Local voices making waves in the music industry in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has long been a dark horse in the music scene. With names like Two Door Cinema Club, Snow Patrol and Van Morrison hailing from our ‘wee’ country, it was no surprise to hear Belfast became a UNESCO City of Music last year.
It’s the third city in the UK to become a City of Music, alongside Liverpool and Glasgow.
You just have to walk the streets of Belfast or Derry at the weekend to recognise the rich musical heritage we have here.
Belfast Music patron, Gary Lightbody once said: “Music is woven into the DNA of Belfast.
“We have so many incredible bands and artists - and more every single year. I’ve watched in these last 25 years of relative peace the music scene grow and then thrive and now burst at the seams with fearless and limitless talent.”
To celebrate International Women’s Day today, we thought we’d take a closer look at some of the incredible female artists on the local music scene today.
Check it out…
Annabelle
Hailing from Holywood Co Down, pop singer Annabelle released her debut EP 'Back To You'. Her writing typically falls into the romance genre. Speaking to Cool's Curtis McCosh last year, Annabelle said: "I always wanted to release relatable music that would be uplifting and make people want to get up and dance!"
Saint Sister
Morgana MacIntyre (Belfast) and Gemma Doherty (Derry) first met in Dublin in 2014. Their love of music was apparent from the very beginning, with Morgan's lyrics and Gemma's melodies, their voices blend perfectly together. Their 2018 debut LP 'Shape of Silence' was met with critical acclaim and just last year they scooped Best Album supported by PPL for their record 'Where I Should End' at the NI Music Awards.
Lisa McHugh
Lisa McHugh is a popular voice on the local country music scene, and just last year launched a weekend show on Downtown Radio. The Enniskillen-based singer/songwriter recently welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Milo, but cannot wait to get back to the stage next month.
Dea Matrona
You might recognise Dea Matrona from their busking days on the streets of Belfast. Their edgy style and love of rock, make this band one of a kind. The dynamic pair, Mollie McGinn and Orlaith Forsythe, have just set off on a whistle-stop Irish tour this month.
Roe
Derry musician Roe can count Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody as a close friend and fan, having recently toured with the band across the UK. Describing her unique sound as "grumpy electric-pop", Roe has already performed on the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury, so we've no doubt there'll be big things on the horizon for her.
Brooke
Rising to fame as a finalist of The Voice UK 2020, Brooke Scullion from Bellaghy, Co Derry/Londonderry is set to hit the 2022 Eurovision stage. wBrooke was selected to represent Ireland at the global singing competition in Italy this May. Her single 'That's Rich' is the perfect break-up song, with elements of Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers.
Dani Larkin
If you're a lover of folk music, Dani Larkin is the woman for you! Inspired by traditional Irish melodies, Dani's poetic song writing and enchanting voice simply ooze Celtic soul. Dani supported Snow Patrol at their Waterfront Hall gig last October.
Sasha Samara
Sasha released her debut single 'Broken Vessel' in late 2019, her relatable lyrics earned her fans all over NI. Picking up the coveted New Contender Award at the NI Music Prize, Sasha continues to go from strength to strength. Looking ahead to 2022, we can't wait to hear what indie pop Sasha has been working on this summer.
Gemma Bradley
Meet the Queen of BBC's Introducing show, Gemma Bradley has taken the radio world by storm. But her talents also include singing and song writing, pop and RnB to be precise. Her musical influences are Amy Winehouse and Bob Marley.
Janet Devlin
At just 16 years old Janet Devlin wowed the nation on ITV's X Factor, finishing fifth in the competition. But that wasn't the end for the Gortin teen, overr the past 11 years, Janet has been working on creating music she loves, including her latest EP "It's Not That Deep". She describes her last collection of songs as 'a welcome break' from the deep & meaningful journey of her last Confessional!'
Reevah
Growing up in a musical family in the heart of Derry, it was inevitable that indie-pop artist Reevah was going to make waves in the local music scene. She released her third EP, 'Begin Again' in Nov 2021 to critical acclaim, and is looking forward to touring some of the local festivals this summer.
Read more:
Cool FM debuts all female line-up to celebrate International Women’s Day
International Women's Day: Local ladies leading the way
Inspirational female artists who have all written Number 1 hits