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]

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

Early life

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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

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Early releases

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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

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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

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Extended plays

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

Singles

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References

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  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.