Hybrasil
Encyclopedia
Hybrasil are an Irish underground
electronica
group that formed in the seaside town of Wicklow, Ireland in 2004. The band are named after Brazil
, a phantom island featured in a many Irish myths
. They have released two EP
's to date and their debut album, The Monkey Pole
, was released in September, 2007.
and spent six months working on demos
which they would pass out to their friends. In 2005 they were selected to perform at the IMRO
Showcase, Bud Rising and the Hard Working Class Heroes Festival. A number of high profile gigs also followed, supporting acts such as Republic Of Loose
, Idlewild
and The Chalets
, whilst they also opened for legendary Liverpool
act The La's
, for their first gig in over a decade.
Hybrasil’s debut EP We Got Music, was released nationally in September 2005 and debuted at #43 in the Irish charts despite receiving only a limited release. The single attracted the band prominent admirers in Ireland, such as 2FM’s Dan Hegarty
and Larry Gogan
as well as a host of regional radio stations such as Beat 102-103, Limerick Live and Red FM. Today FM
’s Tom Dunne
also chose the song as his ‘Single of the Week’ for his show Pet Sounds. It also received a limited release in Great Britain
, Germany
and Japan
in February 2006, and following this the band went on a national tour of the UK with The Frank And Walters
and Les Carter’s latest musical project; IDOU. We Got Music debuted at #29 on the College Airplay charts and was supported by a host of DJ
's, including Clint Boon, Laurence Guest and Linda Serck.
Hybrasil released their follow-up EP, When I’m Yawning, in August, 2006. It an accompanying music video which continues to receive airplay on Irish television. They also embarked on their most extensive tour of Ireland to date, in addition to adding a handful of dates in the UK. The band made its live television debut later that year, whilst appearing on RTÉ
’s Tubridy Tonight
Show in September.
on their Irish tour. Their next single, God Bless The Devil, was released on June 22 and A-listed on over a dozen stations in Ireland with 2FM’s, Dan Hegarty describing it as ‘my favourite single at the moment’ and the single was the most popular release on Dublin's Phantom FM. Their critically acclaimed debut album, The Monkey Pole, was released nationally in September and the band spent the rest of the year touring the country.
In January 2008, Nipper Kinsella parted company under amicable circumstances and the rest of the band made the decision to continue as a four-piece. They are scheduled to appear at several festivals during the summer and are spending the rest of the time working on the follow-up to The Monkey Pole. They describe the musical direction the band has taken as "21st Century Cyborg Rock n' Roll".
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
group that formed in the seaside town of Wicklow, Ireland in 2004. The band are named after Brazil
Brazil (mythical island)
Brasil, also known as Hy-Brasil or several other variants, is a phantom island which was said to lie in the Atlantic ocean west of Ireland. In Irish myths it was said to be cloaked in mist, except for one day each seven years, when it became visible but still could not be reached...
, a phantom island featured in a many Irish myths
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
. They have released two EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
's to date and their debut album, The Monkey Pole
The Monkey Pole
Monkey Pole is the debut album of Wicklow based band Hybrasil. The album was released by Manazo Records on September 7, 2007 and will feature some tracks from the band's two previous EP releases "We Got Music" and "When I'm Yawning".-Track listing:...
, was released in September, 2007.
Early Years (2004-2007)
The group built a homemade recording studioRecording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
and spent six months working on demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
which they would pass out to their friends. In 2005 they were selected to perform at the IMRO
Irish Music Rights Organisation
Irish Music Rights Organisation is the collecting society for songwriters, composers and music publishers of Ireland. Its role is to act as an agent for its members in order to collect license fees whenever their musical works are performed in public, broadcast or transmitted, and to pay out...
Showcase, Bud Rising and the Hard Working Class Heroes Festival. A number of high profile gigs also followed, supporting acts such as Republic Of Loose
Republic of Loose
Republic of Loose are an Irish funk rock band from Dublin. Formed in 2001, the band currently consists of lead vocalist Mick Pyro, bass guitarist and vocalist Benjamin Loose, keyboardist Darragh, guitarists and vocalists Dave Pyro and Darach O' Laoire and drummers and percussionists Andre Lopes...
, Idlewild
Idlewild (band)
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
and The Chalets
The Chalets
The Chalets were a five-piece band from Dublin, Ireland, active from 2001 to 2008.-Members:* Chris Judge – lead bass* Caoimhe "Pony" Derwin – singer* Dylan Roche – bongos* Enda Loughman – guitar* Paula "Peepee" Cullen – singer, songwriter, lead g-tar...
, whilst they also opened for legendary Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
act The La's
The La's
The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group is most famous for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1984 and Mavers joined soon after...
, for their first gig in over a decade.
Hybrasil’s debut EP We Got Music, was released nationally in September 2005 and debuted at #43 in the Irish charts despite receiving only a limited release. The single attracted the band prominent admirers in Ireland, such as 2FM’s Dan Hegarty
Dan Hegarty
Daniel 'Dan' Hegarty is an Irish radio presenter employed by RTÉ. He presents his Alternative to Sleep show on RTÉ 2fm Monday to Thursday from 11.00 - 1.00. He is regularly dispatched to important musical events such as Electric Picnic and Oxegen for live broadcasting purposes, as well as being...
and Larry Gogan
Larry Gogan
Laurence 'Larry' Gogan is an Irish broadcaster working for Raidió Teilifís Éireann . He is a disc jockey on RTÉ 2fm. His show is The Golden Hour, during which Larry plays old favourites and classic songs from yesteryear. Gogan spun the first disc on Radio 2, Like Clockwork by The Boomtown Rats...
as well as a host of regional radio stations such as Beat 102-103, Limerick Live and Red FM. Today FM
Today FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
’s Tom Dunne
Tom Dunne
Thomas 'Tom' Dunne is an Irish radio broadcaster with Newstalk. He presents The Tom Dunne Show on weekday mornings between 10:00am and midday. He used to have a show called Pet Sounds on Today FM but gave it up...
also chose the song as his ‘Single of the Week’ for his show Pet Sounds. It also received a limited release in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in February 2006, and following this the band went on a national tour of the UK with The Frank And Walters
The Frank and Walters
The Frank and Walters are an alternative rock band from Cork city in Ireland. The band was founded in 1990 by Paul Linehan , his brother Niall Linehan , who was replaced by Kevin Pedreschi in 2004, and Ashley Keating . They took the band name in honour of two eccentric Cork characters...
and Les Carter’s latest musical project; IDOU. We Got Music debuted at #29 on the College Airplay charts and was supported by a host of DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
's, including Clint Boon, Laurence Guest and Linda Serck.
Hybrasil released their follow-up EP, When I’m Yawning, in August, 2006. It an accompanying music video which continues to receive airplay on Irish television. They also embarked on their most extensive tour of Ireland to date, in addition to adding a handful of dates in the UK. The band made its live television debut later that year, whilst appearing on RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
’s Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight is an Irish chat show hosted by Ryan Tubridy that aired for five series on RTÉ One between 2004 and 2009. The programme featured guest interviews , audience participation and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
Show in September.
The Monkey Pole (2007-Present)
The band returned to the studio in the early 2007 to put the finishing touches on their debut album but took a break from recording when they were handpicked by Mike Scott to open for The WaterboysThe Waterboys
The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
on their Irish tour. Their next single, God Bless The Devil, was released on June 22 and A-listed on over a dozen stations in Ireland with 2FM’s, Dan Hegarty describing it as ‘my favourite single at the moment’ and the single was the most popular release on Dublin's Phantom FM. Their critically acclaimed debut album, The Monkey Pole, was released nationally in September and the band spent the rest of the year touring the country.
In January 2008, Nipper Kinsella parted company under amicable circumstances and the rest of the band made the decision to continue as a four-piece. They are scheduled to appear at several festivals during the summer and are spending the rest of the time working on the follow-up to The Monkey Pole. They describe the musical direction the band has taken as "21st Century Cyborg Rock n' Roll".
Singles
- God Bless The Devil (2007)
- When I'm Yawning EP (2006)
- We Got Music EP (2005)
Band members
- Spud Murphy (lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, vocals, samplersSampler (musical instrument)A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
, synthsSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, and percussion) - Keith Byrne (bass guitar, backing vocals and percussion)
- Neil Horner (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) - Joe Kavanagh (synths, backing vocals and percussion)