Open Ears

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 works including áiséirí (2019) and NOTINTUNE, which explores the impact of digital distractions on society. His compositions, The Eve of St Agnes and Francis Bacon’s Studio premiered in Dublin’s Hugh Lane Gallery in 2022.Pleonexia was one of five works, written for 10 performers and organ in collaboration with Crash Ensemble in 2025 as part the Crash Works programme. Pleonexia features on Crash Works II which was released on Crash records in September 2025.Find out more about Kate Stables/This Is The Kit at: thisisthekit.co.ukThis episode is presented by Alain McFaddenMusic: 'Pleonexia’ from Crash Works II by Aleksandr NisseHost: Alain McFaddenGuest: Kate Stables

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 alongside works from Irish and international composers that premiered in rural locations across Ireland during 2017.Find out more from Linda Buckley here: https://www.lindabuckley.org/about/And Dani Larkin at: https://www.danilarkin.comThis episode is presented by Alain McFaddenMusic: 'Chrysalism’ from Crashlands by Linda BuckleyHost: Alain McFaddenGuest: Dani Larkin

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 decisions assigned to the player produce music that is nuanced, natural and flexible. Disequilibrium was one of the five works, written for 10 performers in collaboration with Crash Ensemble in 2023.Find out more about Amy Rooney at: https://www.cmc.ie/composers/amy-rooney and more about Tolü Makay: https://tolumakayofficial.com/This episode is presented by Alain McFaddenMusic: 'Disequilibrium' from Crash Works by Amy Rooney.Host: Alain McFaddenGuest: Tolü Makay

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 works, written for 10 performers with electronics in collaboration with Crash Ensemble in 2023.Find Out more about Yue Song at: https://www.yuesongmusic.com/ and more about DUG at: https://www.dugworld.com/This episode is presented by Alain McFaddenMusic: 'Sensers IV' from Crash Works by Yue Song.Host: Alain McFaddenGuests: DUG (Conor O’Reilly - Jonny Pickett)

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 charts the evolution of Barry O' Halpins inventive and exploratory writing for both chamber ensemble and solo electric guitar, as composer in residence and guitarist with Crash Ensemble.Find Out more about Barry O'Halpin at https://barryohalpin.com/, and more about Laura Quirke at https://www.lemoncelloireland.com/This episode is presented by Alain McFaddenMusic: 'Lipids' and 'Lethargarian' from Lipids by Barry O'Halpin.Host: Alain McFaddenGuest: Laura Quirke