Live Report: N.O.A.H on the Hot Press Lockdown Sessions’ Y&E Series

Comprised of three lifelong friends, N.O.A.H released their irresistible debut single 'Shine' in September, which was met with serious acclaim and nationwide radio play – followed by a live performance on Laura Whitmore's BBC Radio 5 Live show. The trio teamed up with Booka Brass for their latest single, 'Darkest Hour', released earlier this year.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Ryan Hill, bassist Adam Rooney, and drummer Ronan Hynes delivered an arresting performance of released tracks and new bangers, forging a path along the same sonic lines as All Tvvins, Sea Girls and the Black Keys. Kicking off with their most recent single, 'Darkest Hour', featuring Booka Bass; N.O.A.H were in flying form - offering a full venue soundscape on the impressive livestream set.

'Darkest Hour' creates a warm wall of dark indie sound, using the rumble of bass and drums with the vocal bravado of Ryan Hill to create a captivating rock track about mental health and the descent of the mind into chaos. Using edgy yet sleek guitar riffs on their 2020 single 'Shine', the trio built up the tempo within the versus before the catchy chorus arrives. Hill's gravelly, raw vocals draw the listener in, no matter which song the outfit play.

Moving into their unreleased song 'I'll Be There', N.O.A.H use a pounding chorus and the theme of loneliness to fill up the room with their trademark atmospheric noise. 'Hands Up' came next, a distorted guitar-driven track with plenty of up-tempo rhythm to keep audiences entertained. Finishing off with a rendition of their brand new single, 'Take Two' - which lands tomorrow - the confident indie-rock group are certainly sure of their musical identity.

You can catch N.O.A.H's first live performance and headline gig of 2021 at Lost Lane on October 2nd, with tickets on sale now. Watch this space, the band are made for grabbing attention and radio plays.

Watch the performance back below, and check out the other hotly-tipped artists we have coming to the Y&E Series soon.

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Thursday, April 8: PASTICHE
One of the most exciting Irish pop acts of recent memory, 22-year-old Pastiche has crafted a sound packed with attitude and empowerment. Combining elements of electronic and dark pop, the Dublin singer-songwriter released her latest single, 'Heaven', earlier this year – establishing her as a serious force to be reckoned with on the Irish scene.

Friday, April 9: CHRISTIAN WETHERED
Drawing influence from the legendary likes of Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed, Dublin-based singer-songwriter Christian Wethered is poised for major success on these shores and beyond, with the release of his debut album, Mon Petit Jardin, later his year. His debut poetry book, I Don't Love You, was shortlisted for the Melita Hume Prize in 2018 – and this passion for poetry continues to inform his stunning singles.

Saturday, April 10: NEWDAD
Galway alt-rock quartet NewDad have already picked up lots of attention in the UK – and it's clear why. The hypnotic likes of ‘Blue’ and ‘Cry’ made for a compelling introduction, while ‘I Don’t Recognise You’ and 'Slowly' cemented their buzz-worthy status. With Jack Saunders and Steve Lamacq as fans, they could well be on their way. Their debut EP, Waves, is out this Friday.

Sunday, April 11: BOBBI ARLO
Arriving on the Irish scene with a powerful, arena-ready pop sound and indisputable star quality, 22-year-old Dubliner Bobbi Arlo is tipped for mega success. Bobbi's 2019 debut single ‘Berries’ was a radio smash hit – and following the release of two equally remarkable singles, 'Signs' and 'Breathe', she returned earlier this year with her acclaimed feel-good anthem, 'Feel It'.

Monday, April 12: BABYLAMB
Specialising in high-energy, dancefloor-friendly bubblegum pop, Babylamb are primed to go supernova over the next 12 months. The quartet of self-described "sad, fresh-faced queers" first announced their arrival as a captivating new presence in Irish music with their debut single 'Bodyright' in 2019 – followed by 2020's 'Icky', and their explosive synth-pop anthem 'Mister Magic' earlier this year.

Tuesday, April 13: THE ZEN ARCADE
Rising from the ashes of The Strypes, three former members of the Cavan crew have joined forces once again – with a new emphasis on doing things their own way. Having launched their own zine and podcast series, The Zen Arcade announced themselves as a very serious, smart new force in Irish music with the release of their debut, ‘Don’t Say A Word’, on their own label, Dental Records.

Wednesday, April 14: FINTAN MCKAHEY
A lo-fi indie singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer from Cork, Fintan McKahey has been releasing music since 2016, and playing support slots for the likes of The Scratch, Junior Brother and Róisín O. His debut EP God Games was released in 2019 to widespread critical acclaim, followed by his 2020 single 'Platinum' – which has clocked up nearly 135,000 streams on Spotify alone.