Track of the Day: Sorcha Richardson - 'Shark Eyes'

Dublin singer-songwriter Sorcha Richardson has shared the second single from her highly anticipated sophomore album, titled 'Shark Eyes'.

Smiling Like An Idiot will arrive on September 23rd this year, following the release of the LP's beautiful first cut 'Archie'.

Starting with gentle synths before Richardson's soothing, piercing voice enters the fore - recalling the DNA of a relationship (situationship, perhaps) that is full of imbalance. Despite past experiences that didn't end the way she wanted, the subject still has hope that it could somehow turn out differently this time around.

"But I kept waiting on the outside / looking for your invite / wondering how the rules might change the game," she croons before shrieking guitar riffs and a heavy drum beat kickstart the more textured, booming pace. It's compelling indie-rock with thoughtful, introspective words to match the emotional intensity.

“Shark Eyes is about being totally infatuated with someone who you know isn’t as interested in you as you are in them," Richardson explains. "It’s about following your darker and more destructive impulses and allowing yourself to be taken for a bit of a ride, partly out of boredom and curiosity, but also partly out of a lingering hope that maybe this time it will end differently.

"I think I wrote it as a way of admitting to myself that that relationship would never be anything more than it already was, but I wanted it to still have the sweetness of a love song," she added. "Sometimes there’s a real lightness and relief in coming to that realisation about someone and knowing and accepting the limits of your relationship with them. It was the first song I wrote for this album and the first thing that Alex and I worked on together since we made my debut album First Prize Bravery. I think it acted as a bit of a green light to keep going.”

Sorcha Richardson’s debut album First Prize Bravery traced the experiences of her young adulthood, where she ventured from home in Dublin to New York, Los Angeles and then back to Ireland. Comparisons were made with Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and more - leading to a nomination for the Choice Music Prize.

Having her headline tour in Ireland countlessly rescheduled as a result of the pandemic, Richardson moved into her late grandparents’ house. She turned the living room into an impromptu if elementary studio, and delved into the “static process” of working alone, and then a month-long love/hate process of almost daily sessions via Zoom. We can't wait to hear the result, Smiling Like An Idiot.

Pre save the album here.

Listen to 'Shark Eyes' below.

Upcoming Shows

21 JULY - Festival Big Top, Galway, Ireland
30 JULY - All Together Now, Portlaw, Ireland
2 SEPT – 4 SEPT - Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Ireland