Funzo
Dublin, Leinster, Ireland | INDIE
Music
Press
"In a perfect world, all pop records would sound like Funzo's." - Caomhan Keane , oxygen.ie (2009)
“To be producing tracks of this caliber at this stage of their career is staggering…Funzo are quite simply brilliant.” - TotallyDublin.ie (2009)
“Their high energy gigs are second to none…Ireland’s next big thing.” - Laura Cunningham, Tin Of Beans (2010)
“Funzo are an incredible Irish band - it's a little ridiculous they're not a household name yet.” - David Lyons, Heineken Music (2010)
“One of Ireland’s hottest rising acts…Funzo are the next Beatles” - Turning Point Productions, Illinois, USA (2011)
"McDermott has the rare ability to make songs sound as if they don't quite belong to any genre, yet show touches of several working together for the greater good" - Hot Press
"McD's talent and versatility belies his twenty-two years....Vintage pop music with originality and substance" Ronan Dempsey - UCD Tribune - UCD Tribune
"In a perfect world all pop records would sound like McDermott's." Caomhan Keane - www.oxygen.ie
"'I Need To Get Away' is one of the loveliest songs I've heard in a very long time." Fionn Davenport - Newstalk - Newstalk 106
"Unique song-writing and composition, originality, musicianship and professional potential are the hallmarks of Liam's music with homage to The Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkle, This EP is beautifully composed combining sweet, sorrowful lyrics with a quirky edge and classic melodic harmonies." Mark Feiritear - The Axis Arts Centre - The Axis Arts Centre
"Liam's music stood out from over 200 bands and artists because of both the high quality and the complexity of his song-writing." Colm Downes (Federation of Music Collectives) - Federation Of Music Collectives
Discography
"This Christmas" - released December 2010. Ireland's highest independet chart entry for consecutive weeks. Received mass national radio play in Ireland and the US.
A wide range of demo tracks have been played on local and national radio in Ireland. Funzo have also performed a number of original tracks live on national radio on a number of occasions.
Photos
Bio
Funzo have performed over 150 gigs in Ireland since 2009, most notably, Irelands (and Europes) premiere music festivals; Oxegen, Electric Picnic and Hard Working Class Heroes. In 2008 and 2009, Funzo were invited to headline The Pogues Aftershow Party, where they were joined on stage by Shane MacGowan himself. In 2009, Funzo won their third national songwriting contest; Christmas FMs Search For A New Christmas Classic, which resulted in mass national radio play and a live performance on TV3s Ireland AM, the nations #1 morning programme.
Funzos debut single, This Christmas, was released in December 2010 and entered the Official Irish Charts as the highest independent entry on two consecutive weeks. As well as being a national radio hit in Ireland, the single received vast airplay in the US, being featured on radio stations in 25 different states. The songs official video was directed by NBCs Lydia Robertson.
Funzo have also received widespread airplay and live airtime in Ireland; on RTÉ 2FM, Today FM, Newstalk, FM 104 and Irelands most listened to radio station, RTÉ Radio 1. Funzo have caught the attention of the national print media too, resulting in a full-page feature in Irelands most popular music magazine, HotPress, as well as being deemed one of the Picks Of Electric Picnic in The Irish Times in 2009.
After a summer of intense recording, Funzo responded to the ever-increasing label interest from America and took their first international trip as a band in September 2011. Over a 5-week period, Funzo performed shows in New York and Los Angeles, were contacted by Rolling Stone, NBC and MTV for interviews and were selected to be a featured artist as part of the re-launch of MySpace.
Funzo are currently touring in Europe and are planning their next single release and their second trip to the US.
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