SOUND OF BELFAST 2022: 10 NORTHERN IRISH ARTISTS YOU NEED TO KNOW
In November 2021, Belfast was awarded the coveted UNESCO ‘City of Music’ title - and it’s easy to see why. Aside from Tayto crisps and Derry Girls, Northern Ireland has produced some of the UK’s finest cultural exports, and the music scene is bursting with exciting acts waiting to be discovered. With the 2022 Sound of Belfast festival coming to a close, guest Vocal Girls writer Lauren Johnson has compiled a list of ten stellar Northern Irish artists that belong on your playlists.
1. Cherym
Singer Hannah Richardson, bassist Nyree Porter and drummer Alannagh Doherty are experts in making effervescent pop-punk with depth. Their latest EP ‘Hey Tori’ was released on Alcopop Records in 2021, marking a distinct development in their sound. The anthemic new single ‘Gone Girl’ was nominated for Best Single at this year’s Northern Ireland Music Prize, exploring the impact of abusive relationships through explosive guitars and impassioned vocals. The band are fresh from touring Europe with Aussie indie outfit The Beths, and their energetic tunes truly come to life on stage. If you’re lucky enough to catch them live next year, watch out for their ‘Mean Girls’ inspired intro and matching basketball jerseys.
2. Lauren Ann
Lauren Ann is a relative newcomer to the Northern Ireland music scene, but she has made a huge impression in a short space of time. Her recent singles ‘Lucy’ and ‘Adelaide’ have garnered support from the likes of BBC Introducing, RTE and Hot Press, cementing her status as a true rising star. Lauren’s intoxicating grunge-pop tunes have even landed her support slots for Twin Atlantic and Tom Grennan; if Lana Del Rey had started an indie rock band in her teens, it would probably have sounded something like this.
3. ROE
Derry native ROE wears her heart on her sleeve. Whilst previous releases have been galvanised by the sheen of glittering pop production, ROE has recently stripped back the instrumentation to reveal something more authentic and raw on her latest album, ‘That’s When The Panic Sets In’. If you like intimate songwriting, delicately layered vocals and anthemic orchestration, you’ll love the newest iteration of her sound. Having shared stages with the likes of Snow Patrol and The Amazons, ROE’s upward trajectory shows no signs of stopping - just see for yourself, when she heads out on tour around the UK and Ireland next year.
4. Niall McDowell
Niall McDowell is a purveyor of hilarious tweets and heartfelt indie-pop with a country twang. Their latest EP ‘It Was An Honour To Be Nominated’ was released earlier this year, and showcases five songs that explore love, grief and growing up. Highlights include the fragile, finger-picked guitar of ‘Brokeback’ and the expansive jangle-pop of ‘Tennessee’, which will please fans of Elliot Smith and Mitski in equal measure. Niall has just been announced as one of the 2022 cohort of the Scratch My Progress artist development programme, and their latest single has just received airplay on BBC Radio One. Get ready to enter your Niall McDowell stan era.
5. Laytha
Sometimes, when family members sing together, something special happens; their voices communicate instinctively, the unspoken alchemy of a bond forged over years. That’s exactly what happens when cousins Niamh and Philana join together to make music as Laytha. The folk duo have just released their self-titled debut album, which sees their haunting voices accompanied by warm strings, delicate acoustic guitars and tasteful percussion. This new record will be officially launched with a headline show in Belfast’s The Black Box on 27th November - mark your calendars.
6. Charlie Hanlon
Charlie Hanlon is an indie icon in the making. The Downpatrick teenager has been writing and recording original music in his bedroom since the age of 15, but now he has decided to unleash his tunes in venues across Northern Ireland. It’s a worthy graduation, as songs such as ‘Kids Today’ and ‘I Lost Myself’ deserve to be played live. What’s more, later this year Charlie will be stepping out onto the biggest stage of his career, making his debut at Belfast’s Ulster Hall in support of 90’s rock heroes, Ash.
7. Sasha Samara
Self-professed ‘friendly neighbourhood popstar’, Sasha Samara is incandescent with charm. Whether she’s taking fans through her creative process on TikTok or performing live on stage, Sasha’s talent and charisma can’t help but glow. Her latest single ‘Problems’ is an addictive pop banger, marking her out as one to watch in 2023.
8. Ferna
Ferna is the alias of Hannah McPhillimy, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Northern Ireland’s rugged north coast. Her sound has been consciously crafted over the years, enhanced by a stint in the USA studying composition at the University of Michigan. Ferna’s vulnerable track ‘Wasted’ won Best Single at this year’s NI Music Prize, and fans of Florence & The Machine and London Grammar are sure to love her fierce soundscapes.
9. The Florentinas
The seaside city of Bangor has a curious reputation for spawning indie rock royalty, with alumni including Snow Patrol and Two Door Cinema Club. Despite only having released two singles so far, The Florentinas are set to join their ranks, as their explosive, radio-friendly rock has seen them support Nothing But Thieves, The Lathums, and Stereophonics in recent months. To bag bragging rights over your pals, make sure you listen to them before their inevitable rise to the mainstream.
10. Winnie Ama
Winnie Ama is a Northern Irish/Ghanaian artist making intoxicating soul-pop and RNB. Her profile has risen rapidly since her musical debut in 2019, when three of her collaborations with DJ Francis Groove made the top 10 in MusicWeek’s UK Urban/Club chart. A trained jazz vocalist and accomplished songwriter, Winnie was the artist in residence at this year’s prestigious Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Really, it’s Winnie’s world, and we’re all just living in it.
Written by Lauren Johnson