While most are stuck in Corona Lockdown at home, a few of us Swiss music bloggers got together virtually and decided to introduce you to some of our favourite artists. Every Sunday you’ll find two new blog posts in our new Lockdown Artist Discovery series. In my first blog post, I’m happy to introduce you to Irish newcomers Wild Youth.
Surprising Halloween evening
I’m really crazy about Irish bands and musicians. Ireland got so much talent. Music seems to be in the blood of the Irish, and not just the traditional Irish songs. World stars like U2, Chris de Burgh, Enya and The Cranberries come from Ireland. Or favourites of mine as Westlife, Kodaline, Rea Garvey, Ronan Keating and Gavin James just to name a few, and since a little more than 2 years Wild Youth are part of them.
Actually, I had expected a completely different support act for Kodaline on that Halloween evening 2018 in Zurich. But already after the first tunes of this young Irish pop band called Wild Youth, I was completely thrilled. The young musicians mix their pop songs with rock and RnB elements as well as classic boy band harmonies. Besides Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Rolling Stones and Niall Horan, Wild Youth also name The 1975 as their influences. As well Wild Youth are into 80s sounds.
The energy that Wild Youth put into their live performance is totally infectious every time. With their infectious, funky sound and their moves, Wild Youth spread an absolute good mood. You just have to move and dance along. And this high notes by singer David – just amazing!
Irland’s Next Best Thing
I did celebrate it so much, when Westlife announced Wild Youth as one of their two support acts for their July 2019 comeback shows at Dublin’s Croke Park Stadium. Didn’t think I’d see the band again this soon. By then, Ireland was already celebrating the newcomers as their “Next Best Thing”. As at the beginning of 2019, Wild Youth landed directly in the Top 5 of the Irish album charts with their debut EP “The Last Goodbye”.
Wild Youth are David Whelan (vocals/guitar), Ed Porter (guitar, vocals), Conor O’Donohoe (keyboards/vocals) and Callum McAdam (drums). Frontman David and Conor started making music together in their early teens. While others were out playing football, the two sat making music with guitar and keyboard. When Ed and Callum joined, Wild Youth was finally born in 2016. The debut single “All Or Nothing”, which Wild Youth released in mid-2017, became a viral hit and helped the newcomers in Ireland to support Swedish pop star Zara Larsson and ex-One Direction member Niall Horan.
In 2017, Wild Youth met The Script frontman Danny O’Donoghue. He and The Script helped the quartet launch their career. The Script supported Wild Youth as co-writers and co-producers at the studio in London. As a result, Wild Youth’s single “Can’t Move On”, which followed in mid-2018, reached thousands of streams and heaps of airplay by the end of the year, while the band was allowed to tour Europe with Kodaline in the meantime.
In addition to their sold-out Ireland tour, Wild Youth also performed at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin. Wild Youth are probably the first band to sell out the Olympia Theatre before they have even released a proper album. They also played the main stage at Electric Picnic, Ireland’s biggest music festival in Strandbally at Co. Laois in September 2019.
Plans for 2021
Not unlike here, the world has also come to a standstill in Ireland since March 2020. The lockdowns in Ireland are even stricter than here in Switzerland though. But Wild Youth have been busy and creative during this time. Last September, the four Irish guys released the 80s-inspired banger “Next To You”, which has reached over 1.5 million streams on Spotify by now. This was followed by the somewhat softer, more melancholic track “Through The Phone” in November and last month by “Champagne Butterflies”, another 80s-inspired pop gem.
In 2021, Wild Youth want to release as much new music as possible: slow and sad songs, but also rock songs. Of course, Wild Youth are also really burning for live gigs after such a long time, missing the stage and the closeness to the audience. But until real live concerts can happen again, Wild Youth will stay in contact with their fans through social media. Be it through musical livestreams, talks, cooking together, watching series or gaming. Wild Youth also want to stay fit. Because once they are allowed to perform again, they assured, they will never want to stop playing.
Stay up to date with Wild Youth
If you want to keep up to date with Wild Youth, follow them on their social media channels.
Wild Youth on Facebook
Wild Youth on Instagram
Wild Youtube on Youtube
Wild Youth on Spotify
Lockdown Artist Discovery Series
Check out the articles of the other music bloggers. Every Sunday there are two new blogposts.
Loads Of Music – already published: Jake Isaac
Music and Events – already published: Marius Bear
Kekoa’s Korner
Erenblogs – this week about Daniel Donskoy
