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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
Entertainment
Brian Dillon

The Dublin based soul funk group you'll soon be a fan of

Those unfamiliar with Dublin's thriving music scene will be shocked to find just how many local artists they'll swiftly become fans of.

One of those artists is Toshín, a six-piece soul-funk band made up of lead singer Tosin Bankole, guitarist Taran Plouzane-Brady and various collaborators.

Listening to Toshín's catalogue is a journey through funk, attitude, soul and sensuality, something created by experimenting with genres and using Tosin's hypnotic voice to please the ears.

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Toshín will play Dublin's Grand Social on November 12, but will first delight music lovers at Fómhar in Fonore in Clare in October.

Songs like Eat Sleep Sex Desire and Girl Go Off will make you want to jump and work up a sweat, while other tracks like She will have you slowly swaying and carefully listening. Meanwhile Oh Lord is a six-minute experience during which every moment is an audible treat.

Lead singer Tosin revealed to Dublin Live that her shows are like a gym session, promising gig-goers an experience full of energy, spirit and plenty of sweating.

She said: "If you want a gym session, come to a Toshín show."

Tosin's musical journey started when she began singing shyly in her church in Dundalk at the age of 12. She revealed that Toshín is somewhat of an alter-ego for her, allowing her to unleash a live performer who is quite different to Tosin's real-life nature.

"I still see myself as that little girl in church, really nervous. When Toshín performs, she has her own personality and persona. Tosin is back stage looking through the curtains. Tosin could never do what Toshín does."

"Toshín is always happy. When she gets on stage, the band plays the intro and she goes crazy," she added.

Tosin also revealed that she dons traditional African attire while on stage to honour her Nigerian background.

"I am Irish but the reason I wear the African attire during performances is because I don't want to forget where I came from," she explained.

"I get my clothes made in Nigeria. That's my way of putting money back into where I came from."

The 25-year-old singer's musical influences are evident in her music, with a big one being soul legend Aretha Franklin. In fact, Tosin plans to bring her Toshín does Aretha Franklin show on tour around Ireland next year.

Her other musical influences include Jennifer Hudson and Afrobeat artist Simmy, along with a slew of names from the Irish music scene, a scene that Tosin is incredibly proud to be part of.

She said: "I think the music scene in Ireland is so underrated and I'm so proud that I'm part of this community of great music and great people.

"Sister Phoenix is amazing. I take so much inspiration from those two girls separately and when they come together, it's just mind-blowing.

"Zapho is an amazing song-writer. She's written a few of my own songs and coaches me. She's like my music mom.

"I'm mad about Vernon Jane. I actually knew them when I went to college and I looked up to them.

"CMAT is my favourite person right now. She's amazing. She's such an inspiration to me. She's literally a popstar."

Other Irish names on Tosin's regular list of listens include singer Tolu Makay and Cabra-born rapper Kojaque.

Tickets for Fómhar in Fonore, which takes place in Clare on Saturday, October 8, are available here.

Meanwhile, tickets for Toshín's Grand Social show on November 12 can be purchased here.

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