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Type of site | Music blog, blog, Music criticism |
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Available in | English |
Owner | Stephen White (editor) [1] |
Created by | Stephen White |
URL | thelastmixedtape |
Registration | None |
Launched | 12 February 2014 |
Current status | Online |
The Last Mixed Tape is an Irish-based daily music blog founded in February 2014 by critic and journalist Stephen White. The site is composed of reviews, interviews, and news features all written by White, specifically about the Dublin music scene. Although the site is listed as a blog, White has on several occasions distanced himself from the term, preferring to be called a "critic".
The website promotes and critiques the artists coming out of Ireland's independent scene, spanning several genres including indie, electronic, post punk, noise pop and alternative rock.
White champions Irish indie and pop music, and overall writes about the Irish music scene in a thoughtful, considered and positive tone. He does not shy from sharp critique and has previously made statements that some music fans considered to be controversial, for example about Irish act Kodaline in which he likened them to "vanilla ice-cream". [2] White's reviews of The Coronas album 'Trust The Wire' and The Strypes album 'Spitting Image' were seen by some fans as unfair at the time. [3]
Since its first year the Last Mixed Tape was nominated for six music blogging awards, the Blog Awards Ireland in 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2018 [4] and at the Web Awards Ireland in 2014, 2015 & 2016. [5]
The Last Mixed Tape has also taken part in several events and charity shows around Dublin. Stephen White has appeared on several panel discussions representing the blog, including multiple appearances at Vinyl & Wine [6] and an appearance at the State.ie of the Nation Address. [7]
In May 2015 Stephen appeared as part of a discussion panel at Life Festival, speaking about Nas and his debut album Illmatic . [8] White also guested as a host on weekly radio show the Co-Present alongside Fight Like Apes singer MayKay.
In September 2014 White along with several promoters from the Dublin area ran a charity night for the Irish Red Cross to raise funds for their appeal to help victims of the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. The night was headlined by local rock 'n' roll band the Minutes. [9] In May 2015, the Last Mixed Tape took part in an event at Whelan's (music venue) to raise funds for the Yes Equality campaign during the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015. [10] This was followed by another charity gig in September 2015 in aid of Irish Red Cross Migration appeal during the European migrant crisis. [11]
In 2019 Stephen was announced as one of the judges for the Choice Music Prize Album of the Year 2018. [12]
In 2015 the Last Mixed Tape began a weekly music review podcast. [13] The show was originally uploaded every Friday morning and featured White reviewing Irish indie albums and singles and was hosted by local Irish DJ Kate Brennan-Harding who is a producer for the Irish national and independent radio station, Today FM. Sara Lovic took over as co-host from January 2018 to 2021. [14]
In 2023 The Last Mixed Tape podcast returned in a new weekly format, hosted by White and released every Saturday.
The Blizzards are an Irish band from Mullingar in County Westmeath. They were formed by Niall Breslin in late 2004, and also feature Dec Murphy (drums), Justin Ryan, Anthony Doran, Louize Carroll (bass) and Aidan Lynch (keyboards). They have achieved multiple platinum record sales and have won numerous awards.
Niall Breslin, known as Bressie, is an Irish musician, former Westmeath Gaelic footballer and Leinster Rugby player. Breslin found success as the lead singer, guitarist, songwriter with pop band The Blizzards, as a co-writer and producer with XIX Entertainment and as a solo artist. He was the winning coach on the first, third and fifth seasons of The Voice of Ireland.
This is a summary of the year 2007 in the Irish music industry. 2007 was described as "an annus horribilis for Irish music" by the Irish Independent's rock critic, Eamon Sweeney.
This is a summary of the year 2006 in the Irish music industry.
The Coronas are an Irish rock band that originated in Dublin. They release their music by their own independent record label, 3ú Records, and are based between Dublin and London. They have released seven studio albums, Heroes or Ghosts (2007), Tony Was an Ex-Con (2009), Closer to You (2011) The Long Way (2014), Trust The Wire (2017), True Love Waits (2020) Time Stopped (2022).
Delorentos are a Dublin-based Irish alternative rock band, formed in 2005. They consist of Rónan Yourell, Kieran McGuinness, Níal Conlan and Ross McCormick. The band's debut album In Love with Detail was critically acclaimed in Ireland, being nominated for the Choice Music Prize and in the Best Irish Album category at the 2007 Meteor Awards, at which Delorentos were also nominated for Best New Irish Band. Two extended plays have also been released; their debut release, titled Leave It On, in October 2005, and the follow-up EP, titled Do You Realise, came out in November 2007. The Delorentos discography consists of a selection of singles which impacted on the Irish Singles Chart, such as "The Rules" in May 2006 and "Stop" in July 2007.
This is a summary of the year 2008 in the Irish music industry.
Dermot Whelan is an Irish comedian and television and radio presenter who has worked for both Raidió Telifís Éireann and in the commercial sector. He co-presented the Dermot and Dave show on Today FM, an on-air pairing which dates from 2002, until August 2023. He left the show in 2023 to pursue solo opportunities promoting his mindfulness podcast and shows.
Ham Sandwich are an Irish indie rock band from Kells, County Meath.
Whelan's is a pub and music venue in Dublin, Ireland.
Jape are an Irish electronic–rock band from Dublin. Formed as a side project by Richie Egan whilst part of The Redneck Manifesto, they have released five albums to date; Cosmosphere (2003), The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me (2004), Ritual (2008), Ocean of Frequency (2011), and This Chemical Sea (2015). Jape's wider discography includes the EP, Jape is Grape (2007), as well as a number of singles, including "Floating" and "Phil Lynott". The band have performed at festivals and events such as Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, Lovebox and Hard Working Class Heroes and provided support for The Flaming Lips at Belsonic in Belfast in August 2008.
Dylan Haskins is an Irish broadcaster, documentary maker and producer.
Reekus Records is an Irish independent record label and publishing company based in Dublin, founded by Elvera Butler in 1981. The label specializes in the promotion of mostly Irish rock and alternative music.
The Strypes were a four-piece rock band from Cavan, Ireland, formed in 2010 consisting of Ross Farrelly, Josh McClorey, Peter O'Hanlon and Evan Walsh (drums). The band played the local scene with various members switching parts as they searched for their sound. They drew inspiration from 1960s blues boom and 1970s pub rock bands such as Dr. Feelgood, Eddie and the Hot Rods, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Lew Lewis and Rockpile as well as the original bluesmen and rock 'n' roll artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter, among others.
Raglans are an Irish indie rock band based in Dublin, Ireland. Officially formed in 2011, they consist of Stephen Kelly, Conn O'Ruanaidh and Rhos Horan. Their self-titled debut album was released in March 2014 through IRL Records, and reached no.5 in the Irish Album Chart and no.1 in the Irish Indie Chart.
They have toured extensively worldwide, as well as providing support to bands such as The Strypes, Twin Atlantic, Haim, The Courteeners, The Fray, The Libertines and Lifehouse.
Darling Arithmetic is the third studio album from the twice Mercury Prize-nominated Irish indie folk band Villagers, released on April 10, 2015, via Domino Records. The album reached number one in the Irish album charts in its first week of release. It won the Best Album Award in the 2016 Ivor Novello Awards.
Rory Hall is an Irish singer/songwriter, electronic music producer and radio presenter best known under the alias Proper Micro NV.
Spitting Image is the third and final studio album by Irish rock band The Strypes, released on 16 June 2017.
Ronan Kealy, known as Junior Brother, is an Irish alternative folk singer-songwriter from County Kerry.
Farah Elle is an Irish born Libyan singer-songwriter.