Dublin alternative-pop duo MUSEUM have signalled their arrival on the thriving Irish pop scene with the release of their bombastic debut single ‘We Wouldn’t Be Friends’.

MUSEUM is composed of long-time friends Sam Hardiman and Geoff O’Connor. After meeting in secondary school, the pair first bonded over their shared passion for table tennis, and went on to tour the world competing in tournaments everywhere from Wales to Belgium to China.

Both decided to study music in college, but took two completely separate paths, with Hardiman focusing on music studies in Trinity College and O’Connor dedicating himself to music production at Pulse College.

Having collaborated on different concepts and ideas for over five years, MUSEUM was born from the remnants of lockdown, with initial Zoom recording sessions taking place in February 2021.

Taking in elements of modern pop, soft piano ballads and early 2000s rock, the rising act have already amassed a collection of tracks varying wildly in style and sound. When each sits down to create, Hardiman is naturally drawn to his seat behind the piano whilst Geoff intuitively leans over a laptop screen.

With upbeat electropop accompaniment and dramatic vocals, ‘We Wouldn’t Be Friends’ combines classic songwriting melodies with booming, contemporary instrumentation and production. The track is ultimately an examination of personal growth and reevaluating the person you've become through new eyes.

“It’s a light-hearted look at personal development and personal improvement," MUSEUM explains. “As a friend of ours always says, if you don’t look back at your past self and cringe then you’re not growing enough. We’re really just exploring a simple thought experiment; if you met your past or future self, would you be friends?”

“Musically it’s pop, but lyrically it’s a little more introspective, and we like the idea that people can relate to it in different ways," they add. "We’re all changing all the time but maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”

"MUSEUM is a space for creativity and exploration, and we’re so excited to show it off to the world.”

Listen to ‘We Wouldn’t Be Friends’ below.