With 4.5 million global streams on a handful of singles, Dublin singer-songwriter DAY_S is clearly one to watch. The self-proclaimed Nirvana superfan blurs the lines between rock, punk, and hip-hop in his music that has recently taken on more grungy and electronic elements.

As we speak, the singer is in New York City, visiting his little brother – and raving about the place. In fact, he could see himself moving to the States one day, because his music “kind of makes more sense in the US. I’ve never lived anywhere else other than Dublin but I wanna live here,” he smiled.

Born To Be Alone, DAY_S' five-track debut EP, dropped today (October 28th) and was produced by Diffusion Lab's very own Benza. The creative house is also hosting a Haunted Playground featuring DAY_S tonight, Friday, October 30th from 6pm till late.

Isn’t the EP’s title Born To Be Alone a bit depressing? Yes and no, the singer agreed. “In songs like ‘Therapy’, it’s all about this desperate character, same thing with ‘Fever’. But then there’s a switch to tracks like ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Radar’, which are more like we’re moving forward and happy,” he said, with a grin. “There is the desperation side of Born To Be Alone, but in the other sense the character is like ‘I’m happy doing me.’

“Where it actually came from? That was us for about three days writing down about ten thousand names and that one stood out to all of us,” he laughed.

 

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DAY_S speaks of a character that features in his songs, but his upcoming release was very much inspired by his own experiences with love and relationships.

“Caught up in your world I’m standing out in offering… ordinary girl she spends her time with opposites… I dream about the words I said, I promise I commit… I’m feeling that you’re over this, I’m sorry that I quit,” he admits on the album's opening track, 2021 single ‘Dangerous’.

This poses the question: Is DAY_S dangerous in real life? “I wouldn’t say dangerous but wouldn’t cross me, like,” the grunge artist grinned.

‘Therapy’, on the other hand, which deals with the importance of self-expression and letting your feelings be known, lets him identify with its “sad boy aspects”, DAY_S continued. “The song is about making your emotions real and being able to dance with them,” he said.

As his first single from the upcoming EP, ‘Therapy’ features powerful lyrics traversing over a driving, ultra-catchy rhythm and guitar riffs that mimic the screaming emotion.

The narrator, who “said all this shit in therapy”, fears that his lover does not wish to settle down but asks for a second chance regardless.

“Don’t wanna be your friend right now, I just see your future next to me… Maybe we can mess about and you’ll come around and you’ll fall in love with me,” he sings.

While DAY_S came from a pop world, the “drive and droney melodies” of his newer tunes follow a grungier, more unabashed style with trap and electronic elements, “thanks to [Diffusion Lab's] Benza and his absolute genius production”. The dynamic beats, hard-hitting lyrics and unique sound almost give homage to early Nirvana, one of DAY_S’ favourite bands.

“It's the unapologetic sense of their writing, being able to say whatever you want. It spoke to myself a lot when I was really young,” the singer explained, adding that he used to feel as though he was screaming internally. “I think a lot of kids get that, when you try to be yourself and it doesn't come across that well. I found solace in music.”

 

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Whether DAY_S is composing at the baby grand piano in his family home or in the studio with the likes of Dublin-based producer Benza or up-and-coming rapper Jafaris, who features on ‘Radar’, honest songwriting is key. So is honest feedback. “When you’re an artist, a lot of people become yes men and won’t challenge your ideas. But Benzo will be like, ‘that sounds awful, try something else’, which I absolutely adore because it makes me the best version of me,” DAY_S smiled.

Does he have a favourite track on the album? “Maybe ‘Radar’ or ‘Therapy’, I’d say. I like them all,” he laughed, adding that working on a track with Jafaris - “a great friend of mine and one of the most talented people I've ever met in my life” - was huge. In fact, the singer filmed a “nuts” music video for ‘Radar’ last week, for which they went all out to explore the connection between happiness and darkness.

 

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The last few years have been instrumental in DAY_S personal life, who’s undergone quite the style transformation. Back in 2018, he was rocking long hair and a beard that have since given way to a short cut, tattoos and more daring outfits.

“Maybe it's maturity or maybe it's just stepping in a different direction. People are still talking about the long hair, but no, I'm never going back to that. It's a pain in the butt,” the singer joked.

But it is more than his look that has changed, with DAY_S sharing that his mental health has improved tremendously after he has cut back on drinking. However, not everyone is that lucky.

“The suicide rates in Ireland and around the world are shocking. I’ve only learned recently that the biggest killer in Australia between 15 to 44-year-olds is suicide. That’s insane,” the singer-songwriter pointed out. Hence, almost one quarter of deaths in that age group are due to suicide. “We're brought up, especially young men, in a world of “boys don't cry”. It plays a toll on a lot of people. It seems to be getting better for sure but there is still that stigma that men can't speak about their feelings and men can't cry.

“I'm someone who's suffered a lot through my life and I’m very lucky to be where I am today. If a lot more men were able to express themselves and didn't feel scared of it, or threatened by being vulnerable, maybe we could make a change,” he added.

To leave this on a more positive note: Who are DAY_S’ favourite up-and-coming Irish artists that everyone should be listening to?

“We have some phenomenal talent here, even seeing recently that Sello’s in the Top 10... People like Malaki, Denise Chaila, Lucy Blue, NewDad, the list goes on forever. Thumper are my favourite band ever,” he smiled, having just been to their Whelan’s gig two weeks ago. “If you’re not listening to Irish music, you’re doing something wrong!”

Full Born To Be Alone tracklist:

1) Dangerous
2) Fever
3) Therapy
4) Radar
5) In The Way

Listen to Born To Be Alone by DAY_S below.

Catch DAY_S at Diffusion Lab's Haunted Playground tonight, Friday, October 30th from 6pm till late. Free tickets available here.

 

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Check out Hot Press' October Mental Health Special here.