Irish artist Christian Cohle shares new single 'Holy Trouble', announces debut album

Songwriter-producer Christian Cohle has shared his brand new single 'Holy Trouble', alongside the announcement that his debut album of the same name will be released on February 19.

During 2020, Cohle has released a brace of four singles and two music videos with multi-award winning film director Tristan Heanue - while promising to be even more prolific in 2021.

Today, the artist has unveiled the forest-set music video for 'Holy Trouble' - directed by Heanue and starring some of Ireland's best actors.

"Holy Trouble, the title album track, is an angry song," Cohle says of the riveting single.

"One laced with grief, acceptance and ultimately courage. It's about acknowledging your troubles ahead. I was very angry and scared at the time about a certain issue I was forced to face, it was a tragic affair and one that tore me and the people around me to shreds. Everyone deals with grief differently, and I dealt with it in my own way. 'Holy Trouble' reflects that in some way."

Olwen Fouéré (Mandy, The Northman) and Caoimhe O’Malley (The Last Duel, Dublin Murders) give powerful performances in the video, while Cohle's impassioned voice layers over the visuals, instantly drawing you in.

The bleach-blonde musician has already entered the studio once more to record his electronic/alt second album, a testament to the artists' noteworthy work ethic and drive for excellence.

His lyrics and sound showcase Cohle's love for music production, and his unique way of composing drum and bass lines. Layering synths and textures underneath dramatic emotive lines are a staple of his work.

"I wrote this album mostly during 2018," Christian says of his forthcoming debut LP. "Before then I had experimented with various small personal projects but nothing ever felt fully actualised and authentic until I stumbled into the making of Holy Trouble.

"This album means everything to me; for so many reasons," the Hot Press' Hot for 2021 act explains.

"Other than it being my very first album, it was my first go at producing my own music. The whole thing was seeded before I had any music studio spaces, just sitting at my laptop in a kitchen, with a midi keyboard and a mic, building soundscapes and developing ideas. The album was written by me and arranged/produced by me and my co-producer/mixing engineer Michael Heffernan; other than Michael, no one else was involved. It will always be special to me, due to it's solitary nature, in how it was created."

The creative producer adds that his relationships with some of the people closest to him were overwhelming and became toxic. After numerous fall-outs, he admits that he didn't possess the tools to bear it other than to abandon the situation.

"I had to get away from everything and figure out a way to take care of myself, as debilitating as that was at the time for me. The album is a reflection of me, and who I was at that time. There are many layers that I am probably too naïve to even recognise, or too close to understand. Themes of growing up, grief, anger, death, depression, loneliness, darker elements of romances (such as obsession, disappointment and loss) are all themes within the album, as well as self-acceptance, love, sobriety, addiction and fear."

Check out the impressive music video for 'Holy Trouble' below:

Image credit: Narayan Van Maele