The X Collective: Marking the spot for a new wave of Irish sounds

Some of the people involved in X Collective, including Emily Shaw, fourth from left. Pic: Stefan Tivodar.

The X Collective has brought an array of new Irish musicians, producers, facilitators and professionals together under one marquee, with an emphasis on inclusivity and addressing social issues. Mike McGrath-Bryan talks with co-founder Emily Shaw and Shookrah frontwoman Senita Appiakorang.

One of the real ‘stories’ of Irish music in the last decade or so has been the rise of collectives, groups of artists and creatives pooling skills and abilities with common cause. From the much-missed Richter Collective’s DIY advancement of heavier, more awkward noises in the late noughties, to the current international renown of Dublin’s Soft Boy Records, collaboration has been the way forward for many Irish acts and artists working on the independent level.