NEALO
‘NOVEMBER MEDICINE’ ALBUM RELEASE SHOW
plus support
Whelan’s Main Venue • Fri 17th November 2023
RTE Choice Prize nominated artist NEALO announces new album, “November Medicine” with lead single, “Only Human” plus an album release show at Whelan’s, Dublin on Nov 17th. Tickets go on sale from Whelanslive.com on Fri 20th October at 10am.
Nealo is a Hip Hop & Spoken Word Artist from Dublin, Ireland. His writing draws from his experience growing up in Dublin 15, and comments on wider social issues in contemporary Ireland. His intensely personal lyrics are contrasted with a magpie collection of instrumentals, informed by 70’s soul, 90’s Boombap and folk, the eclectic November Medicine spans a rich variety of genres.
“Only Human is unique because it’s the first song I have written that sounds distinctly Irish. It is original in that it blends elements of hip hop, spoken word, along with traditional Irish sounds and spirituality”.
On Only Human we hear Nealo split himself wide open. The track begins eerily with an ethereal bed of strings that buoy Susan O’Neill’s wistful voice and hold the creeping tension, which is only broken with Nealo’s opening line. Deep in his register, solid and promising, he declares,“I’m with you” and we’re off, suddenly, with him all the way until his final beat. The piece invokes a quiet and stillness in the listener allowing us time to focus on his words, which are heavy with heart and hurt.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0qvFjAc5SvaBExJ65LeWMr?si=ZD7Ssjh2QaOdLTRVcXKzng
“It’s about the overwhelming feeling of meeting someone and knowing that your whole lives are now intertwined forever. It’s about meeting your soulmate in a messed-up world, where things seem to be falling apart. You attach yourself to this feeling because it is so beautiful, and it makes you feel safe and connected.
At the end of the day, all we’re really searching for is connection. In the song, I’m talking about how good it feels to be with that person, just to walk with them. I’d sacrifice so much to be with that person and have them in my life. I want to show them everything about my life, where I came from, where I grew up, all the bad and good in that area, and all the bad and good in myself.”
The song was created during a retreat in Doolin in December 2020, with Susan O’Neill, Gemma Doherty from Saint Sister, and producers Royal Yellow (Mark O’Brien) and Adam Shanahan. The crackle of the fireplace can be heard in the recording of the harp line. It’s as intimate and raw as it is honest.
Only Humans highlights the vulnerability of Nealo on November Medicine. The record that pulled him out of the basement. It was hard won, dragged out of himself during a particularly difficult period in his life. While his debut album was a celebration of learning to love and contribute to the neglected city he was born into, his sophomore LP taught him how to love himself, how to celebrate himself. Across nine songs and four voice notes, Nealo lays everything out. With a voice that’s smoked a million cigarettes and screamed through a hundred hardcore shows he offers up himself, the end of his ten year relationship, his depression and his determination to heal. His honesty is severe and his tone is warm.
Collaboration is at the heart of this record, and feels like a guiding philosophy for the Nealo project. We hear his spirit repair as friends lend a voice, a word and a shoulder. Morgana enters first in Forest, counting steps to get through the winter. Jehnova’s bars on Tears You Cry sound like a soothing friend, tired from picking up the pieces but ever reliable “Everything connected on a level based on frequency”. Rebel Phoenix’s raw and reassuring tones promise new seasons beginning until a burst of joy in the form of Cereal, the song which wears itself the lightest, feels as though the gang is back together, “looking for a miracle”.
November Medicine, which begins in the basement, ends in the urban expanse of Blanchardstown. Only Human, the final track, is the weather vane on the top of the highest house in the suburbs. It promises love in all forms; for oneself, for family, for the graves and for the children. This is more than a record, it is a reckoning with what it means to be a father, a son, a friend, an ex husband and a good person. What is always there, beneath the shouts and intricate wordplay is a desire to rebuild, to grow further towards the sun. There seems to be a promise; that Nealo will continue to take his November Medicine.
With an admirable track record since the release of his debut album All The Leaves Are Falling in 2020, highlights include a spot in the ‘Irish Times Top 10 Artists’, an RTE Choice Prize nomination, sold out headline shows across Ireland and opening for YG, Saba and Dizzee Rascal. His reputation for ambitious live shows combined with his sharp lyrical narrative and charmingly candid approach to storytelling has earned him a wide and loyal fanbase. Nealo’s impact on Irish music can be felt in the scene that he is building through his recorded collaborations and in venues across the country. His standout performance at Other Voices can be watched here. Cold Summit, which boasts an impressive lineup of Ireland’s leading hip hop sensations, is yet another example of Nealo’s commitment to musical excellence and community. In every arena he is providing honest, soul-touching and vulnerable music to a generation in need. Addressing society and the myriad of problems ingrained in Irish culture, Nealo’s voice is unique, uncompromisingly true and important in understanding contemporary Ireland.
CONNECT
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TICKETS
€13.50-€18.50 available online from Whelan’s – 50c per ticket service charge applies.
Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required.
AFTER THE GIG
Whelan’s Indie Club w/ Late Bar from 10:30pm or check out the bands playing The Midnight Hour in the upstairs venue – Free Entry via front door until 10:30pm | Drinks Promos