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Home , Been a Long Time, Fionn Regan, How to Be a Human Being, Jonas Jeberg, Karmin, Ryan Sheridan (musician)

WWW.PUREMZINE.COM Christmas 2017

ASIWYFA CHRIS HAZE QVEEN HERBY ZEISTENCROIX GOOD CHARLOTTE

Jukediscovering Ross music and his dreams of working with ...

SABRINATalks Christmas, New Music, Her Love Of Vinyl CARPENTER & Hiking In . - Turn to page 16 >> @PureMzine

Janelle Nadeau

Happy Christmas & Best Wishes for 2018

Pure M Magazine ISSUE 23 2017 has certainly been a successful year WWW.PUREMZINE.COM for British singer/songwriter Lucy Spraggan. Following the release of her Editor in Chief fourth UK top 40 in January, she T. Padraig [email protected] proceeded to tour throughout her homeland and Europe, racking up more Editorial than 22,000 tickets sales, as well as ten Paddy Dunne: [email protected] of thousands of new followers on Sarah Swinburne: [email protected] Facebook and . Chris Now she’s returned to wrap up the year Contributors with a wonderfully rousing seasonal Dave Simpson Haze single entitled “Drink ‘Til We Go Home.” Eileen Shapiro Commenting on the song’s similarities to Garreth Browne The Pogues’ Christmas classic, “Fairytale Michael Francis-Devine of New York”, Spraggan said, “I grew up Danielle Holian on the music of Kirsty MacColl and wrote Marie-Louise Clogher this song as an homage to her talent and Sean Coyle vivacity.” Beginning with a barrage of brilliantly Front Cover - Harper Smith vibrant vocals, the cheery three minute tune proceeds to showcase a relatively www.harpersmithphotography.com restrained yet remarkably resonant refrain for the first thirty five seconds or so, after which the music and melody erupt energetically and give rise to a wonderfully uplifting ambience. The vibe remains infectiously fervent moving forward from here as salvos of Juke stupendously sonorous singing echo harmoniously across onslaughts of Ross irresistibly invigorating instrumentation. It all jogs jovially in the direction of an absorbingly sprightly final minute full of fantastically vivifying vocals and mesmerizingly merry musical motifs. The outcome is an alluringly lively yuletide track that acts as an adept tribute to the work of Kirsty MacColl while simultaneously sounding seductively fresh and singular. Its enthrallingly chirpy instrumental elements mixed with Spraggan’s superbly melodic singing voice is sure to get listeners excited for the holiday that’s at hand. by Dave Simpson

02 PURE M BEST OFB 2017EST INOF IRISH 2017 MUSIC

BEST BEST SINGLES XMAS 2017

Planet Parade Áine Cahill (Mercury) (Plastic) (Frozen in Time)

This Other Kingdom Æ MAK Robb Murphy (Rêveur) (I Walk) (North Star)

James Vincent Pine ¶the Pilcrow Kolumbus McMorrow (Dahlia) (You Know It's (True Care) Christmas)

The Coronas Soulé Nathan Carter (Trust the Wire) (Good Life) (Christmas To Me)

Jack O Rourke Rofi James Kevin Pearce (Dream Catcher) (Open Eyes) (Maria Come Home)

The Riptide The New Social Wyvern Lingo Movement (Get Out Of My Head) (Snow II) (Ghosts)

The Strypes Penrose Jon Dots (Spitting Image) (Let’s Go Out) (Happy Christmas Baby from Me)

Fionn Regan The Love Tailors Fiona Guiheen (The Meetings Of The (Casey) (A Christmas Wish) Waters)

Prosecco Socialist The Henry Girls All Tvvins This Dog's Just For (Far Beyond the Stars) (CRASH) Christmas (Not For Life)

Emma Langford Nile st. James Chanele (Quiet Giant) (Fell For You) McGuinness (Blue Christmas)

Applications Open January 1st PURE M 03 @PureMzine

#FF18 Announce 8 More Acts driven sounds that call on , hip-hop and plenty in-between. Southern Californian MC VINCE STAPLES defies categorisation. His critically acclaimed debut LP Summertime '06 hit the best of the 'best of' lists in 2015. He followed up with the forward thinking Big Fish Theory and was one of the highlights of Gorillaz album Humanz. 'BagBak' featured on the trailer for Marvel's forthcoming Black Panther and it's just been revealed that an unreleased song of his has popped up in the new teaser trailer for Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. UK Indie quartet have 2 albums under their belts, with their second LP 'How To Be A Human Being' receiving a nomination this year. In the last 18 months, the band have played some of the most iconic venues in the world, from the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and Radio City Music Hall, to shows in forests, on beaches and now. The BICEP duo are icons in the underground music scene. As DJs, promoters, producers, label owners and now a live act, the -born duo have played a crucial role in the renaissance of Bulmers Forbidden Fruit signals the start of shuddering electro and shiny slices of . the summer festival season, for the 8th pop magic. It's been over ten years since Glaswegian house music don, DENIS chapter of the city centre multi-stage JUSTICE have hit these shores. SULTA has had a rapid (and deserved) rise music and arts festival in the beautiful BONOBO and his band will be joining the to electro-stardom over the course of the last grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art line-up and his biggest Irish show to date. 2 years. Whilst he is mainly a house and (June 2-4, 2018). Bonobo's rise has been stealthy but DJ, his hip-hop background informs Forbidden Fruit already announced some unstoppable, and Si Green, the man behind his sets. 2016 saw Sulta pick up a slew of seriously great acts for their Bank Holiday it all, is now one of the biggest electronic accolades, including Best Breakthrough Monday line up - THE WAR ON DRUGS, artists of our time. Producer and debuting at #26 on the GRIZZLY BEAR, THUNDERCAT, As a DJ and with the Bonobo live band, Resident Advisor list. WARPAINT, SPOON and he's now played to millions of people across Amsterdam-based house and techno rising SUPERORGANISM. the world in shows and festivals, and each star HUNEE will also join the lineup! First up, JUSTICE take to the stage. This album has been bigger than the last with The inspiration for ROSS FROM FRIENDS French duo are master deconstructors of 2017's Migration hitting the top ten in the comes from all corners of the musical techno, pop, R&B, electro, funk, metal and UK, Netherlands and Belgium and getting milieu. From early experimental music to whatever else takes their fancy. Their first untold press coverage everywhere. During hip-hop sampling - even 80s Eurobeat and record in 2007 established them as one of this rise, he also achieved the rare feat for a Hi-NRG helps to make up the France's most vital musical exports. British dance artist of breaking America comprehensive sound palette that Ross has Their second LP, 2011's Audio, Video, and not with the kind of high-octane shock- the liberty of drawing from. They bring their Disco gave fans a bombastic aural wallop tactic rave beats and audiovisual live show to an Irish festival for the first time with classic 70's rock flourishes that owed as spectaculars that characterised the EDM next June. much to Queen and Yes as it did Frankie explosion, but with subtle, emotional, Weekend tickets are on sale NOW. Move Knuckles or Prince. They released their 3rd ambiguous and musicianly work that fast to take advantage of the first release of record Woman this time last year featuring demands long and deep immersion. tickets, a perfect stocking filler! slap bass workouts, glistening synths, gut He creates 'chilled-out but emotively beat- www.forbiddenfruit.ie 04 PURE M G IG S HO Kasabian at the T Dublin, 2017

PURE M 05 @PureMzine Karmin is Dead, Long Live

bythe Danielle Holian Queen

armin wrote on their social media earlier this year, “Karmin is Dead, Long Live the Queen,” and then QveenK Herby was born. This side project is different from Amy Renee Heidemann’s previous duo band with her husband Nick Noonan and sees her make a distinct departure creating a freedom and something entirely unlike to her aforementioned musical activity. Herby recently released her debut , EP 1. There are many elements of R&B and hip-hop vibes and influences throughout the five songs. She raps and sings on each song, which is produced by her husband and Steve Tirogene. ‘Gucci’ has an expensive taste with its richness. There is a lot of attitude and sass on this track. The song opens with the lines, “Pull up in a gold rim Tesla, that’s not cheap / Everything I do is electric on these streets ‘Zombie’ is heavier compared to the two fits well on the extended-play. What the / Walk up in the mall like, “I’ll take one of previous tracks, lyrically let the story shine songstress says, she means. The mid-tempo each” / It all looks good on me, good on me, through. But on this tune, there is a right verses and great chorus hook has a fantastic babe.” She demands what she wants balance between the music and words. She storytelling standard seeing her come back confidently, stating, “I got expensive taste.” sings, “Everybody in the building to her singing roots. There is a catchy hook and a strong R&B disappeared / That’s the way you’re looking ‘Til We Get By’ is the final track on EP 1. production. It’s a fierce opening. The song at me / Whispering silly nothings in my ear Herby is soulfully singing on this song, never disappoints and was made to / Careful now, this could get ugly.” The unlike the previous tracks with her also perfection. songstress knows what she wants now rapping. The heartfelt verses stand-out The first single released ‘Busta Rhymes’ is unlike before feeling like a zombie. The along with the mid-tempo ballad, she sings, badass. It was co-written with Richy catchy hooks draw the listener in. “I’d be damned if I ever let you down, babe Jackson and co-produced by Nick Noonan ‘Wild’ tells a story about Herby meeting her / Cushion blows like a feather in a and Steve Tirogene. The chill beat highlights ex when she’s drunk, she sings, “Say you shockwave / You know my love is never fake her energy free flowing the storyline. The don’t like it when I get this drunk / We can / My mind’s already been made,” she lyrical speed as each word spills graciously do anything you like, we can be wild / Wild.” expresses her persistent love and support from the songstress’ mouth opens the She ends up spending the night with her ex for her husband. extended-play with a lot to offer. “People ask and asking herself, “Am I in love or just EP 1, is a powerful debut for Qveen Herby. me all the time, ‘how you doin’ that busta wild?” Throughout the song, she ends up The awe-inspiring choruses, memorable rhyme,” she sings. The verses are slow in calling out the ex’s new girlfriend stating the hip-hop and R&B components outshine her contrast to the fast hook and passionate relationship is fake. She sings, “I was just previous work letting this new project stand chorus, she raps, “I spit it so quick that it’s doing my thing, saw you walk in with the alone and fresh. Throughout the entire EP, scary.” There is a lot of expectations. Each gang / Got a new girl and she fake / You the five songs are a mix of authentic word is perfectly said without missing a beat know I don’t mean to hate, but you could do songwriting with impressive well-crafted and still makes sense once the song ends. better with me.” The self-confidence meet from the catchy hooks to killer rap pieces, She chews up words and spits them out with helplessness almost feels relatable. The song she is one to watch! killer rap parts in a pleasant manner. 06 PURE M FE AT UR ED★ ★ ★ ★

STRONGER hen crafting a movie, that deals Jeff Bauman (Jake Gyllenhaal) is trying to Green, of going for the easy “emotional with a real-life tragedy there’s a reconnect with his girlfriend Erin (Tatiana triggers” – there is a consistent attempt to very fine line between respect Maslany). In an attempt to prove that he can create exciting scenes instead rather than a andW being manipulative, which is why films see things through he attempts tries to play by numbers approach in an effort to based around the second world war are so support his wife at The Marathon. add a little authenticity to proceedings and plentiful; it’s a natural source of drama and But after a terrorist attack Jeff needs to have yet it doesn’t feel like a potential cash-in on both of his legs amputated, the film follows people’s raw emotions. We saw examples of him as he struggles to come to terms with how this can backfire with Peter Berg’s his condition Deepwater Horizon and Patriots Day, both While watching movies like these, there’s a critically acclaimed but struggled to bring danger of them being seen as “emotionally audiences willing to relieve horrible events manipulative” or having something of a when they were so fresh in people’s daytime TV feel to it and therefore watering memories. down the desired impact by the end. But But in Stronger, the tragedy is more of a despite this, there seems to be a deliberate backdrop to the movie. Instead it focuses on effort on the part of the director to phase the someone struggling with the impact of plot away from the low hanging fruit of tragedy and how deeply it scars those focusing solely on the day of the attack. affected. Instead, under the direction of Robert focus on small personal moments rather than go for dramatic effect. This results in several lovely emotional moments that make up the heart of this movie It’s an outside the box approach that allows Gyllenhaal to really explore and express his character to great success. Stealing the show as he’s able to show bauman’s vulnerability as well as his selfish and immature side, which is something that is rarely seen in movies like these; the ability to fully explore the fact that the subject of a biopic has his faults, and Gyllenhaal pulls that off with ease. Given the subject matter it shouldn’t come as any surprise that Stronger is a film filled with a lot of heart to it, but it doesn’t stray from the cold hard reality of the subject matter. Stronger is on general release now! by Diarmaid Mccaffrey

PURE M 07 @PureMzine

Good Charlotte: ★★★★ A GC Christmas, Part One

espite his family's baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voiceD of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt). Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious hile they continue to stay tight- whole thing drifts gently in the direction of chain of events. Along the way, lipped about when they intend to the endearingly delicate introduction of “Let he meets charming trickster deliver a follow-up to their the World Be Still”. The ensuing synthesis of Hector (voice of Gael García intoxicating sixth studio album, Youth seductively serene singing and superbly W Bernal), and together, they set Authority, Maryland musicians Good pleasant music ensures the record is off on an extraordinary journey Charlotte have decided to throw enthusiasts afforded an appropriately affable finish. to unlock the real story behind a bone this holiday season and treat them to Even though it only showcases three songs, Miguel's family history. Directed a charming little yuletide EP entitled A GC one of which is a cover and another of which by Lee Unkrich ("Toy Story 3"), Christmas, Part One. was originally released in 2002, A GC co-directed by Adrian Molina Released to coincide with the launch of a Christmas, Part One is a fun and affecting (story artist "Monsters new online fan club that offers three festive endeavour that should go down well University") and produced by different membership options, the with anyone who enjoys both the music of Darla K. Anderson ("Toy Story wonderfully warm and rousing three track Good Charlotte and the genre of pop punk 3"), Disney•Pixar's COCO opens compilation commences with a captivatingly as a whole. by Dave Simpson in Ireland on January 19. Cert characterful rendition of Wham!’s “Last PG- Running time 105 Minutes. Christmas”, which manages to maintain the moving ambience of its innocuous eighties Voice Cast Gael García Bernal, forebear while replacing the original’s poppy Anthony Gonzalez, Benjamin instrumentation with an assortment of Bratt, Renée Victor energising riffs and soft yet spirited percussion. Director Lee Unkrich This is succeeded by a song that first Co-director Adrian Molina surfaced fifteen years ago called “Christmas Producer Darla K. Anderson by the Phone”, the light but enlivening guitars, enticingly tender melodies and A GC Christmas: Part 1' featuring IN CINEMAS JANUARY 19 distinctly despondent lyrics of which Last Christmas OUT NOW! succeed in inciting a lot of emotion as the www.goodcharlotte.com 08 PURE M P re vi ew

Readyby Michael Francis-Devine Player One

n a dystopian , in a world ruined nineteen year old actor will look to bring to recorded video. Ben Mendelson (Rogue by an energy disaster, the biggest prize life a humble kind of hero, whose contention One) will play Nolan Sorrento, the main foe of all is up for grabs. Ready Player One in a race against some truly dangerous foes to Watts and Simon Pegg will appear as isI an upcoming Sci-Fi thriller directed by sparks a revolution. Ogden Morrow. Steven Spielberg which looks to really The more familiar faces include Mark The film will excite mostly fans of the capture the imagination. Rylance who has previously worked with novel, but those who appreciate Spielberg’s Wade Watts lives in Columbus, Ohio in Spielberg on Bridge of Spies and BFG. He excellent ability to create stunning what appears to be a high rise of caravans will play Halliday and appears in the trailer cinematography, and even those who just stacked upon one another. In a corrupt with quite a different look than what he has love Sci-Fi, should keep an eye out for this society, he opts to play a virtual reality video sported in the past. With tresses of silvery upcoming thriller. Ready Player One will be game Oasis, in which he is free to explore an hair he relays the prize up for grabs on a pre- released 30th March 2018. entire universe. He is joined by countless others, each of them hungry for escape. However, when the creator of the game James Halliday dies, he leaves a message to all of the players. Somewhere hidden within the game is an Easter Egg, and whoever can find it inherits his massive fortune and becomes the controller of the Oasis. When so many have nothing and here lays an opportunity for such splendour, a cut-throat race begins. Ready Player One is adapted from the popular young-adult novel of the same name. Such a unique plotline with such an intense drive spurring the central characters forward, a movie rendering always would have had the promise to be a hit. But with Spielberg directing, a man acclaimed for his illumination of wonderful Sci-Fi fantasy, one can expect an indulgence of cinematography. The cast is mostly made up of young actors. Tye Sheridan (Mud, X Men Apocalypse) plays Wade Watts and said “what I love about the film is that it plays with some metaphorically bigger themes”. The PURE M 09 @PureMzine Orlando Draven Mastermind Behind the Raw, Undisguised, Powerful Alternative Industrial Sensation

“Zeistencroix”Interview by Eileen Shapiro

rlando Draven, mastermind behind the raw, undisguised, powerful Alternative Industrial sensation “Zeistencroix”O and recently unleashed an effervescent, and contagiously addicting EP entitled, “Gemini”. Along with drummer Santi Rivillas, “Zeistencroix”, paints a colorful temptation, uniquely incorporating the best part of Industrial, raging punk, doom metal, ska, and a trace of glam, all into one melodious sound. As the title of the EP, “Gemini” signifies, a dual entity exists in the depth of Draven’s music. Two opposing sides, both being actually the same, as in life and death, black and white, good and evil, prevails as the artist explains: “I’m showcasing two very opposite styles from the same band. It’s a combination of two entities living under the same organism and somehow co-existing without one surpassing the other but complementing the other”. The bands influences include, “Depeche Mode”, “Marilyn Manson”, “Nine Inch Nails”, combined with “Rammstein”. Now California based, Draven grew up in Venezuela, where political unrest, hunger, and poverty loomed over the country. He grew up singing in a church choir, however his music and song writing evolved into a salaciously explosive, genre bending anomaly. His video, “I Need You Tonight”, is already creating havoc in the best possible way. “Gemini” was recorded with British producer Tim Palmer who worked with artists including: , Robert Plant, Ozzie Osborne, Pearl Jam, and David Bowie’s Tin Machine. Also on the team was American producer Bill Metoyer, (known for working with Slayer, Six Feet Under and WASP). I spoke to Orlando and found him to be What made you decide to become part folklore instrument in my country and it’s creatively magic and really smart. His of the music industry? How old were called “Four”. It’s like a guitar but it has four authentic nature shined through our you when you started? strings. It’s like a ukulele. It’s more similar conversation. He and his music are going to to a ukulele than a guitar. So I started to play become an essential force in the music Right now I’m 28, but I started to play, not that when I was six, and then I was in the industry so buckle up and get ready for the professionally, when I was six. It was church choir for my first communion, you musical ride of your life….. because my mom taught me how to play a know the Catholic things that you do? So all 10 PURE M of a sudden I had to do a solo in the church My fantasy to play would be under my own Numan and so forth. Everything on our in front of 500 people. That was actually my terms or my own circumstances, I mean that Industrial side is more British than first gig. They received it so well and that I could do all that I wanted to do. I would American. “Rammstein” and waves of became my path of what I was going to be. have not only a big stage but a stage big British bands that I listen to have a big effect enough to do all of the production that I and influence on my music. So you decided right then and there in have inside my head. Usually right now we the choir that you wanted to be a play with videos. So we have the video If you could say anything to your fans singer? synced to the music, and every time let’s say and fans-to-be, what would you want the drummer is playing the bass drum, the them to know? Yeah. Well, that’s already picked up for me. video just reacts to the bass drum. I would Look at me now! like to have a big production, Broadway kind We have an EP out, it’s called “Gemini”. of like so I can make a performance, a show That was the result of a lot of thought and A little bit I think. As a small boy in and the music and everything blend effort that I don’t see happening anywhere Venezuela who did you listen to on together. else. We are trying to blend the heavy music the radio, who influenced you? Because I’m a big fan of “Rammstein” I and the melodic and let’s say groovy music would love to have fire, video, rain… that I have in ” I Need You Tonight” and The first band that I listened to was .everything. Everything I can imagine. “Valley of Death”, and prove that that can “Queen”. Then “Guns & Roses”, then it was actually coexist in a band. With heavier “Metallica”. Then later it was “Marilyn Do you plan to tour in support of your sounds like “Dantes” or “Rage” or Manson”, then it was “Nine Inch Nails”. I EP? “Saturated”, we are able to create both discovered Industrial music with “Nine Inch without any problem. We can conform those Nails”, and that was “it”. That’s what I The main idea is to start playing festivals. two sounds without a problem. You know wanted to do. Right now we’re in a toss up to see if we can that close minded mentality that if you make get into them, and then we are going to start heavy music that you can’t make slow music. Do you consider your music as building something and start to tour. The If you do slow, melodic music, you’re not Industrial? thing is with the tour and this album and able to do heavy music. That’s what in this everything that we’ve done so far is organic. case I’m trying to gather. So we are able to Industrial, yeah. I wasn’t a metal-head even We don’t have any press agent, we don’t do both and hopefully from my point of though I liked “Iron Maiden”, it wasn’t have a manager, or booking agent or view, it can be successful. That’s why it’s exactly what I was called for. When I started anything. called “Gemini ” because you can have the to listen to ” Nine Inch Nails”, I knew that So we’re doing everything ourselves. It’s both sides in one person, in one band in this was the path. Around the same time I always harder because we need a validation, case. discovered “Rammstein”, and then it was somebody to vouch for you…..someone that the perfect land between the two, and then can take you under their wing, or open a What does “Zeistencroix” mean? How that was “it” for me again. path for you. That’s the way it goes. But in do you pronounce it? our case, we don’t have that so we need to Do you write all of your music? do everything ourselves. It’s kind of hard. I really don’t have any pronunciation, the word is not a language. It’s a combination of Yeah. I think you should consider touring in three languages, a little bit of Latin, some the U.K., they would love your music German, and then the France in there. My When you write a song what do you there. I say that because I originally point in choosing this name, I really liked think about? thought that you were a UK band. You the idea of having something that was our have that British sound. own. In this internet world right now you Usually it starts with a blind stare, and then need something that identifies you, and that I feel like it comes to me naturally. It’s not I lived in Spain for five months and we had unique. So if you tag that name in google it’s like I have to sit and think. It’s just that I’m a chance to get reviews and they said that we the only thing that’s going to show up. Then doing whatever I’m doing and then were really European or sound European you have an easy brand that you can actually something starts sounding inside my head. like. A big, big part of our influence is British brand. Then I get a melody and I need to get it out. like Depeche Mode, David Bowie, Gary www.Zeistencroix.com It usually starts with a beat. With the melody that I already have inside my head, the way I construct the foundations of a song is to always find the beat that goes with the melody. Then I can blend it together, and I think that I have a song. More like an idea of a song. That’s the beginning of everything. I find the melody, then I get the beat, then I blend it together.

If you obtain your ultimate stage fantasy what would you need to happen? PURE M 11 @PureMzine

InterviewCHRIS by Eileen Shapiro HAZE even years ago, phenomenal artist Chris Haze was simply going through the motions, breathing in air to live aSnd working scattered, mundane, jobs to survive, without having an inkling or a clue of the talent bestowed upon him. He had never written a song, had never played a guitar, or even picked one up, and never had any indication that he was a vocal wizard. Since then much has changed for the artist. He is now writing, recording, and producing his own songs, opening for headliners such as hip-hop artist Coolio, touring Ireland with the Irish group, "The Original Rudeboys" in sold out shows at The Olympia Theatre and The Academy Dublin, receiving radio play, and winning The 2017 Pure M award for Best EP. He celebrated his debut to the charts at number 1 on the Irish Singer- chart and number 39 on the Official Irish Singles Charts with his hit sensation, "Say Goodbye". Presently he will soon be heading for New York for meetings with major record labels via their request, epitomizing the cliché, that fairytales do come true. This is his story...

I love your songs!

Yeah, your liking it, good stuff. What ones have you heard?

I've heard, "Let Us Be Heroes", "I'll Run", "Say Goodbye", a bunch of Outside" with a UK rapper. I was living in a my mate. He didn't know anything about them. house with a bunch of mates. One of them me writing music. So I told him I wrote this was a producer and he was producing music guitar riff and asked him to check it out. I'm actually coming to New York in for a couple of these hip-hop artists. Then I played it in front of him and he February. I have meetings with Republic I really wasn't doing music at the time but said it was really good. Then I told him I Records, and I'm going over for a holiday one of the other guys that lived in the house wrote some words to it as well, and asked with my girlfriend and stuff like that. Yeah, with me as well was a guitar player. It was him to have a listen to it. I sang this song for I can't wait to get there. I was there when I always something that I wanted to learn him and he said. " Holy crap, that's really was a kid, but I haven't been in the states how to do. I kind of just started stealing his good". He said we needed to record it, and since. It's been a long time. guitar and kind of going into the back room we just started messing around in the and watching YouTube videos and learning studio. How fun! So tell me, when did you how to play chords. Before I knew it we just had the song start writing and playing music? Once I learned how to play chords, your recorded and we sent it over to one of the standard A,B, and G, I just started throwing rappers that he was also working with. He I think I started writing at the end of 2010, my own guitar riffs together. Instead of wrote two verses for it, and then it all sort of or 2011, which was when I wrote my first learning covers like people usually do when snowballed really quickly. song. I'm a bit of a late bloomer, a late they're starting out, their favorite songs and We ended up releasing it and put it on starter in the industry but I've definitely stuff, I just kind of started putting melodies YouTube, making a video for it and been making a lot of headways since I together that sounded good to me. Then I everything all in the space of a couple of started and things have been going really would go to the studio, which was in the months. So it was a pretty crazy, and well. You know I wrote my first song, "World house I was staying in, and played them for unexpected start. Very fun all the same.

12 PURE M We put out the song and it went to about Well you have a good voice, good after I had the meeting with them I got 15,000 views in 3 or 4 days. That was the songs, a good look, you've got the contacted from someone at "Coldplay's start for me thinking that maybe I ought to whole package going on there. label. Between them and Republic do this for a living. Records....the band from Ireland, "Picture Thank you, I appreciate that. If only This"...the guy that signed them is named Did you know that you had a great everybody thought the same. Jason Jordan and wants to meet me when I voice? come over. He must be keeping an eye out Before you decided to be a singer, for Irish artists. He said he would love to I was in the choir in school, but I never what did you do? meet me and show me around the offices. thought I was going to be a solo singer, Sweet, sounds good. singer-songwriter. Absolutely not. I never At the time I was working the night shift, was going around the place thinking I was they call it the graveyard shift, in a What do you like best about your the best singer in the world. I'm still a bit supermarket here in Ireland. It was 12 AM newfound career? self-conscious of that in that respect a lot of to 8 AM in the morning. Then I was just the time. It keeps me grounded. It was a sleeping all day, and it was a miserable After seven years, I don't know it's been a crazy start. I was very late at finding what it existence. To be honest with you it was long time promoting independently. It took is I was going to do for the rest of my life but horrible. a long time and a lot of work to get here. as soon as I wrote that first guitar riff I knew I just worked all night and slept all day. that this was for me. Weirdly enough when I was in that job one Let me rephrase it, where do you hope of the nights, I used to listen to my to be in five years? So you're musically innocent still in headphones. There was no supervisor the music industry? around the place so I actually wrote the In five years I want to be traveling the world. lyrics to that first song that I wrote while I Touring in front of thousands and Pretty much. I came a long way in a short was working. thousands of people. I want to see every city time. It all is very exciting at the moment, It was like 4 o'clock in the morning, I was I can imagine and dream of playing in, and it's all going very well. waiting for a delivery truck to come in, and I want to be sending my music all over the I was just on my phone typing out lyrics, world. I want to be meeting hundreds of Do you play live shows? and it just ended up becoming a song. It was thousands of fans, and I want to be one of pretty cool. the most successful musicians out there. Yeah, I played a lot. Do you know Coolio the rapper? Well I supported Coolio back in I love that success story. Are you constantly writing new 2013 or 14. He got the whole crowd chanting material? my name at the end of "Gangsters So yeah, I've had my fair share of crappy Paradise". It was a really, really, cool thing. jobs. I have slaved and I've done it all. I've Yeah, i'm writing all the time, I produce all We went out drinking and having parties done my night shifts, my apprenticeships. my own stuff, and I engineer my own stuff. with him afterwards. It was really, really I've done all the rest of that stuff. I worked I kind of do everything in phases. I do it as I good. Crazy stuff. I just got a phone call in the kitchen and was washing dishes for 2 can. I'm kind of balancing it out. I have five from this PR guy and he was telling me he & 1/2 years, so yeah I've had my fair share lyric pads full of songs. was booking Coolio at this college gig, and of crappy jobs. I'm going onto my sixth one right now so he asked me if I wanted to support him. I I've got a shit load of songs. They're not thought he meant a tribute act. He said "no Where are you based out if now? slowing down. I'm pretty confident I can actually Coolio". I said " hell yeah". I booked lyrically keep going on. So I'm not worried. that gig straightaway. I'm based in Galway at the moment. Then a couple of weeks later I played Everyone seems to think I'm based in Is there anything else that you want to support for another group, an Irish band Dublin for some reason. There's not a lot say that we haven't talked about? called "The Original Rudeboys". I going on here for me in Galway supported them in this one show, a college professionally and career wise because it's My new is out for "Say gig and then their manager a few weeks kind of a traditional city. Goodbye" and went to number one on the later asked me to support them on their There is a lot more going on for me iTunes chart. In the last 12 months I've had Irish tour. So I did. I think it was 17 dates in nationwide and in Dublin. So I'm getting three on the Irish iTunes chart. Ireland. played on the radio stations here and stuff Two Number ones, my first number one I went with them all over the country, and like that but there is nothing crazy album, my first number one single and three ended up getting a lot of new fans from happening for me in Galway, because there positions all together in the last 12 months. supporting them. I started to generate my isn't an interest here or enough going on in Not so bad.... own fanbase from there, and it's just kind of Galway in the indie scene. There isn't I had the second best selling number one really been snowballing since. enough independent and original stuff independent record, so that was nuts. I The last 12 months have been very, very happening here. So I'll hold off for London think I was number 34 debuted on the surreal. A lot of achievements and goals or New York at some stage. official Irish chart, so that was pretty cool have been reached, that I never expected to I was just over in London two months too. It's been an exciting 12 months to say reach. It's very exciting and there's a lot of ago, I had a meeting with a record company the least. people looking at me at the moment, and and showed them a couple of songs. We're that's also very exciting too. We will see how keeping in contact now. We're kind of back- it goes. and-forth. So who knows, any day... then www.chrishazemusic.com

PURE M 13 @PureMzine

Juke

RossGarreth Browne got the chance to chat with Juke Ross and discuss his homeland, discovering music and his dreams of working with Hozier.

ast year Guyana native Juke Ross made a silent debut with the release of his first single “Colour Me”. Nearly aL year later and the singer released his debut EP “GREY”. After release of his first song “Colour Me”, the alternative folk singer and songwriter gained much international attention. After a few months, the song had already cracked 500,000 Spotify streams and garnered backing from the likes of Pigeons and Planes, Substream Magazine, The Source, and many others, making him a solidified artist to watch. Shortly after Ross signed with Republic Records (home to Ireland’s Picture This, and other artists like , , and ) and has been working hard in and out of the studio ever since writing, recording and performing all over the U.S. Being the youngest of 14 children, Juke fell in love with music at a very young age. The singer previously talked about how he grew up listening to everything from Caribbean standards to and Michael Jackson, and how he would sit and listen for hours on end. At 22 years old Juke is now based in Brooklyn, NY and shows no sign of turning back. 14 PURE M Firstly congrats on the release of “Grey”, I’m a life of its own. Also these songs were for a right now and does these vocal acrobatics gonna go as far as to say that it’s the best EP very long time my favourites and are the that no one else does) How was that whole I’ve heard this year. How do you feel now ones that give a good idea of how Grey I felt experience? that it’s out there in the world? and shows what a bipolar effect love can have sometimes. Exceptional! I learned so many things that Thanks Garreth! It feels beyond great, night and got to meet her also. We didn’t whenever i think about how these songs that Can you explain how you came to naming chat about anything significant as I was still I wrote back home in my room is now the EP “Grey”? I couldn’t help but notice reeling about the whole night and her being available to persons all over the world and that it’s completely opposite to your first the first artist I’ve met that I’m truly a fan of the stories that fans share after discovering single “Colour Me” in which you talk about myself but our paths will cross again. Until them, that in itself provides further someone “colouring your soul”. Grey is an then more music and more shows. inspiration for me to write new songs. achromatic color which literally means it’s a colour without colour. I thought that was Are there any artists you would like to Was becoming a recording artist always the very interesting. collaborate with? Any dream intention? What sparked the music dream? collaborations? I’m huge on colours and for me Grey Yes, Hozier! That album is like my cup of tea No, becoming a doctor was. I’d pretty much represents a hint of happy and sad. A on any given day! I know he’s Irish so get settled on that and was doing alright until sentiment I was able to properly capture in the word out lol my parents upgraded our internet “Colour Me”, hence it being the first single. connection (for studies mind you) and I “Grey” is the aftermath, when the colour is Can you tell us one thing about yourself could properly stream from Youtube and gone and one’s was left with memories both that we may not know? download free music. That happened and I happy and sad. discovered I had this insane appetite for I love vanilla milkshakes. Probably the most music. Pretty soon I was messing with guitar ”Morning Breeze” centres around letting ‘boring’ of flavours but hey it really does and once that happened the ‘music dream’ someone go, about moving on without satisfy my soul. was in sight. them in your life and that sense of freedom and being awakened. You sing “your arms Tells us five words to describe yourself. Coming from Guyana, a country oozing released me and now I’m flying high” which culture, I’m sure it had a huge impact on can really be taken and dropped into any Honest, reserved, intense, chilled and your songwriting & musicianship, and as life situation, no what’s we’re going impulsive. an artist in general? through, we too can “fly high” once again. Would you agree or am I delving way too Oh yes, the era of Guyanese music and deep? Lol artistry I admired all operated with great sense of integrity and their love for the art Yes, it’s also a bit about anger, frustration oozed through in their work, something I and completely blaming a partner for a connect with and hope to always maintain. breakup. Whether all those feelings are deserving or not that’s what came out when I was introduced to you through a mutual penning that one. The final sentiment which friend who I had been emailing over and is that one will be better off and ultimately back with one day. He signed off with happy again is something I’ve experienced “Here’s a song for you” with the link to time and time again something that I think “Colour Me”. I pressed play and literally is important to remember when you’re in stopped everything I was doing, I replied to the storm. www.jukeross.com him with “that song is incredible, the "GREY" is out now and available orchestration is stunning! He has a really What’s next for you? I know you’ve been everywhere. great voice”. playing shows and recently opened for Keep and eye out for more of Juke This isn’t really a question, but I just in NYC. (I’m slightly biased, but I Ross in 2018! wanted to tell you the story of how your think she has the best voice in the music music came into my life, and here I am interviewing you. So thank you!

It’s all good, thank your friend for me! I totally get it, my friends and I operate in the same way.

“Grey” is made up of four different songs, each unique to one another, were there other songs you could have added to the EP? What made you choose these particular four songs?

Yes, some of the other songs express similar sentiments and I wanted each song to have

PURE M 15 @PureMzine

Featured Artist

For the holidays this year Sabrina releases a cover of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and PureM’s Garreth Browne chats with her about Christmas, new music, her many ambitions and more... t 18 years old, Sabrina Carpenter has quite literally done it all. She’s an acclaimed actress, singer, songwriter, model, and has amassed a legion of adoring fans all over the globe. AIn recent weeks alone, Sabrina been spotted at MTV’s EMAs in London, attended the in Los Angeles, and performed at the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in . She’s graced many stages from the Music Awards to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and everything in between. Since signing with , she released her debut album “Eyes Wide Open” at just 16 years old, and her critically acclaimed sophomore album “EVOLution” was released last year. With 2017 being a huge year for the rising pop princess, Carpenter shows no sign of slowing down in 2018. Now 18, the singer is preparing to release her third studio album in 2018. Releasing three albums in as many years is an industry norm these days for emerging artists, but Sabrina has shown possibly the most growth as a singer and as a writer in such a short space of time compared to her counterparts. Last summer, she gave us a teaser of album number three with “Why," a fun and catchy pop song that was welcomed with open arms by fans, and gives us an insight to what the Pennsylvania songstress has in store for us. Carpenter rose to fame playing rebellious Maya Hart on the hit series “”. Since the show wrapped earlier this year, the singer has been working hard on her music career. She's been bouncing from the recording studio to the stage and headlining a sold out North American tour too. She also joined British band The Vamps across Europe playing major European venues for the first time last summer. The powerhouse has a work ethic like no other, and 2018 looks set to be the year that elevates her to a whole other level!

Photo Credit: Sarah Barlow

16 PURE M

"I get my inspiration now from my memories, my fantasies, and my reality."

PURE M 17 @PureMzine

ww

Hey Sabrina, congrats on the release the most is they don’t let their previous work We became friends the second we met and of "Why”. it’s a really great pop song. affect our work, they really get to know the have remained friends after shooting the What have you been up to since? I saw artist they are working with and helped to video. He was perfect for it, I really wanted you just did The Tonight Show with bring out my own unique voice and a good actor and someone I could play off of Jimmy Fallon - great performance. definitely started a chapter of growth with believably. He’s on such a roll right now I’m me in my career. lucky to have had him be a part of the story. Thank you so much! I’ve been touring as well as writing my third album, I also filmed The video recently came out and With the release of “Why” last a project this year. So I’ve been keeping features the wonderfully talented summer, does this mean we have a busy. Jimmy fallon was a dream I’m so glad Casey Cott, are you guys friends? How third album coming? I’ve been you liked it. did that come about? listening to “EVOLution” a lot lately,

On “Why” you worked with (whom I love) and , who has worked with so many people, how “I’d like to be remembered was that whole experience? as a force. hopefully by I feel like we’ve become a little dream team since that first session where we all met and then at least a 5’2 force, wrote “Why”. I respect them so much and their previous work but I think what I love but a force” 18 PURE M that world, I have three older sisters, and I shows actually. I got to go on a beautiful was always better friends with their friends hike while I was there that ended up being than people my own age. I get my one of my favorite parts of the whole tour. inspiration now from my memories, my The fans were phenomenal. fantasies, and my reality. I saw you released a cover of “Have Are there any artists you would like to Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, collaborate with? Any dream do you enjoy the Holidays? What’s collaborations? I’ve heard you're a big your favorite thing about Christmas? fan. Maybe that could be a fun future project. Let’s put Who doesn’t enjoy the holidays! It’s the that out into the universe. most nostalgic time of the year and I honestly would say the music has a lot to do Let’s do it please. I finally just saw her with it. I like baking but I never have time perform live at the AMAs the other night. I so during the holidays I do. shed a single tear it was almost comical. I think her, I’m a huge fan, as a Can you tell us one thing about writer I look up to Ed Sheeran, Tove Lo, and yourself that maybe your fans won’t Sia. know?

I know you spent time in the studio I collect vinyl, and I listen to records every with singer/songwriter Brandon day. I think they calm me down.. haha. Skeie, did you guys cook up something new? I can imagine both of Finally, what do you want your legacy you together conjuring up something to be? How would Sabrina like to be pretty special. remembered?

Oh I love Brandon so so much! He’s the It’s a little premature to say but I’d like to be most fun personality and lyrically so quick remembered as a force. hopefully by then at on his feet. We’ve cooked up some loveeeely least a 5’2 force, but a force. I want the things in the musical kitchen together. things I create to outlive me and leave good word for me. You just finished touring Europe with The Vamps, how was that? Did you Thank you so much Sabrina for doing enjoy your stop in Ireland? Artists this, it was great to have the often say how Irish audiences are opportunity to chat with you. P.S. some of the best (craziest), how was confession: I definitely listen to “Thumbs” your experience? on the NY subway all the time. ww.sabrinacarpenter.com It was one of my favorite experiences to P.S. this made my day.. I’m not gonna lie the date. It was my first time playing arenas only place I listen to it is on the NY subway every night. Ireland was one of my favorite too, thank you so much!! xxx it’s such a good album. Can you give us any hints on the sound of album #3?

You betcha. Ah I’m so glad you liked "EVOLution". That’s my baby. Only hint I’ll give you on the sound of album 3 is that it’s going to be better than "EVOLution", and it’s going to be different.

“Run And Hide” is one of my favs off “EVOLution”, it’s so emotional that I forget that you’re 18. Your songwriting is so strong, mature and relatable, where do you get your inspiration?

Thank you, I do sometimes too. Honestly, I’ve been an adult since I was a child, and then I realized all adults are still children so that made it easier. I was so comfortable in

PURE M 19 @PureMzine

OT SH G GI Robert Plant at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, 2017

Emmèt Mc Gonagle Like Landslides by Sean Coyle

Who said pathos in art is a thing of the past? 21 year old Irish folk musician Emmèt Mc Gonagle has recently released a single called Like Landslides to beguiling acclaim. Mc Gonagle who is currently studying in Cardiff is a passionate singer songwriter with an uncanny strength to be able to write a song that has an upbeat feeling but the undertone is of a sombre sadness proclaiming the mainstay at the root of the song. In many ways it is a harrowing glimpse of humanity from the heart and mind of a poetic deep young man propelled by clever oxymoron laden lyrics like “we always smile when we are in pain” and “give yourself a rest or there’ll be nothing of you left” lines I think anyone can relate to, the latter mentioned lyric alone could be an anthem for any hard working man or woman. The confessional tone of Like Landslides is a great expression of love, pain and life augmented by tactful chord progressions. Mc Gonagle released his debut E.P. The Blame earlier this year and it seems to be making waves in his current adopted home of Wales with the Swansea News Network commenting that this song “is a tune full of promise displaying instrumental subtleties that are unknowingly complicated and lovingly crafted with a sweeping guitar melody carried by the wind” the songs emotion as well as the play on words adds an effect that translates to people of all levels. To sum up this song is an interesting foray to approach for a highly talented independent artist.

20 PURE M well. We’ll also be playing as many summer festivals as we can, plenty to keep us busy.

If you had to describe your music in one sentence to someone who never heard you before, what would it be?

Loud, energic music with some uplifting tones.

One song, one film and one book for the rest of your life: What are they?

Song: Thirty Three by The Smashing Pumpkins

Film: Terminator 2 And So I Watch Book: The Meaning of Things, AC Grayling

Most overrated song of all time? YouInterview by From Paddy Dunne Afar The entirety of Ed Sheeran’s back catalogue And So I Watch You From Afar for a while! from beginning till present and till the very (ASIWYFA) have been billed as Northern end of existence itself. Ireland’s most breath-taking, compelling What is your favourite Xmas song of and heart-stoppingly brilliant export all time? What is the best thing about being in (outside of Linda Martin and Eamonn ASIWYFA? Holmes of course). I’m a sucker for “Driving Home for The band’s incredible, passionate live show Christmas” by Chris Rea I get to play music professionally with my ventures through joyous bubbling rhythmic three best mates in the world, I feel the anticipation, to specks and glitches of How did ASIWYFA come about? utmost gratitude for that. electronica, intertwined with what sounds like a thousand drum-kits chasing each We began life as members of older bands What is the worst thing? other down the street in time. Add that were finishing or broken up already and gloriously warm layers of cascading vocals, we started jamming with the intention of Carrying heavy equipment up flights of and distorted, mischievous guitars, and focusing on making music that didn’t need stairs on a regular basis! what you get is an overwhelming feeling of vocals. 12 years down the line we’re still triumph, pleasure and euphoria. making largely instrumental music so we’ve Performing live or commercial They are playing some post Christmas gigs stuck fairly well to the original brief. success? Which feels better? over Ireland to say goodbye to 2017 and to prepare you for the dawning of a brand new Which has been your career highlight Performing live, hands down. year. We caught up with drummer Chris so far? Wee ahead of these gigs and asked him a few If Donald Trump came over, would questions: The highlight for me is more of a multiple you perform a gig for him? thing really as I’m most happy about the What do ASIWYFA want for Xmas sheer volume of places round the word that Absolutely not! Not in a million years. this year? our music has reached and how many countries we’ve been able to travel to and Have you a Xmas message for the Shiny new amps and drums would be great. play. readers of Pure M? So Santa, if you’re listening... The highlight of 2017 (if different)? Be kind to one another, and come jump Which other artists would be top of around with us at one of our upcoming Irish your “good list” to collaborate with? Our recent tour of our new album The shows. Endless Shimmering. While it was pretty Nine Inch Nails, Vulfpeck, Battles. intensive playing 36 shows in 41 days around Europe and the UK, it was my AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR Any artists that would be on your favourite tour to date. WILL BE PLAYING: “naughty list”? Dublin, Academy – 28th Dec What has 2018 in store? Castlebar, Garbos – 29th Dec Josh Homme from QOTSA was pretty , Cypress Avenue – 30th Dec naughty the other day kicking that We will continue to promote the new album, Galway, Roisin Dubh – 31st Dec photographer in the head so he’s probably fingers crossed we make it back out to North Tickets are available from off the Christmas card list for a lot of people America and SE Asia and Australia all being Ticketmaster and other usual outlets

PURE M 21 @PureMzine Janelle Nadeau May Your Path Be Lit By A “Star of MayNight” Your Path Be Lit By A “Star of MayNight” Your Path Be Lit By A “Star of Night”

Interview by Eileen Shapiro

n time for the holiday season comes an angelic, sonically rapturing Christmas album from Harpist/Singer Janelle Nadeau.I Never before has the sounds of Christmas felt so compelling and believable as in, “Star of Night”. The magical compliation includes favorites such as, “Silent Night”, “What Child is This”, and “Do You Hear What I Hear”. The record also presents a twist on the Irish Rock band’s “U2’s single, “Peace On Earth”. Janelle has always been obsessed with the harp since childhood. She can coax that ordinarily instrument of the angels to play everything from rock to Christmas music, and much in between. The Vancouver artist has built her career on versatility. She has shared the stage with everyone from Diana Krall and Kanye West to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Personally the harp has always been a fascination to me, so when I procured the chance to speak with Janelle, I just couldn’t What enticed you to want to play the harp? They exposed to me to music when I was resist. We spoke about her career and where really young. So we went to the orchestra the harp has taken her, as well as where it I apparently wanted to play the harp since I one day and there was this musician called will take her. Janelle is funny and warm and was a kid. I have no recollection of this Loreena McKennitt who plays some pieces very tuned in to the music industry. You can because I was only three years old. My on the harp. It was the only thing that I probably count the musicians that play the parents told me. My parents have always could stare at, this instrument. It was so harp in the world on 2 hands, which is a been such music fans. They go to concerts exciting. I told him then that, that was what unique prospect in itself…… all the time with completely varying genres. I wanted to do. My parents had no clue what

22 PURE M the harp was, and I guess they kind of hoped I listened to your Christmas album and for That’s also why all of this Christmas stuff that I forget about it. I didn’t, and I kept the first time ever, I got into the music. started too. I feel like it kind of goes hand in pushing, and I kept asking to do it, and However when I found out you were a hand. Growing up we played music all the eventually they kind of gave in. I was told harpist, I stalked your YouTube and heard time. My mom was obsessed with Christmas that I had to play piano for year and if I did the other music that you play…..and you also albums. Because of that I feel like it was kind that I could play the harp. I guess they can really sing! of instilled in me, there’s a little obsession hoped I’d forget about it again, and I didn’t. with them as well. So that’s kind of how this So I started and it was always my choice. Yeah, I do. I grew up in the middle of the came to be as well. I felt that I had this thing country, and I mentioned that my parents that I needed to say, music that needed to How and where did you find someone to were grain farmers, they don’t have musical get out there. teach you the harp? backgrounds, especially when I choose this angel-like classical instrument. So that is I’m not usually a big fan of Christmas music, For me it was even more of a challenge not my background at all. So even though I but in your case, I can certainly make an because we live 45 minutes out of the city. do classical music, and play at the opera and exception to that. My parents are grain farmers, so there’s stuff like that, because I think my parents nobody around. So we had to drive into the over-exposed me to all that stuff, I just love It’s like how many Christmas albums are city, and not just into the city but to the playing different kinds of things. To only there? So many! They also become like other end of the city. This was an enormous play one genre of music just sounds like it’s happy, too excited, with all of these extra commitment for my parents. My teacher not who I am. That’s why I just create sounds. Every track that we did, we did in was a man from Chicago who lives in my different things, do different things, play all one take. For us we wanted to make it as hometown for years, and is currently still in different kinds of music, and then I just organic as possible and as human as the symphony there. He taught me, and I started singing because my parents possible. We have all of this technology to got really lucky because it’s not that encouraged me to as a kid. I didn’t like it splice and do big things, so for us we just common, but he gave me a wonderful because I enjoyed playing the harp, and I felt wanted to bring it back to basics and a little background and all of my basics. My like so many people were so much better at bit more. I wanted to bring it back to what foundation was created because of him, and singing. I just started doing it because I felt you can hear in the living room when people I definitely wouldn’t be here today without that there was certain things I couldn’t say come over to your house. I do a lot of work him. with just the harp…..and here we are. for Care homes, and a lot of hospital work. I think that at the end of our lives we don’t How do you transport a harp around, it I feel like you can count the number of want to hear all this energy and excitement. doesn’t seem like it would even fit in any people who play the harp in the world on We want something that soothes us. There type of vehicle? your fingers. is so much going on in life, there was so much energy, “go to the event, answer your My partner and I just went car shopping. I Yeah, there’s not many of us. I think it’s way phone”, I just wanted to create something bring my harp case out first, and if we got more diverse than people give it credit for. that kind of feels good, and make it more close to thinking it might fit, then we People that I’ve met who have come into my mellow. actually would bring the harp, and it didn’t life after their introduction to me playing on fit anyway. It’s just so frustrating. stage, we all have all the images in our It kind of mesmerized me. I’m just one minds of what someone might be because of person but I feel like a lot of people will like. I mean it doesn’t come apart like a drum set. what one plays. And then they’re all like, “you’re not what I thought you would be”. That’s so kind. I think it’s nice to hear all of Exactly. It’s also very sensitive to these instruments that are so traditional, temperature. You can’t just like put it in the and hearing them slightly differently. I’m back of a truck. doing a tour coming up and this woman I’m working with, she is actually one of the How do you tune it, it must take ours. reasons I got into playing the stuff that’s a little bit different. She’s basically a You tune it every time you play it and every traditional musician. She is amazing. Her time you move it. It takes a while. It’s the name is Kim Robertson. I hope that name part I don’t love about it, tuning it, but it’s a rings a bell in the harp world. You should necessary evil of being able to do what I do look her up anyway. She’s a goddess of love. playing beautiful music. Everything she creates, you feel like you’ve heard it before. People associate the harp with angels, She does it in a way that is a bit surprising. what’s your take on that? It goes in a direction that’s fresh enough that it feels like it’s new and you’re being The thing is that people think about angels. captivated, but it’s also traditional. She I feel like the last maybe five or ten years seems to strike this really beautiful balance. people are, and I hope that I’m a part of this, For me it’s like working with my hero, and turning the harp around. The guitar used to my idol. For me it’s super exciting…. be a classical instrument. Rock didn’t happen before classical guitar, but we For more information on Janelle associate the guitar with that now. Nadeau visit >> janellenadeau.com

PURE M 23 @PureMzine The Divine Comedy The Olympia Theatre (2017 ) Photography by Anamaria Meiu

PURE M @PureMzine

TOPby Marie Louise 10 Clogher Christmas Movies

10: Scrooged

Scrooged is a comical reworking of the famous Dickens novel A Christmas Carol. The film focuses on one particular Scrooge, Frank Cross (Bill Murray), the head of a television network who demands all staff work through the holiday in order to broadcast a huge theatrical production. Murray somewhat ressurects the sardonic wit of his Groundhog Day character Phil but not quite to the same success. Scrooged is worth a watch alone to see New York Dolls frontman David Johansen play the Ghost of Christmas past, and to watch the two speed around in a spectral taxi.

9: Gremlins

Probably the only Christmas element of Gremlins is that it is set sometime during the holiday season. Gremlins still repeatedly pops up on our television screens during the festive period nonetheless. The rules are simple once you somehow happen to obtain a mogwai; do not expose said mogwai to bright lights or direct sunlight, do not let them get wet and do not feed them after midnight. Inevitably all these rules are broken and cute little gremlin Gizmo spawns an army of bad gremlins (lead by Stripe). Gizmo (along with best pal Billy) must save the town, and themselves, from their chaotic rampage.

8: Edward Scissorhands

Tim Burton’s dark love story is oddly shaped like a fairytale. An elderly lady acts as a kind of narrator as she recounts the tale to her granddaughter. The tale is told about an inventor who fashions an artificial human, but tragically dies before he can complete him. Edward substitutes scissors for hands and rattles around a dilapidated mansion until an Avon lady happens to call to the door. The clash of colourful kitsch American suburbia with Burton’s vision of gothic gloom is truly something to behold.

7: E.T. the Extra Terrestrial

Every time I turn on my television over Christmas, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial seems to be just starting or almost finishing. I don’t quite know what the reason for its festive fondness is, perhaps it’s the feelgood friendship between Elliott and E.T. that grows into a brotherly love or maybe it’s the soaring score by John Williams. Either way aliens have never been so festively appropriate than when Spielberg frames them in the moonlight.

6: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has got most things you want from a Christmas film, music, mystery, laughter, Oompa Loompas and copious amounts of confectionary. Gene Wilder is the ultimate master of ceremonies as he guides the audience and a few select children through his enchanted chocolate factory. While the 2005 remake Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has its merits, there is simply no more festive feeling than watching the 1971 classic in your pyjamas on Christmas morning.

26 PURE M 5: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton manages to make the list a second time with a film that straddles the seasons of Christmas and Halowe’en. Jack Skellington lives in a stop-motion animated world and inhabits Halowe’en town with a host of other goblins and ghouls. Jack has grown tired of his frightful life when he happens upon a secret door to Christmas town in a secluded forest. Jack is so enamoured with this world he decides to relieve Santa Claus of his job and bring a little bit of Halowe’en to Christmas town and vice versa. The music and songs are immediately hummable and will have you whistling all year round.

4: Home Alone

Home Alone simply must be included in any and every Christmas film list. Each time I watch it I hope that this time Kevin Mc Callister won’t be forgotten by his parents and family as they set off to enjoy a Parisian Christmas. Forget him they do and we watch young Kevin spending Christmas unsupervised. Home Alone in many ways embodies the spirit of Christmas as the kids are running the show and adults are merely along for the ride.

3: Elf

Elf is really a film that can be watched all through the year. Buddy the Elf is a human who accidentally is brought to the North Pole as a baby and raised as an elf. When Buddy dicsovers his real father is on Santa’s naughty list he must go to New York City and endeavour to show him the error of his ways and bring about redemption. Elf highlights the innocence and sense of unabashed joy that can be lost in adulthood and Buddy restores the sense of merriment and happiness in everyone throughout the film. The Christmas setting is perfect for the message, but truly this can be a film for all seasons.

2: You’ve Got Mail

You’ve Got Mail may seem a strange choice in this list but it is easily one of my personal favourite films and one that is particularly special to watch at Christmas. The Nora Ephron directed film is based on Ernst Lubitsch’s The Shop Around the Corner, set in a leather goods store in Budapest in the run up to Christmas. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks play a pair of enemies who unwittingly form an anonymous connection through the charmingly outdated majesty of the AOL chatroom. While I know this may not be everyone’s idea of a festive film, it consistently warms my heart. When Ryan reminisces on time spent with her deceased mother while decorating her tree, Joni Mitchell’s River softly plays in the background; and while I fully appreciate the cheesiness of the moment it always brings an unexpected tear to my eye.

1: A Charlie Brown Christmas

This animated Christmas special was made in 1965 and still is so relevant today. Charlie Brown is dispirited and wonders why he feels sad even though the most wonderful time of the year is in full swing. Commercialism seems to be ruling the season and his friends are more concerned about how much they can get rather than what Christmas is all about. He tries to speak to some of his companions about it but is dismissed with such quotable lines as, “Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you’re the Charlie Brownest.” The true spirit of the season is finally found through a tiny forgotten sapling tree that Charlie Brown chooses to be displayed in a play that he and his merry band are putting on. The children decorate the sad little tree and realise Christmas is not all about pomp and circumstance but about what you can make out of what little you’ve got and who you make it with. With a running time of just thirty minutes it is perfect Christmas viewing for young and old.

PURE M 27 We’re delighted to announce the 2018 Pure M Awards, after the success of the 2017 awards we’ve decided to extend the prestigious music awards to artists in the USA, UK and Europe.

There will be panels of judges set up for each region of the finalist category, two stages – nominations and finalists (Shortlist) plus details of the live awards show will be announced soon.

Nominations are open and FREE to enter on January 1st 2018, anyone can nominate…. but you must include region, category & the artist name in email subject (i.e – Ireland – Best Solo Act – Name of Act) to [email protected]

Would you like to sponsor an award? [email protected]