The viral hit “The Spark” by a group of young rappers from Cork and Clare, which has amassed over two billion views on social media and 52 million streams, has been long listed for the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Kabin Crew and Lisdoonvarna crew released their track during the summer. They have received support from the likes of Stormzy, Becky Hill and Tove Lo.
They have performed at Electric Picnic in Laois, All Together Now in Waterford and to a crowd of 12,000 people at the Pukkelpop festival in Kiewit — Hasselt inBelgium.
The Spark was created by Rhyme Island, a youth rap project based at Kabin Studio, a non-profit at Knocknaheeny in the northside of Cork city, in collaboration with Creative Ireland, a government initiative which funds Cruinniú na nÓg, an annual celebration of youthful creativity.
Their track has now been long listed on the 67th Grammy Ballot for Best Dance/Electronic Recording and Song of the Year.
The Grammy awards will take place in Los Angeles next February. The young rappers will find out in early November if they have made the final short list for nominations.
Announcing the news of The Spark’s Grammy long list success, Kabin Studio founder and producer Garry McCarthy said on Instagram : “What a mad few months this has been.”
“A song that we created for the @rhymeisland initiative with the crew of legendary kids and tutors @thekabinstudio and in Lisdoonvarna is long listed for the Grammys.”
Meanwhile, about thirty children, who are aged between nine and 12, are featured on the song. Some of the youngers live in accommodation for refugees in Lisdoonvarna in Co Clare. The video for the track was filmed on a Cork bus.
The Spark has been featured on BCC News, ABC’s Today Show, The New York Times, The Guardian and Time magazine.
