Aodhan (singer)

Aodhan
Birth nameAidan Whitehall
Born2004 (age 19–20)
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Years active2018–present
Labels
Websiteaodhanmusic.com

Aidan Whitehall (born 2004), known by his stage name Aodhan, is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter. He signed to the label Communion in 2020 and has since released two EPs, Flies In My Room (2021) and Dwelling (2023).[4]

Early life

Aidan Whitehall was born in 2004 and grew up in Wollongong, New South Wales. He began playing electronic music when he was twelve years old, and subsequently began learning guitar.[5][6] When he was thirteen, he began writing music, and performed live for the first time.[7]

Career

Early releases

In 2019, Whitehall uploaded his debut single, "Love is Hard to Write About", to SoundCloud. The same year, Whitehall took out the Triple J Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative,[8] winning the opportunity to partner with APRA songwriters including Josh Pyke.[9] The song he produced with Pyke, "Drive", ranked 13th on the AU Review's 'Top 40 Best Australian Tracks of 2020' list.[5]

In June 2020, Aodhan signed with United Kingdom-based publishing group Communion.[10]

Flies In My Room

In October 2020, Aodhan released "Twelve Again", the first of three singles supporting his debut extended play (EP), Flies In My Room.[11] "I'm Closed" and "Daily Meditation" followed in February and May 2021 respectively.[12][13] The EP was produced by Whitehall and Ryan Miller, and released in July 2021. Online music publication Backseat Mafia described the project as "gentle" with "crisp acoustic guitars and a bed of billowing synths and harmonies".[4]

On 9 December 2021, Aodhan performed live on Triple J's Like a Version, where he covered "Just What I Needed" by the Cars and performed a live version of "Twelve Again".[14] In April 2022, Whitehall embarked on a nationwide tour, including international dates in the United Kingdom, to support the EP.[15] He also performed at Groovin' the Moo as part of the Fresh Produce roster.[16] Whitehall was also announced as a recipient of a grant from Barpirdhila, an organisation that provides funds to First Nations artists impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] In September 2022, Aodhan performed at music festival Bigsound.[18]

Aodhan performs live with Floodway, a garage rock band also based in Wollongong.[19][20]

Discography

Extended plays

  • Flies In My Room (Communion, 16 July 2021)[5]
  • Dwelling (Orthrus, 26 May 2023)[21]

Singles

References

  1. ^ "Introducing Indie Alternative Artist Aodhan". Scenestr. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  2. ^ Mogg, Chloe (28 April 2022). "Indie pop artist 'Aodhan' returns with infectiously uplifting new single 'Empty Spaces'". Clout. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  3. ^ Davies, Hayden. "Premiere: Dharawal musician Aodhan shows his growth with new single, Daily Meditation". Pile Rats. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kendall, Arun (15 July 2021). "Premiere: Australia's Aodhan reveals a dreamy slice of antipodean indie pop with title single 'Flies In My Room' from his new EP". Backseat Mafia. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Clark, Simon (20 July 2021). "Flies In My Room: Aodhan takes us behind the songs on his debut EP". The AU Review. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Introducing Indie Alternative Artist Aodhan". Scenestr. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  7. ^ Knowles, Rachael (4 February 2021). "Young Dharawal musician rising through the ranks". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Aodhan wins the 2019 Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Aodhan, Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative winner, teams up with Josh Pyke on new track". Triple J. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  10. ^ "16-Year-Old NSW Musician Signs UK Publishing Deal". The Music. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  11. ^ Lauren (12 October 2020). "Aodhan Releases Nostalgic New Single, 'Twelve Again'". Sounds of Oz. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  12. ^ Fuamoli, Sose (25 February 2021). "First Spin: Aodhan continues to charm with new single 'I'm Closed'". Triple J. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  13. ^ Davies, Hayden. "Premiere: Dharawal musician Aodhan shows his growth with new single, Daily Meditation". Pilerats. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  14. ^ Brereton, Greta (10 December 2021). "Watch Aodhan cover The Cars' 'Just What I Needed' for Triple J's Like A Version". NME. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  15. ^ "17-year-old singer songwriter Aodhan set to perform at Oxford Art Factory". City Hub Sydney. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  16. ^ Robinson, Ellie (30 March 2022). "Groovin The Moo announce Fresh Produce artists for 2022 edition". NME. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  17. ^ Newstead, Al (3 October 2022). "Alice Skye, Becca Hatch, Aodhan among recipients of Briggs' $10k Barpirdhila grants". Triple J. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  18. ^ Newstead, Al (20 July 2022). "Bigsound rolls out 182 acts for 2022 festival line-up!". Triple J. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Floodway". Triple J Unearthed. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  20. ^ Savage, Desiree (8 July 2019). "Teenage band Floodway score dream gig of playing Yours and Owls All Ages". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Dwelling – EP by Aodhan". Spotify. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.