Khidyie

Episode four is here — after a little hiatus for a house move and some unwelcome illness, we're back!

This episode is a big one. We're shining a light on Khidyie, an Irish-Hong Kong singer-songwriter from Drogheda whose debut EP Tales from the rabbit hole is something really special. 

Her dreamy blend of folk and indie dream-pop draws on the worlds of Norah Jones, Alice Phoebe Lou, and Jeff Buckley, while lyrically she's as influenced by the magical realism of Haruki Murakami and Salman Rushdie as by her own deeply personal experiences. We play three tracks back to back — Have We Met Before, Your Way and Cardboard Box — and we'd encourage you to find a quiet corner and give them the close listen they deserve.

We also have a gig review of Girlfriend at The Watchtower in Drogheda, a brilliant night that felt like a real statement for the local DIY scene, plus new Irish music recommendations and a gig guide for what's coming up in the area.

New music featured: Khidyie · Have We Met Before · Your Way  · Cardboard Box 

New music recommended: Cable Boy · Mischa and the Bear · Varo · Chalk · Joshua Burnside · Seamus Fogarty

Gig guide: Rithim Na Boinne (July 4th) · Blas006 — telekura & Khidyie (May 2nd) · The Elephant Room presents Peer Pressure & Ethel's Odyssey (May 16th) · Soundtown · Global Jam

Transcript

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SPEAKER_03 0:25

Hello and welcome back to Bruce Sounds. Uh yeah, I'm really excited to be bringing you what is the the fourth episode for Bruce Sounds. And uh yeah, thanks for thanks for tuning in. I hope you've been finding some really great uh new music from from Drahatland and the the wider northeast region on your on your musical musical uh journey of discovery with this podcast. And um yeah, I'm really really excited about this one. I know I've been uh very excited about all the other previous episodes, but yeah, I'm particularly excited about this one. I think we've got a really um unique and authentic artist uh from from Drada who's really starting to to grow and uh really get noticed, I think, within the the wider music industry. And so this episode we're gonna be focusing in on the brilliant focusing arcade. And um yeah, thanks for thanks for sticking with us. We did a bit of a bit of a gap and a bit of a a bit of um decent amount of time uh between this episode and the last episode. I was moving house and um a bit sick here and there, so decided we have to take a little bit of a break from from Bruce and but um yeah, we're really, really glad to uh to have you back with us. And as I said, yeah, I'm really excited about this episode. Um we're gonna be playing three songs from Katie's new EP tales uh from the rabbit hole. And uh I think everyone from Drahada is gonna be really, really so proud of Katie over the next kind of year or two, three years. I think she's really, really uh gonna take off um very, very soon. And uh I think we're gonna expect to see her playing in some some pretty big venues and um yeah, I'm I'm really excited to see how her career um grows and and the the trajectory it takes over the next next little while. I think we can all be very, very proud of um of the music she's making, and uh as I said, it's a it's just great to have such uh an authentic uh songwriter um from the uh the Banks of the Boyne. So yeah, we're gonna play in three songs from her her repeat, and then we're gonna do just just a brief uh gig review of Girlfriend at the Watchtower that happened back in back in March, and then we'll also do our usual gig guide for for what's coming up in Drahada over the the coming weeks, weeks, and months. So if you've been listening to this podcast and uh listening back to the previous episodes, you know I was also doing some reviews of some some albums and um recommending some albums for for for you to listen to. And um I think going forward and starting with this episode, we're just gonna purely uh talk about some some latest Irish releases. I think there's just so many places where you can go out and get loads of recommendations from international artists and um they're all great places, but I think in this episode, this podcast we're gonna really dive down into the that kind of local local aspect, the the drawing aspect, but then also yeah, just the the Irish music scene because like we've got such a great music scene that's growing and developing all the time here. And um, yeah, we really want to on this um podcast uh really promote what's what's happening um really, really positively uh locally. So we we will do some some um music reviews and and music recommendations, but we're gonna keep that as um to Irish bands. And so yeah, introducing our our feature artist and feature musician for for the fourth episode of Bruce Ans. It's uh it's Kitty, as I mentioned. And Kitty's an Irish Hong Kong singer-songwriter, and uh her music explores the finer lines between reality and fantasy, kind of really dream pop, indie pop um kind of kind of tones and elements to to her to her music and songwriting, and uh inspired by awakened moments uh that can be warped into romantic escapism, and yeah, we're really gonna see that in some of her songs. It's kind of got a very um minute cute um kind of kind of feel to some of her songs, I think. Um and also then a bit more kind of introspective folk. Um her musical influences are Norah Jones and Alice Phoebe Lou and Jack Buckley, and also inspired by um magical realism authors such as Haruki Morikami and Salmon Rushdie. And um, yeah, you'll get that kind of kind of ethrill otherworld y kind of feel from her music, um, as you'll be able to hear kind of later later in the episode. And um yeah, her she's she's this is this is Kitty's echo from Kitty herself. Um her music is is written to express the nuanced feeling of knowing someone intimately, even though you barely know them. Uh it expresses the connection that can exist between two people who seem faced to cross paths. The song creates the sensation of familiarity, like an echo of a connection that exists in a fantasy rather than reality. And um, yeah, I think we're gonna already hear that uh in some of the songs we're gonna play. I definitely would recommend uh jump on YouTube and and on the Instagram of uh Soul Sessions. Um I think there there are some local guys as well, local local to draw it, and they've been doing some really great um recordings in in um sorry, not the cues in in Clark's, um, yeah, in the Little Snokes and in Clark's. And Kitty did a great uh rendition of her song Carbur Box, so yeah, definitely, definitely go and check that out. And um Kitty has also recently played at the the Creel Art Festival. And I'm really excited for this gig because we're gonna be promoting it a bit later on in the episode. Um Kitty's also gonna be supporting Telekora in an upcoming Blast of Tonga and Glass 6, um, which is coming up on the Maybank holiday weekend, and that one is not gonna be missed. Telekora is a fantastic um Japanese um Irish-based um musicians making some great kind of electro indie pop. And um, yeah, I'm really excited to that because Kitty's also gonna be supporting Telekora and draw it out. Great to have um such a great artist playing and playing locally as well. Yeah, a little bit we're diving a little bit more into the kind of sound that you get um with Kitty. So Kitty's music has a kind of blend between I would say like a little bit more of a blend between like her vocals really remind me of like Lisa O'Neill from the folk side. Also, she really reminds me of kind of Maria Somerville's kind of music. It's got as I said, that kind of etheral kind of feeling to it. Um a musician I recommended on a previous episode, uh C Rose. Um also American American singer songwriter has some some kind of strong kind of um similarities there as well. And um like the sound really kind of leads into the acoustic guitar that she's playing, and it kind of there's a very kind of a kind of an echoey uh production on the vocals that gives it that kind of shimmery kind of feel, and um also got a back-end band in there on some of the songs that you're gonna hear, and it's got a kind of a I would say a lo-fi kind of kind of production on a lot of the songs, slow brooding sound, um, and then the song just sort of they all sort of just open out into the space in front of us. And um yeah, vocals are kind of like quite gentle and fragile and the kind of tone for the vocals that really really uh complements and suits the um the lyrical content as well. Um yeah, just just authenticity, auth authenticity is really um the key, the key element I think of of some of the KD songwriting. Um so the vocals, yeah, are all very, very authentic, sounding with without acoustic guitar. Um as you mentioned, those the songs kind of speak to that. Kind of almost like I would say uh meat cued kind of kind of vibes, but um, yeah, maybe maybe maybe something a little bit more going on um there as well. And the lyrics just have this kind of lovely, almost like conversational um tone and element to them, um that are really yeah, just enjoyable to listen on a slow, quiet lesson. Um sense of nostalgia, heartbreak in the songs. You know, you're you're you're hearing about these people who are meeting for the first time, and you can almost feel the almost uh the the for for foreboding of of of of tragedy maybe in their in their relationship. Um and uh yeah, I th as I said I think her s her her sound is is it's very familiar but also very, very unique. Um and so Katie's music really deserves, I think, a close and quiet listen. So in previous episodes I would have maybe played a song and then you know we talked a little bit about it. We're gonna play all three songs for you um back to back now. And um we're gonna be playing Have We Met Before, Your Way and Cardboard Box, and they all feature on on Kitty's latest EP, as I mentioned. Um yeah, kick back, relax, maybe sitting down, take some shoes off, maybe go grab a cup of coffee um and enjoy um some great music from Kitty.

SPEAKER_02 17:25

Only so much love and I can do in this cardboard box I've built for too much.

SPEAKER_03 20:55

Hi guys, and welcome back to Bruce Sounds. Wasn't that absolutely fantastic? Um yeah, some three three great songs from Katie there. And uh yeah, I definitely recommend following her following her career get on there, um, subscribe to to different platforms where uh she's got some of her music hosted. And um, yeah, you can go follow her on Instagram to keep on top of of where she's playing and when she's playing, and go go get along to to hear her sometime. Um we're gonna move into just a just a very quick uh gig review. Um so we're gonna just uh just review and mention girlfriend at the watchtower. This was a this was a great gig. Um yeah, I really enjoyed this one. Um yes, this was back in back in March as well. And l listen, it was just great to have a band as reputable as girlfriend playing uh locally and and also in the Watchtower. And again, a really great sign that um what the guys are up to there, um the guys who kinda put on a lot of the the music nights there. Um really great sign that there's a real vote of confidence in in Drahat's DOI music scene and that it's driving. And um yeah, it's a really was it was really great to to see them uh becoming and playing and I think um Well, mentioned this a bit. I think, like for me, probably highlight of the gig was uh was their bass player. I'm apologies, I don't know their name, and I think they might have been um maybe uh kind of torn musician with them uh who's originally from Drahada. And at least my highlight as a millennial uh was that uh she gave a shout out to the Purple Rooms in Drahada, which was just a you know great, great venue back in the day. And um yeah, maybe a bit of a a fore forerunner, is that the right word for um what what what what now is uh the the watchtower. And um yeah, I think the this I think the the venue really suited them as they kicked off again after a period of hiatus. So um they had a bit of a period of of um not touring and not releasing music, and they're they're back doing both now. And so yeah, it was a good good crowd size, I think, for for the venue as well. Band really, really tight, um well practised for a band that had you know just getting back torn again, um, and some great crowd engagement. Lead singer Hannah Lamari um always has a great um presence. Um but uh yeah that was a really really really great um really great gig. Solid solid set list playing some of the older material and then some of the newer stuff like Kitchen Sink. Kitchen Sink definitely um got people going, I think. And um yeah, as I said, um great to have such a such a reputable band playing locally, so big shout out to the guys from Spiral Knights for all the work they're doing on promotion and um yeah, along with that continue and um yeah well done for them for all the all the work that they've put into this one. So now just moving on to a couple of new releases. I'm just gonna mention some yeah, just some some recommendations for you to go check out. As I said, these are these are all Irish and um some local recommendations in there as well. And um yeah, I'm going to kick off with Cable Boy and their latest release, Forever. I think this is their first album. They've been um knocking around for the last couple of years with a few a few EP's and a few singles, and I think this is their first album forever. Yeah, this is this is really really good. It's kind of kind of got a kind of late 80s synth wave kind of feel, um, mixed in with a sort of kind of more grungier elements. So, yeah, if you like a bit of synth and um yeah, you like a little bit of um kind of maybe even naughty zindy, um I think you're gonna really really enjoy this block party um kind of kind of vibes in there as well. And um, yeah, definitely get on that. Second recommendation, this is a single from Mean the Bear, um Aubur, and um it's a it's a track that's in Irish, but I'm really excited for Meeshi and the Bear. I think I'm gonna try and maybe get them um and get some of their singles played on the next episode of Bruce Sounds. So um yeah, you're gonna you'll hear a bit more from them in in future episodes. So they're um yeah, Synth, Synth Duo, um yeah, both both grew up in Drahada um at different stages in their life and making some really, really great um kind of electro pop. And I think they're just starting to gig and tour a little bit as well. Um so if you see um see them playing, I think I'm seeing them in uh next month. I think they're doing a supporting um role, I think, in a in a gig in the Grand Social. Um next recommender's gonna recommend, next album I was going to recommend is from Varro and uh The World That I Knew. This album came out last year, but I only came across it in the last couple of weeks. Varro are um yeah, a kind of trad uh trad kind of folk duo based in Dublin, and they've pulled in some really, really great collaborators for this album. Um favourite track is probably a version of Skibbereen from Junior Brother. And um, don't hate me for this. I'm I'm not like a massive fan of Junior Brother stuff. I like makes some really, really great music, but just doesn't kind of land as well um with myself. But I thought this version of Skibbereen was was incredible and um yeah, well worth checking out that as well. Another recommendation for you, the band Chalk um and Crystal Punk. This this is a this is an absolute cracking album. Um so this is if anyone's ever been to Belfast and you've been to the Ulster Sports Club, this band and the music they make really uh I guess a lot of their songs do speak to Belfast and speak to that kind of local um kind of kind of sense and that sense of maybe not fitting in in very tribal kind of places and trying to find your your way and all that and um yeah how to describe chalk like just kind of there's there's there's some post punk Indian there, but it's mostly more electronic. It's a it's a kind of little little bit kind of nine-inch nails-y, um, if that's if that's uh a way to describe something. Um but yeah, I think they're playing in double again in the next couple of weeks. Definitely worth checking out. Um, if you haven't got tickets, definitely one to to put in the diary. Also wanted to recommend Joshua Burnside's newest album, uh It's not gonna be okay. This album really, really, uh yeah, really hit me. It's it's quite uh it's quite an emotional album. Joshua had a uh bereavement last year, one of his one of his best friends um overdosed and the songs and this whole album is really about the grief uh that that Joshua's processing um in the aftermath of that death. And yeah, just some some absolutely brilliant songs. Standout song, the album, the title song, It's not gonna be okay. Uh just an absolutely cathartic song. Um yeah, just just absolutely laying it all out there. And uh yeah, really, really good, really, really good stuff. Finally, I'm gonna recommend Seamus Fogarty's ships. Um, this came out in February. Yeah, great to see Seamus Seamus back making some more music. He's made some absolutely cracking songs. I love the song Carlo, um, or is it Carlo Town? Um yeah, from some previous work of his, um, a song about getting too drunk in Carlo Town and ending up sleeping in a church. And uh it's it's a absolute it's a very, very fun song. Um, but yeah, his new album, Ships, is is definitely one not to not to miss out on. Definitely go go check it out. And yeah, finally, uh, we're gonna move into um the last last section of the podcast and do a little bit of a gig guide and wider culture guide for um for Draw Hadam. Just want to give a shout out to to Barry Landy on the launch of Blab. So I mentioned in a previous podcast episode that Barry was um yeah, launched a new musical project, uh Blab, which is uh I guess a musical curation project. So um with each episode of the project, I guess, Blab 1, uh you got a got four artists um featured and spotlighted. We had some some draw out artists based in there as well, uh Nixer, who we've played on the show, and um delivery service as well. And so you get there was a gig, um kind of launch gig, and you could get a zine, which featured introduced from from the four bands, and um then also a uh cassette tape as well. And um, yeah, well done, Barry. Um sadly I missed that one due to being sick, which was which was a big pain because that looked like a like an absolutely great um great night. Um so yeah, well done, well done Barry, and much more to come from from Blab, I'm sure, over the coming um coming months. I did want to flag as well a new a new music festival um kicking off in Drohada in the summer on July 4th. So this is Rhythm Naboyne. And um, I'm really excited to see the Duggar. Duggar, one of the headline artists for for the festival. Um, absolutely brilliant band, um, really yeah, great kind of folk Americana band. And uh I think the festival is going to be spread out over Sarsfields, McHugh's, and kind of later night electronic stuff, I think, in in Earth Nightclub. And um, yeah, uh, I think tickets are on sale already, so yeah, jump on that if you haven't already. And um, yeah, a couple of other gigs. Uh The Elephant Room, um, kind of punk band. Um, they're playing with Peer Pressure and Ethel's Odyssey, May 16th, The Watchtower. Uh, that's going to be another kind of kind of grungy, heavy, heavy night. And um also want to flag Mind Grown and Silco playing. Mind Grown are a new grunge band from Drahida. Had a listen to them in the last couple of days. Um, yeah, very, very much kind of 90s um grunge uh kind of kind of stuff. So yeah, that that's uh potentially another great gig. Um and as I mentioned earlier in the show, BLOS BLOSS 6 is is on the Maybank holiday weekend. So 2nd of May, I think it's is it Sunday, 2nd of May? Um Telekura is playing. Telekura is one of my one of my favourite artists as well. Um, based here in Dublin, um, Japanese artists based here in Dublin make some amazing um indie indie pop music and kiddie supporting on that one. Um so if you're in the town of the Maybank holiday, do not do not miss out on that one. And um as as as is kind of um the norm now, the the last weekend of each month also has some Soundtown events on. Um so you've got a couple of couple of events on happening throughout the this week, um, and this coming this coming weekend as the last weekend of the month. So yeah, jump on those as well. And finally, I just want to uh throw another shout out if you're a local band and you're making some music and you'd like to get played on the podcast. Um yeah, please do send us over any recordings you've got. We would be absolutely delighted to play some of your tunes. And um, yeah, that's it for now for episode four of Bruce Sounds. Delighted to have you with us um this uh for this episode, and yeah, we'll check back with your machine again soon.