Take a look at our rundown of homegrown talent releasing new albums, EPs, mixtapes and more.
Imelda May
After releasing her first collection of poetry in 2020, an EP titled Slip of the Tongue, Imelda is to share her sixth studio album on April 23.
11 Past The Hour features the already-available title track, plus new single Just One Kiss with Noel Gallagher ft. Ronnie Wood. Available now for pre-save, and pre-order digitally and on CD and vinyl, the record is Imelda s first for four years since 2017 s Life Love Flesh Blood, which peaked at Number 2 on the Official Irish Albums Chart.
Collaborators on the 11 Past The Hour - which was co-written with Tim Bran (London Grammar, Primal Scream) and string arranger Davide Rossi (Coldplay, U2, Goldfrapp) - include Noel Gallagher, Miles Kane and Ronnie Wood.
Another rising rapper features in the runner-up slot, YouTuber-turned-boxer-turned-recording artist KSI. Real name Olajide Olatunji, KSI s debut album Dissimulation reached Number 2 in his native UK, but fared one better in Ireland, ruling the roost atop the Official Irish Albums Chart. Dissimulation was Ireland s most downloaded debut album released in 2020.
Californian singer-songwriter Lauv had Ireland s third biggest debut album of the past 12 months with How I m Feeling, while One Direction s Louis Tomlinson takes out fourth position with Walls. Massachusetts rapper Joyner Lucas had the fifth most popular debut LP across all formats with ADHD.
Another debut powered by streaming (album streams rose 19% to 2.83m in 2020) was Kid Krow by US singer Conan Gray; the collection ranks at Number 6 in the year-end list. Trap star Don Toliver is at Number 7 with Heaven or Hell, and British drill artist Headie One occupies Number 8 with Edna, the album a tribute to his late mother.