• ANGIE MCMAHON •
Floating gracefully through her 20’s on the back of an electric guitar is Australian singer-songwriter Angie McMahon. Making sound from broken instruments and electronics, Angie kick-started her career by winning a competition which scored her a place on tour with Jon Bon Jovi at the age of 19. As a self-confessed ‘sad song’ enthusiast, Angie has seen her music career flourish upon the release of her hit track ‘Slow Mover’ from the EP ‘Missing Me’, which earned her a place on last year’s Hottest 100 and Triple J’s Unearthed.
Her gritty version of pop-rock ballads exudes a coolness and innovation that hasn’t gone unnoticed. The raw edge of her bold vocals against the heart felt empathy behind the lyrics proves a successful paradox in the music industry as she confesses: ‘I was learning how to use my voice as an instrument and its translated into something much more powerful.’
She’s already had a distinctly live curriculum playing regular festival slots and opening for the likes of Meg Mac, The Jezabels, Alanis Morisette, The Shins and Angus & Julia Stone over the last year; an experience she describes as “very inspiring and crazy.” Just last month, she was crowned the winner of The Grulke Prize for Developing Non-U.S. Act at SXSW Festival and recived a nomination for APRA’s Song of the Year award.
It’s safe to say that Angie McMahon will be in great company on the D2D stage alongside our fellow rising stars, we’re very excited to see what she has in store for us!
• KOJAQUE •
See life through the lens of up and coming Irish rapper, Kojaque. New to the music scene and taking matters into his own hands, the fresh faced Dubliner has blown listeners away with his blend of hip-hop beats and poetic lyrics. As a budding artist, carrying a niche genre and battling a competitive market, Kojaque birthed the label Soft Boy Records. When asked about the origin of the name in an interview he’s quoted as saying “It’s an embrace of being soft… I guess, with great vulnerability comes great art, so there’s truth in that and insight into that that you won’t get if you’re all stiff and hard.” It’s clear his attitude towards life is reflected in his brutally honest approach towards music,
Producing a vast range of work, both independently and through Soft Boy Records, Kojaque’s influences range from the work of MF DOOM to Stevie Wonder. He has also worked with notable Irish producers, such as JarJarJr, GAPTOOF, and Wastefellow; he has influenced a new generation on the Irish hip-hop scene and the effect is palpable.
When Kojaque made his festival debut at Electric Picnic back in 2016, it didn’t go unnoticed. Boilermaker picked up on Soft Boys ‘fuck it’ ethos and released a documentary on their called Soft Boy For Life: A Irish Hip-Hop Story’. Documented entirely by Kojaque and his friends, it showing the gritty reality of being a young creative defying genres and purporting the highs and lows of the DIY music scene.
It’s safe to say that 2019 is going to be a breakthrough year for Kojaque, and we can’t wait to be a part of it.
• DANCING ON TABLES •
Gracing the scene with their anthemic songs and Scottish charm, indie band Dancing On Tables have captured listeners from day one. With their debut EP “Don’t Stop” receiving national UK radio airplay, Robbie McSkimming, Callum Thomas, Hamish Finlayson, Gregor Stobie and Reece Dobbin hit the ground running back in 2014.
From the schoolroom to the recording studio, these five have continued to produce a positively infectious sound. At the end of 2017 Dancing on Tables signed to Nashville based indie label, LV Music; their single “OH” followed immediately. The band wrote and recorded the song within 24 hours of travelling to Nashville and recorded in world-famous RCA studio, the likes of which Elvis, Roy Orbison and Paramore have also recorded in.
Things have not always gone so smoothly though. The band originally didn’t have a name. During their first show together, arriving at the venue they realised they didn’t have a band name; they noticed that punters were dancing on tables and decided to run with that, really showing off their optimistic nature, not just in their music, but in their attitude and execution.
And it has worked out for them, as their brand new EP ‘Wonderland’ dropped last week, and it definitely has us dancing on tables. Featuring a beautiful blend of bass and synth-like instrumental, this is one of the tracks to kick off your summer. You won’t let go of this band once you’ve listened to them.
