Bricknasty arrive with their new single, ‘Fashion,’ featuring rising Dublin alt-rapper KhakiKid. Mixing acid jazz with ‘every genre under the sun,’ they draw influence from Neo-Soul revealing their eclectic skills. From infectious energy and soulful chords to soft, woozy vocals, the band combine R&B, hip-hop and an anarchic musical approach, blending traditional ballads with hip-hop, rave and 90s garage, making them one of the most exciting emerging acts in Ireland. ‘Fashion‘ is the latest single from the band following their signing to FAMM where they join the roster alongside Jorja Smith, Enny and Maverick Sabre.
The new track follows late-2022’s ‘Ina Crueler,’ a track which further signified them as a new force rising from the heart of the burgeoning Dublin scene. ‘Fashion’ reflects on their mutual disdain and distrust for trends in fashion and social media. Watch here:
Bricknasty’s music effortlessly traverses RnB, neo soul, jazz and psych citing influences such as D’Angelo, MF Doom, and Timbaland. This harmony extends to the band’s live shows too, which have caused a groundswell of word-of-mouth buzz in Dublin and beyond including performances at Eurosonic, Other Voices, Cork Jazz Festival and a support slot for Cordae.
Central to Bricknasty’s story and anarchic approach is Fatboy’s experiences growing up in the Dublin suburb of Ballymun where residents faced prejudice and were rarely granted the opportunity to present their own perspectives. “It was coming off the back of the heroin epidemic in the 90s and there was loads in the news about Ballymun and the type of people who lived there”, he reflects,“But anyone what lived in them flats at that time will tell you they were unreal to live in and the sense of community was very strong.” Raised between two of the towers known as the Ballymun Flats, Fatboy’s home was the reluctant poster child for the area’s infamy.
Built in the early 1960s to serve the city’s growing population, the group of high rises were unceremoniously demolished in the early 2000s to make way for new developments. The trade off for this ‘regeneration project’ was the dispossession and displacement it left in its wake. Whilst the physical backdrop of Fatboy’s childhood was erased, the memory of its soundscapes pulses on – with everything from traditional ballads to hip-hop, rave and 90s garage blaring from its doorsteps.
Bricknasty now very much diffuses the scope of all its members varying influences and personal contexts, while Fatboy’s experiences certainly inform and epitomise the central ethos of their craft – one that is unafraid to tackle heavy themes, yet forges ahead in a spirit of innovation, resilience, visibility and optimism.
As well as the collective wit and community pride which bonded Ballymun’s residents, and many of Dublin’s working class areas, its rich creative undercurrents have spawned some of Irish music’s most influential acts, including revered Hip Hop crew Urban Intelligence and the legacy of their label Workin’ Class Records. Following in the footsteps of these predecessors and paired with a tight knit group of musical peers including Tebi Rex, Khakikid, Tomike, Ahmed With Love and DeCarteret – Bricknasty are at the forefront of a new wave in Ireland’s rich tradition of creative innovators.
Stream ‘Fashion’ on all platforms here: https://famm.orcd.co/fashion
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