Music and Performing Arts MAPA

07/06/2020

We can't thank everyone enough for their support and work to make this happen, From our designer Matthew Donnelly, who created all the brilliant artwork, to the team who marketed the album, the distribution team for ensuring the album is up on all streaming platforms, the design coordinator Ciaran Coyle, to Ciaran Bell for mastering and the fantastic artists who wrote, recorded and mixed their tracks.

Finally, We would like to thank our lecturers, who over the last two years (and four years for some of us!) have guided and pushed us to become better musicians, producers and engineers. Our time at MAPA is over, but the knowledge, experience and skills we learned will remain with us for the rest of our careers and lives, and for that we cannot thank you enough for that.

We hope you enjoy, Thank you for all of your support.

Distinction is now available on all major platforms.

Listen Here:

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/7zNbNQR0BvxBWxvF1SFmw1

Bandcamp:

https://mapacompilation.bandcamp.com/album/distinction

Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/user-459200904/sets/distinction

07/06/2020

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Happy Out

Only one day to go! Our last ever artist spotlight!

Happy Out are a post-indie rock three piece hailing from Donegal. They've recently turned heads with their high energy live shows and honest songwriting.

Since their formation in 2018, the band have sculpted their names deeply into the Irish music scene. Tirelessly playing across Ireland, with standout performances at Stendhal, Youngblood and Swell Festival, Happy Out have supported phenomenal acts such as Joe Talbot of IDLES, Titus Andronicus, JOHN, Bicurious, and LIFE.

Their debut release "Is, Was, Wasn't" was written, recorded, funded and released entirely by Happy Out themselves. Shaped, in part, due to significant deaths and losses, the 8 track concept release attempts to give perspectives on anxiety, grief, abuse, depression and the difficulties of living with mental illness. The EP garnered considerable attention, receiving airplay on BBC Across The Line Introducing and the Stephen McCauley show, alongside written articles in Chordblossom, Goldenplec and Hot Press magazine.

“Happy Out played two of the stand out performances at the recent Young Blood Music Festival in Derry. A super tight, hugely entertaining band. Definitely a band to keep an eye on.” Gareth Stewart, Youngblood 2019, Other Voices

“One of the most exciting and original bands I have had the pleasure of seeing in quite a while.” Tony Talbot, former BBC Arts Correspondent, Celtronic Festival

Happy Out produced a live version of their track "Generally" for the upcoming compilation album.

Follow Happy Out and check out their music below:

Facebook:

Happy Out

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YBm93NlvT9HGm0iFm6sXz?si=XSOUGqUZQxmDhg9JUbaIjQ

Live Session:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpnUjBYulKk&t=872s

Happy Out, Category: Artist, Albums: Is, Was, Wasn't, Top Tracks: Deadhead 2, (A)void, Oh God No God, Deadhead 1, Deadhead 3, Biography: Happy Out are a post-indie rock three piece hailing from Donegal. They've recently turned heads with their high energy live shows and honest songwriting., Mont...

05/06/2020

Sneak Preview #2!

Here are the final snippets of the remaining tracks from the compilation album. We are excited for you all to get an extensive listen to the album on the 8th June as there a little something for everyone.

Artists featured in this preview:

Ciaran Coyle
Rosa Walsh
Ego Boy Music
Happy Out
Lee Russell
Habitant
Josh Barr
Reece Nelson
Shane S. Rodgers

Remember guys, help out local artists by liking and sharing their social medias, every like helps especially in these strange times.
Thank you for your support so far!

04/06/2020

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: GrandMoffShiels

Tristan Shiels is a musician and producer from Derry, Northern Ireland, going by the name GrandMoffShiels which incorporates his own name with his love of Star Wars! His music is mostly electronic based with synths, drum loops and
guitar, his main inspiration being the synthpop music of the 80's and retrowave (for example Petshop Boys, The Human League and The Midnight. He has plenty of experience in music production, having been studying it for 4
years up to HND level, working on various projects for live sound, studio engineering and recording. His main passion is writing and producing his own music and he is also working on his first soundtrack for a video project, which he hopes to do more of in the future.

Check Out GrandMoffShiels' Spotify for a taste of what's to come in the upcoming album.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2OB8mm4sSduvXGLs59nZFl?si=4J_q6Br_SXymVG4qqzT5MQ

GrandMoffShiels, Category: Artist, Singles: Waves of Summer Days, Drago, Not Gonna Give It Up, Top Tracks: Not Gonna Give It Up, Waves of Summer Days, Drago, Biography: GrandMoffShiels is an artist/producer from Derry Northern Ireland. Specialising in 80's retrowave/Synthwave music, inspired by....

01/06/2020

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Ego Boy

Ciaran Bell is a 21-year-old musician and producer living in Derry/Londonderry going by the moniker of Ego Boy. His music incorporates a blend of synthesizers, drum loops and guitars that reflects a lot of his own influences including the supple g
ambience of Bon Iver, the electronically charged sounds of LCD Soundsystem and psychedelic funk of Tame Impala. When playing live, Ego Boy incorporates live loops, samples and instruments with pre recorded backing tracks to try and give a unique experience for each gig.
Ego Boy usually spends his time producing, mixing and mastering tracks for other artists, one such being Sam Hollis who’s debut album ‘If Ever, Could You Imagine?’ won best album at the Birmingham Music Awards 2019. Recently however, he has become more interested in pursuing his songwriting talents and releasing his own original music. While he has experience releasing songs under other names, previously ‘keys’, never before has he been so determined to make this work.

Ego Boy has produced two tracks for our upcoming album 'Distinction', his own composition 'When I Bleed' and teaming up with Ciaran Coyle to produce 'This Is Not A Love Song'

Watch the latest video for his track 'Go Home' below:

30/05/2020

Sneak Preview!

Get a taste of what's to come on the compilation album with some short snippets of each track. We are very proud of what we put together and hope you enjoy it when it's released on the 8th.

Artists featured in this preview:

BQProductions
GMS Composing
Kyle Kildea
Declan Hindle
Damian Smyth
Ciaran Coyle
Ego Boy Music
Ryan Campbell

Help out local artists by liking and sharing their social medias, every like helps especially in these strange times.

Thank you and get out in the sun!

28/05/2020

TRACKLIST INCOMING!

As the 8th of June teeters closer and closer, we thought we would give you a closer look at what's to come from the upcoming compilation album.

This tracklist has some of the best Northern Irish talent included, and we are really excited for you to hear the finished product.

More updates soon!

26/05/2020

What is Distinction?

'Distinction' is a multi-genre collaborative album produced by HND Music Production students of the North West Regional College, showcasing a range of individual skillsets to create and release an album of the highest quality.

Students worked collectively and individually in all aspects of the compilation over a matter of weeks, including writing, production, performance, mixing, mastering, marketing and promotion. All of the skills used by students had been acquired during their time on the course, from both a production and business standpoint.

Since this album is compiled by artists of various musical backgrounds, it in turn has a number of wide influences ranging from 80’s synthwave and post-rock to acoustic and lo-fi hip-hop. The range of styles and genres was encouraged to allow students to showcase their talents as producers and musicians.

The whole concept of this album, from creation to completion, had been accomplished from the comfort of their homes, working solely through online communication and collaboration in unprecedented circumstances. Unaffected by the hardships they had come up against, it is commendable they were able to complete a high-quality release, which has a little something for all music lovers.

25/05/2020

AND WE'RE BACK!

Distinction

11 Tracks

All Genres

All Local Artists

08/06/2020

More to come.

11/06/2019

TODAY IS THE DAY!

Get yourself hyped with this MAPA playlist we made (all our own work from MAPA students) 7 o'clock be there or be square!

MAPA Soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/mapa_nwrc?fbclid=IwAR2V1PF8cHlVV9ICpujvX7o2Pew2hF2BgGkYbbyNY06K6CrjNt9ZQYXjA5E

For more details on the MAPA Showcase:
https://www.facebook.com/events/749575212106841/

MAPAmusic contains original music produced by students studying music at MAPAnwrc. MAPA is part of North West Regional College, we deliver courses in Music, Music Production and Performing Arts at a r

10/06/2019

A great act that are only just getting started. Go show Vanilla Days some love.

Catch Vanilla Days,True Clockwork and Kaleidoscope at the MAPA Showcase.

https://www.facebook.com/events/749575212106841/

09/06/2019

Did you know that MAPA has a Soundcloud? It features tracks from students in level 3 and HNC/D degrees.Just to give you a taster of whats to expect in the showcase ;)

MAPA Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/mapa_nwrc?fbclid=IwAR2V1PF8cHlVV9ICpujvX7o2Pew2hF2BgGkYbbyNY06K6CrjNt9ZQYXjA5E

MAPA Showcase:
https://www.facebook.com/events/749575212106841/

MAPAmusic contains original music produced by students studying music at MAPAnwrc. MAPA is part of North West Regional College, we deliver courses in Music, Music Production and Performing Arts at a r