Open Ears

In each episode of Open Ears, podcast host and producer Alain McFadden invites a guest to listen to a recording from Crash Ensemble’s catalogue. Together, they share first impressions, personal reflections, and explore the ideas, emotions, and stories the music inspires. For the first episode of Season 4, Alain is joined by acclaimed musician and songwriter Sam Amidon. Together, they listen to Dro...

On this episode of Open Ears, the sixth and final episode of Season 3, Alain chats with Kate Stables of This Is The Kit. Together, they listened to Aleksandr Nisse's Pleonexia.  Aleksandr Nisse, Titular Organist of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, is a composer of Russian and French descent based in Ireland.  He has written for Hochschule der Künste Bern and Crash Ensemble, with notable work...

In this fifth episode of Open Ears, Alain McFadden talks to Dani Larkin. Together they listened to Chrysalism by Linda Buckley. Linda Buckley is an award winning Irish Composer who creates electronic and acoustic music, and has a particular interest in working across many disciplines, most notably film and in the realm of drone and dark ambient music. Chrysalism features on the album Crashlands al...

In this fourth episode of Open Ears, Alain McFadden talks to Tolü Makay. Together they listened to Disequilibrium by Amy Rooney. Amy Rooney is a composer from Co. Down. She read music at Queen’s University Belfast, where she completed a PhD in Composition. Her preference is for music which involves some degree of co-creativity; this can present itself through an interactive score, where various de...

In this third episode of Open Ears, Alain McFadden talks to Conor O’Reilly and Jonny Pickett of Americana-Folk duo DUG. Together they listened to Senses IV by Yue Song. Yue Song is a composer and pianist based in Dublin, merging various genres, including works for opera, orchestra, Chinese orchestra, various chamber music ensembles, solo pieces, and electronic music. Senses IV was one of the five...

In this second episode of Open Ears, Alain McFadden talks to Laura Quirke - Musician, songwriter and one half of folk duo Lemoncello. Together they listened to two movements of Lipids by Barry O'Halpin. Barry O'Halpin is a composer and performer based in Dublin, merging approaches and formative influences from contemporary classical, experimental rock, electronic music and jazz contexts. Lipids ch...

In this first episode of our third season, Alain McFadden speaks to Brían MacGloinn - songwriter, radio host and one of the brothers that make up Irish folk-darlings Ye Vagabonds. Together, they listen to extracts from Jonathan Nangle's Blue Haze of Deep Time . Jonathan Nangle draws inspiration from his field recordings of the sea, made during walks near his home. These sounds form the foundat...

Composer Andrew Hamilton meets singer, songwriter and dance artist, Aoife McAtamney, to discuss Andrew's composition, 'Friendly Piece', composed in 2023 for Crash Ensemble. Friendly Piece was recently part of an installation at the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, co. Wicklow. Find out more about Aoife McAtamney at www.daughterofadrum.com * Music Andrew Hamilton - Friendly Piece (available on Bandcamp...

As part of Kilkenny Arts Festival 2024, Crash Ensemble spent a day in Shee Alms House recording and performing seven  Postcard  pieces that had been commissioned by Crash Ensemble. Olga Barry, the Director of Kilkenny Arts Festival, hosted one of the performances for this live podcast episode, featuring live performances and conversations with some of the composers and audience members. With thank...

As part of Musictown 2024, Crash Ensemble collaborated with four different artists for four unique performances: Elaine Howley, Mohammad Syfkhan, Rachael Lavelle and E the Artist. On this special episode, we hear from the artists themselves about working with Crash. We also hear from attendees of our listening groups, who attended sessions with Elaine Howley and E the Artist. With thanks to Dublin...

Flautist Lina Andonovska meets with author Ciara Geraghty for the first time, and together they listen to excerpts from The Last Hotel, which Lina joined Crash for in 2015. Lina performs alongside Crash Ensemble on Sunday 30th June 2024 for a performance at Sundays at Noon in the Hugh Lane Gallery. Find out more about Ciara Geraghty at  ciarageraghty.com . With thanks to the Offbeat Ensemble and C...

Composer Bekah Simms recently marked the end of her two years as composer-in-residence with Crash with a world premiere at New Music Dublin 2024. While in Dublin, Bekah met for the first time with dancer, choreographer and geologist Silver Kezir, and listened to Crash's most recent release metamold . With thanks to Dublin City Council Culture Company. metamold was commissioned by the Barlow En...

The first instalment of Season 2 of Open Ears is a special episode, featuring Crash Ensemble's cellist and Artistic Director Kate Ellis chatting with Principal Conductor Ryan McAdams, and listening to the Free State recording of Amanda Feery's  It's in the trees, it's coming . Crash Ensemble return to Ireland's foremost new music festival, New Music Dublin, with 3 not-to-be-mis...

Crash Ensemble pianist Eliza McCarthy chats to her friend Amy and listens to Crash's most recent release,  Children In The Universe  by Sam Perkin. * Music Sam Perkin -  Children In The Universe Ed Bennett -  Accel Released on Crash Records. Available on  ⁠Bandcamp⁠ . * Crash Musician: Eliza McCarthy Guest: Amy Houldey Producer: Matt Rafter

Crash Ensemble guitarist Barry O'Halpin sits down with his neighbour David Ball, and listens to Crash's recording of Barry's piece Wingform . * Music Barry O'Halpin - Wingform Ed Bennett - Accel Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp . * Transcript Available here . * Crash Musician: Barry O'Halpin Guest: David Ball Producer: Matt Rafter

Crash Artist-in-Residence Diamanda La Berge Dramm sits down with her cousin Max LaBerge, and listens to the Crashlands recording of Ann Cleare's  Fiáin . * Music Ann Cleare - Fiáin Ed Bennett - Accel Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp . * Transcript Available here * Crash Musician: Diamanda La Berge Dramm Guest: Max LaBerge Producer: Matt Rafter

Crash Bass Player Malachy Robinson chats to writer and actor Mark Doherty about  music for donkeys who like music , written for Crash by Andrew Hamilton and featured on our CrashLands album. * Music Andrew Hamilton - music for donkeys who like music Ed Bennett - Accel Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp . * Transcript Available here * Crash Musician: Malachy Robinson Guest: Mark Doher...

Crash Violist Lisa Dowdall chats to her brother-in-law Brian about one of her favourite Crash recordings, A Wild Furze by American composer Julia Wolfe . * Music Julia Wolfe - A Wild Furze Ed Bennett - Accel Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp . * Transcript Available here * Crash Musician: Lisa Dowdall Guest: Brian Guilfoyle Producer: Matt Rafter