Letterkenny singer-songwriter Maria McCormack is helping businesses broadcast local music through a growing Spotify playlist that is already helping Donegal artists reach new listeners.
The Donegal Chilled Sounds playlist, created as part of Maria’s Listening Spaces Network project, is beginning to catch on in cafés and public spaces across the county.
The project invites businesses to intentionally add the playlist into their existing Spotify rotation, ensuring Donegal tracks are heard publicly.
Among the businesses currently signed up as ‘listening spaces’ are An Capall Mara coffee van in Killybegs, Breac House at Horn Head, Revive Dunfanaghy, The Workhouse Dunfanaghy, Happy Camper Café in Creeslough, No9 Market Square Letterkenny, Counter Deli Letterkenny and Ahoy Killybegs, with more expected to join.
Maria hopes the next step will be to see hotels get involved too, particularly by playing the playlist in breakfast rooms in the mornings.
Maria, who also runs independent radio station Over The West, said the playlist has already introduced her to a huge range of Donegal artists, but she knows there are still many more to discover.
“When you Google ‘Donegal music’ today the usual 5 top names will be displayed. I want to create a directory of everyone which will be like an archive of talent,” she said.
“The aim of the project is to help create a local music ecosystem where Donegal artists are supported, heard, and valued within their own community.
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“This is about local music heard locally.”
That is why she is continuing to urge artists from across the county to get involved and submit their music.
“People know I have always been championing Donegal music through Over The West.
“I feel finally I’ve come up with something that means Irish music isn’t just for St Patrick’s Day,” she said.
Maria believes the concept has strong potential across the country.
“This is the beginning, starting in Donegal,” she added. “In time I hope to move on to each county.”
Artists from across Donegal who have released music are now being invited to take part in the directory as it begins to take shape.
Artists can take part by filling out this short form:
https://forms.gle/Zn92oUB1uPWb2kkFA
For more information, check out: www.listeningspacesnetwork.com