pained, it really is something you have to hear live to appreciate fully. He moved with ease between piano and acoustic guitar, with his trademark self-deprecating wit keeping the audience entertained throughout. 

As an extra special treat, Mick had brought along Shane Fitzsimons on bass, who added a particularly stunning sound to the incredible set. Shane has most recently worked with Lisa Hannigan on her Passenger album and live tour.

Mick Flannery's new album is expected to drop in early spring. For more see www.mickflannery.com.

SETLIST

Take It On The Chin

Boston

Smiling Girl

Do Me Right

Who Loves Who

Tomorrow's Paper

Red to Blue

Up On That Hill

Near Or Far

Ships in the Night

Safety Rope

Heartless Man

Wish You Well

Wait Here

Tender

Get That Gold

What Do You See

In The Gutter

Encore

Arise Now

Rebel

Christmas Past

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RARITIES, B-SIDES & OTHER STUFF: Charlene Soraia's 'Wherever You Will Go'

RARITIES, B-SIDES & OTHER STUFF: A feature paying tribute to rare songs, great b-sides, fantastic covers and bonus tracks, or anything else that catches my eye, or my ear rather.

I haven't mentioned Charlene Soraia on Rarities before. To be honest, I hadn't heard of her or sampled any of her music until I was going along in the car with my friend Claire and her gorgeous take on The Calling's 'Wherever You Will Go' came on the radio.

Soraia, who is know for her cover of the song, is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter based in London. Having picked up her first guitar at the age of five, Soraia is musically self-taught and already has three EPs under her belt. She has just released her debut studio album, Moonchild, a beautifully rich alternative-folk affair that will surely cement her as one of the finest new talents for 2012.

Soraia's version of 'Wherever You Will Go' is a fine example of when an already great song is taken and carefully moulded into something even better. With it's moving piano accompaniment and this lady's pure and emotive tones, Soraia's rendition is simply stunning.

Feast your ears:

Charlene Soraia plays Dublin's Sugar Club on 29th April, further information on which can be found here. Stalk Soraia on Facebook here.

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