Author: Lisa Hafey

Lisa has been writing for over 20 years, starting as the entertainment editor on her university newspaper. Since then she's written for Popwrapped, Maximum Pop, Celebmix, and ListenOnRepeat. Lisa loves all good music, with particular fondness for Jedward and David Bowie. She's interviewed Edward Grimes (Jedward), Kevin Godley, Trevor Horn, Paul Young, Peter Cox (Go West), Brendan B Brown (Wheatus), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), among many many more. Lisa is also available for freelance writing - please email lisa@essentiallypop.com

BRIT Award Winner Tom Walker Releases Debut Album ‘What A Time To Be Alive’

March 1, 2019

Today March 1 sees the release of Tom Walker’s debut album, ‘What A Time To Be Alive’. The title could well be a description of what’s been going on in Tom’s head lately: he won the BRIT Award for British Breakthrough Act, and was nominated for his single, ‘Leave A Light On’. That track entered straight into the UK Official Top 40 songs of 2018, and also hit the #1 spot on iTunes in 20 countries, and sold Platinum in 10.

Swimming Bell – ‘1988’

March 1, 2019

Swimming Bell is the project of Katie Schottland. The Brooklyn-based folk singer broke her foot in 2015, and her imposed inactivity led her to write music. She writes by ear, having no formal musical training, and learned some basic chords from a chord sheet she printed out in order to work out how to play Neil Young’s ‘Harvest Moon’. From these gentle beginnings, she launched her debut EP, ‘The Golden Heart’, in October 2017, which was met with critical acclaim.

Otherkin Bury The Past With Brand New Single, ‘Tombstone’

February 28, 2019

Dublin rockers return with their brand new single, ‘Tombstone’, the first release since their 2017 debut album, ‘OK’. The track showcases a new sound for the band, and has been a co-production between Otherkin and Steve Dub, best known for his work with The Chemical Brothers. It was recorded at The Toy Rooms in Brighton, UK, and mixed by Jolyon Vaughan Thomas, who’s worked with Royal Blood, Slaves, and U2.

Jamie Harrison ‘Spent So Long’ Cracks 1 Million Spotify Streams

February 28, 2019

Irish singer songwriter and musician, Jamie Harrison, has cracked the 1.3 million mark on Spotify with his most recent single, ‘Spent So Long’. It’s also making waves on the international scene, and has found its way to several key global Spotify playlists, including Soft Vinter, Casa De Casa and Autumn Leaves, and charting in the Top 50 of Italy’s Spotify Charts, as well as picking up major traction in Sweden and the US.