Maisie Peters has come a long way.

From setting up her own YouTube and busking regularly in her teens to amassing over 500 million streams - and she is still only TWENTY!

She is in awe at how brave she was at that age and says she would never be able to do it now:

I was a busker when I was about 14 or 15! I busked outside Brighton Library doing Disney covers so kids would dance and I'd get the money from their Mothers!! Busking is something everyone should do because it teaches you so much. It was scary when I think about it I could never do it now.

A business head on her at such a young age. Is there anything she can't do???!!

She still hasn't past her driving test. PHEW! She is not superhuman after all!!

Listen to the warm revealing chat with one of the rising stars of music here.

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/03/18150519/MAISIE-PETERS-PODCAST.mp3"][/audio]

Her new single is called 'John Hughes Movie' and although she was born long after most of his movies were released the song is a tongue-in-cheek reference to real life and movies.

"This ain't no John Hughes movie where the girl gets the guy"

The music video is a tribute to 80s High School horror flicks with added Zombie "f*ckboys"

Read her brilliant behind-the-scenes Insta post on making the video:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Maisie Peters (@maisiehpeters)

In January 2020 things looked very different for Marcus O'Laoire.

The Dublin based entertainer and DJ was excited to open his new bar Anti Social in the Liberties in Dublin.

They opened with a bang, and things were looking good.

Then, due to Covid, six short weeks later they had to shut their doors.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Anti Social (@antisocial.dublin)

While there have been periods where Anti Social could open over the past year, they have been shut for months on end.

Marcus says, "The love that we have felt for the brief little windows that we have been able to open has been humbling, incredible and beautiful."

Catch the full chat between Marcus and Fergal D'Arcy by pressing the Play button below.

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/03/15160348/FD-1503-MARCUS-O-LAOIRE.mp3"][/audio]

All this week Today FM is teaming up with Guinness Raising The Bar and sharing the best, fun-filled stories of Irish pubs and their people.

One year on from when so many pubs had to shut their doors we are looking forward to when our pubs can safely reopen their doors.

Dua Lipa has scooped Best Pop Vocal Album at this year's Grammy awards for Future Nostalgia.

Dua also stole the show with an incredible performance of ‘Levitating (Feat.Dababy)’ and ‘Don’t Start Now’ with the performance already racking up over one million views on YouTube.

Dua Lipa caught up with Fergal D'Arcy to chat all about her big night, catch the full interview by pressing the Play button below.

 

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/03/15140524/FD-1503-DUA-LIPA-CHOPPED.mp3"][/audio]

Haim have made history as the only all female rock group nominated for The Grammys 'Album Of The Year'

This should have happened years ago.

On Sunday they will hope to make more history by winning!

Their album Women In Music P3  album (the name of which has a very funny meaning behind it!) has been getting rave reviews and even Taylor Swift insisted on getting involved!

One of our favourite shows we EVER played was at The Olympia! I got the drunkest I think I've ever been. The time of my life and I remember everything!!

Este and Alana from Haim tell The Fergal D'Arcy Show about getting drunk in Dublin, the Olympia being one of the best gigs of their lives, dream journals, depressing birthdays, The Grammys, Taylor Swift and so much more!!

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/03/12145807/FD-1203-HAIM-FULL-PODCAST.mp3"][/audio]

 

see you on the grammys stage on estes birthday march 14th 8pm ET/5pm PT @CBSTVStudios @RecordingAcad pic.twitter.com/FWuERubkLW

— HAIM (@HAIMtheband) March 7, 2021

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by HAIM (@haimtheband)

Joel Corry has absolutely nailed the last two years.

Let's look at his song smash hit checklist:

'Sorry' ✅

'Lonely' ✅

'Head & Heart' ✅

And now 'Bed' ✅

His tracks have taken over streaming and radio playlists. The new tune 'Bed' is a collab with the fantastic Raye (a friend of the Fergal Darcy Show check out her interview here  )And also David Guetta (check out when Fergal spoke to him here )

Speaking to Fergal Darcy, Joel said that he has been a big fan of his fellow countryman Ed Sheeran for a long time and is the opportunity ever came up for them to work together it would be a dream.

Maybe he'll slide into Ed's DMs? For Head & Heart MNEK slid into Joel's DMs and then for 'Bed' he slid into Raye's DMs.

There's a lot of sliding into DMs!! Hahaha! But I wasn't gonna slide into David's DMs. HE'S DAVID GUETTA!! So, I asked Raye for his email!! Bit more professional Hahaha!

Joel Corry chats to Fergal D'Arcy about DM sliding, missing a live crowd, current plans, hoping 'Bed' creates a baby boom! and why he is buzzing about life right now!!

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/03/05133133/JOEL-CORRY-EXTENDED-PODCAST.mp3"][/audio]

 

This HAS to be the most innovative method ever to release music.

Imagine a band inventing an actual 'Dream Machine'

Back in the throes of the first major lockdown and with tour dates scrapped, the band created a concept that will blow your mind.

They created a website that people signed into and was able to read the faces of all their fans.

The more people closed their eyes the more music appeared until we had thousands dreaming of the music and ONLY THEN did it appear on the streaming services!

THE FUTURE IS NOW.

Listen to Dave from the band tell Fergal D'Arcy all about this futuristic concept and how the band are doing since new album Dreamland was released (Produced by studio superstar Paul Epworth (Adele, Florence & The Machine, Rihanna to name a few) He also reveals the VERY famous person who sat in on a studio session and surprised all of them!

If you haven't heard their belter, 'Heat Wave' that is killing it in the Irish charts right now - check it out below.

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/03/04141216/GLASS-ANIMALS-FULL-PODCAST.mp3"][/audio]

DREAM MACHINE IS LIVE. THE MORE OF YOU ON THERE WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED, THE MORE YOU WILL HEAR. https://t.co/wpWelVnd5c

team work makes the dream work pic.twitter.com/aey77iyqkP

— Glass Animals (@GlassAnimals) July 29, 2020

⬇️ CONGRATS! You've found Friday's Axa Plus Rewards Card

Rag‘n’Bone Man returns three years after his ground breaking, award winning debut, ‘Human’

His 2017 debut ‘Human’ was a phenomenal success.

4x platinum which shot to No. 11 in it's first week of release in the UK. It then became the fasted-selling album by a male artist for the entire decade and earned him BRIT and Ivor Novello Awards.

Now, he's back with new track 'All You Ever Wanted' and a brand new album 'Life By Misadventure' released on April 23rd.

And as he says himself his new sound is more Rock 'N' Roll than what he has sounded before.

This is the first time I've done a guitar led record and I am mega pleased. Myself and the lads tried to record as a band to give it that live feel and to imagine the audience and the fans there with us as we recorded it

Rory and his band opened Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway with a stunning live version of new track.

He tells The Fergal D'Arcy Show about the last few years coming back and feeling the music again, the fear of going temporarily deaf!! (he lost his hearing and freaked) the newest member to his family; being a doting Dad to  his two-year-old son Reuben, missing live gigs so much, and planning rejections!

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/03/03125009/RAG-N-BONE-MAN-PODCAST.mp3"][/audio]

Rory tells Fergal D'Arcy about the amazing music video for the new single. Have a look here:

 

⬇️ CONGRATS! You've found Monday's Axa Plus rewards card! 

Gavin James has a new track and he is absolutely beaming about it.

Made with international duo KOLIDESCOPES comprised of musician/producers Johnny Courtidis and Dan Dare (what an amazing name!)

I met the lads for pints of Guinness and wrote 3 songs. I've known them a long time, we had been friends for years so it made sense to write some music! It was an amazing three days.

Johnny and Dan are the guys behind the Joel Corry smash hit 'Head & Heart' and they've worked the same magic on this new song 'All For You'

Gavin told Fergal D'Arcy all about making the tune, chats warmly about his Uncle Paddy that passed away recently, and keeping himself busy.

Where else would you find a sounder man in music to chat to?

All this and he does the chat in a onesie!

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/02/19142413/GAVIN-JAMES-CUT.mp3"][/audio]

Two smash hits in the last year in Ireland alone – his own track ‘Mood’ and Clean Bandit’s 'Tick Tock'.

In the US and worldwide he has had similar success.

He has tens of millions of followers across social media and millions of monthly stream listens.

And Golden Landis Von Jones is still only 20 years old!

24KGoldn is a superstar in the making.

However, he is only in this for one reason. His fans. And his ascent to fame has been strange because he's a world famous rapper without been able to go anywhere!!

I see all these numbers but what does that even mean. My music has impacted people in real life. That's what I've been missing out this whole year. Can't go to shows, can't see my fans so to finally meet some meant so much to me!

The Fergal Darcy Show chatted to 24KGoldn  about his rapid rise to fame,  brand new single "3, 2, 1" and hugely anticipated debut album plus loads more.

 

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/02/19132832/24K-GOLDEN-FULL-PODCAST.mp3"][/audio]

Check out the video for brand new track "3,2,1"

 

UPDATED:

Griff won The Rising Star Award at last night's Brit Awards. Fergal D'Arcy spoke to this fabulously talented lady recently and it was clear she had serious talent and star quality and a real humility. And if you've heard her first single 'Blackhole' (see below) you will know already she is going to explode in 2022!

LISTEN BACK HERE:

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/02/10143542/FD-1002-GRIFF-DONE.mp3"][/audio]

Thankyou guys for listening to music. @BRITs #BRITs pic.twitter.com/eju8Dy3W8c

— Griff (@wiffygriffy) May 12, 2021

 

 

Griff is only 19 years old yet she has the world at her feet.

Chosen by MTV and the BBC sound poll as one to watch for 2021 she is hot on the heels of Dua Lipa to be the world's hottest female solo electronic pop star.

Described by NME as a "Phenomenon"

IDENTITY IN HER MUSIC

Born to Chinese and Jamaican parents, she began making music by borrowing her brother’s Logic: teaching herself how to produce songs in secret from her classmates. She talks about her identity and it's influence on her music:

When I was younger, I often felt like I was never Black enough to be Black or Chinese enough to be Chinese; you're in this weird middle-ground. As I’ve grown older, and actually over lockdown especially, I’ve definitely taken a lot of time to reflect on my identity

She tells Fergal D'Arcy about how her life and identity has informed so much of her songs. Griff reflects upon how she tries to tell a story, like how her parents would regularly foster kids growing up and those brothers and sisters influenced her so much. She also tell Fergal about her hero Taylor Swift reaping praise on her.

[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/02/10143542/FD-1002-GRIFF-DONE.mp3"][/audio]

Superstar Taylor Swift was quick in her praise for Griff when she heard her and Maisie Peter's take on 'Exile'

I’m a huge fan of these two already but seeing them create magic in the studio together just makes me even more excited to hear what they do in the future - absolutely love this, what a gift https://t.co/hTTIhuM3pq

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 17, 2020

Woaaaahh!! Thankyou so much ❤️

— Griff (@wiffygriffy) December 17, 2020

Her brand new song 'Black Hole' is a dark pop anthem and it is already so self assured The Fergal Darcy Show is convinced that it and her will be huge. We can't wait for her to take over the world!

Also - check out what she can do with a bin bag!!

You asked, I deliver ⏰⏰ #againsttheclock pic.twitter.com/lrqUsD6GNG

— Griff (@wiffygriffy) February 7, 2021