Digital media graduate faces into final for Electric Picnic
By Aideen O'Flaherty
AN IT Tallaght graduate is up against 29 other musicians in the final of RTÉ 2FM’s Play the Picnic contest, which will see the lucky winner take to the stage of this year’s Electric Picnic festival with the hopes of wowing the crowd with their musical ability.
Aerbeatz, which is the moniker that creative digital media graduate Denis Byrne uses for his music releases, crafts chilled house music tracks that have a modern feel, and he is depending on a public vote to push him through to be in with a chance of being crowned the winner.
Denis (26) told The Echo: “It would mean an awful lot for me to win, as music has been my passion since about the age of six.
“I never really promoted myself up to now, much to the frustration of my family and friends, so the fact that not alone do people appear to like [my music], but that I also got selected by 2FM judges, feels like an achievement.”
The ultimate winner of the competition will be decided by a public text vote, with the proceeds from the texts going to The Jack and Jill Foundation.
Denis added: “The fact that by voting people are helping The Jack and Jill foundation is, in reality, the most important part [of the contest].
“As much as I’d obviously like to win, my life is incredibly lucky compared to what some people have to go through, through no fault of their own.
“If my music can indirectly help these people by people voting for me it’s fantastic, because I feel that at the end of the day that’s what music is really about – connecting and sharing with people.”
Text votes cost €2, with a minimum of €1.80 from every text going to The Jack and Jill Foundation.
As reported in The Echo recently, three other local acts are also in the final, and if you’d like to vote for them text the following codes to 50300.
You can vote for Aerbeatz by texting PICNIC1, or for Terenure musician Luke O’Brien – FOZSA by texting PICNIC7, if Drimnagh rapper Fynch is more your style then text PICNIC8 or if Clondalkin music producer Marcus Woods’ lo-fi, experimental sound appeals to you then text PICNIC26.
The closing date for voting is midday this Friday, July 27.
