David Murphy, 'Cuimhne Glinn'

Irish session-musician, producer and multi-instrumentalist David Murphy has released his first full-length album entitled Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar, an 40-minute instrumental record that supported by a renowned cast of musicians from across contemporary, modern-classical and folk worlds. Featuring the glimmering title track ‘Cuimhne Glinn,’ the album is a wash of dreamlike soundscapes and cinematic compositions. 

"The pedal steel guitar has unique timbre, tuning and tonal capabilities. It offers rich sustain, swelling glissando and the ability to bend expressive and mournful notes that merge seamlessly and elastically into changing chords,” Murphy explained. “With this record, my objective was to take the instrument away from its excursions across well-worn roads through the dusty American south and southwest and deeper into a world much closer to home and, for the very first time, present it in a modern Irish framework."

Elliot Crampton, 'It's A New Day'

Elliot Crampton has released his new upbeat single ‘It’s A New Day’. Staying true to Crampton’s story-telling based style, the feel-good tune also features cheery guitar riffs mixed with lively banjo chords.

Like his song ‘This Town’ which was released in March, Crampton produced and mixed this single in his home. Crampton said how “my brother Dylan provided the banjo sauce and I enlisted my family for the handclaps heard at various points in the song. It’s a feel good, have-a-bop sort of song that sounds and feels hopeful.”

Crampton will be playing a live gig on April 27 at The Whale Theatre in Greystones.

 

Pillow Queens, ‘Heavy Pour’

Distorted guitars slowly build over unflinching meditations of self-doubt on revered Dublin outfit Pillow Queens’ sonorously  cathartic ‘Heavy Pour’. The tune is taken from their highly anticipated and freshly released third album Name Your Sorrow, which received a rave 9/10 review from Will Russell in our latest issue.

"A lot of the lines in this song could convey the typical sweetness of a love song, but it has brief moments of outside perspectives that cast doubt over the conviction represented,” says bassist Pamela Connolly of the tune. “The song tries to show the “heavy pour” as a compulsion that while having moments of joy, ultimately heightens personal insecurities."

Tadhg Williams, ‘Nixer’

Waterford native Tadhg Williams makes an overdue return with his first single after nearly three years with ‘Nixer’ - a reflective, galloping slice of social-commentary folk. Embellishing the catchy hook are lyrics which artfully illustrate the plight of Ireland’s youth admits the cost of living crisis – with the title referring to a term used for additional, usually cash-in-hand work.

“I suppose when you’re trying to support yourself in a city as expensive as Dublin, and you see your friends trying to do the same, you realise why so many people are emigrating again,” says Williams.

“‘Nixer’ is very much that story - of a city that’s being stripped of its culture and identity in favour of hotels and office blocks, and its people barely being able to afford to live in it anymore.”

New Jackson, ‘DAY IN SHOCK’

New Jackson has shared his long-awaited follow-up to 2017’s From Night To Night with its successor OOPS!... POP. The new LP’s 9 tracks elevate the David Kitt project’s signature electronic sounds,  aided by a stacked cast of collaborators including: Rita Lynn, Donnacha Costello, Riche “Jape” Egan, Yenkee, Kean Kavanagh, Margie Jean Lewis, Meg Cronin and Fehda. ‘DAY IN SHOCK’, encapsulates the record’s experimental and variegated vibe, with futuristic beeps and a hypnotic drum loop providing ample foundation for the captivating vocals to flourish.

ROOUE, ‘Bible’

London-based twins ROOUE display their maturity on the gritty ‘Bible’, an epically building, electro-tinged number which unapologetically details the freeing sensation of sexual liberation after attending repressive Catholic schools in Ireland.

“We went to an all-girls Catholic school where sex was a taboo subject,” say the duo. We spent years feeling like speaking openly about sex was embarrassing and not ‘ladylike’. We wanted to write a song with no apologies that made us feel empowered.”

 

Flynn Johnson, Wallfella, hikii

Three big guns of Irish Hip-Hop join forces on this tasty rap single. A tripped-out MF DOOM-y beat gives Flynn Johnson the platform to suggest that he could be Dublin’s answer to Ocean Wisdom, with a ridiculously precise, high-speed flow intertwining with an infectious hook and Wallfella’s nifty wordplay.

“We all put a lot of work into this tune and we appreciate the love and support it’s received so far!” said Wallfella on social media. “Bang it in the car, the shower, on the way to work, on a walk, EVERYWHERE!! Love to the lads for being the best team during the build up and love to you all for sticking with us, there’s a lot more to come.”

 

Fanglcub, ‘Out Of My Head’

Dublin thrashers Fanglcub continue their noisy 2024 comeback with ‘Out Of My head’. The melodic and attitude-filled vocals evoke Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr, while a deliciously dirty QOTSA style riff perpetuates throughout. The tune follows up from ‘Attention’, which, upon its release earlier this year, marked the band’s first release since their popular 2019 sophomore album Culture Vultures. The band will also be playing a string of dates across Ireland this May and June, with shows in Limerick, Listowel, Cork and Dublin.

Robert Grace, ‘Reasons’

Tissues at the ready for prolific pop songsmith Robert Grace’s latest intimate number. Acoustic guitars and atmospheric, radio-ready production adorn heart-wrenching lyricism, which accounts his struggles with mental health, and how his family’s love has provided him with unending vitality.

“I wrote this verse for my son when I was over in LA last year,” said Grace in a video posted to Instagram. “I recorded the vocals alone in my hotel room, and it took me so many takes because I just kept crying in the middle of each one”.

Niamh Regan, 'Nice'

Lauded Irish singer-songwriter Niamh Regan is back with the latest advanced offering, ‘Nice,’ ahead of her upcoming sophomore album Come As You Are, out May 31. The new single furthers Regan’s reputation as a formidable songstress on the Irish indie-folk scene as she continues to tell poignant stories with a quiet, reflective intensity. 

“‘Nice’ is song inspired by the idea the only person getting in your way is yourself (most of the time anyway),” Regan explained. “I really enjoyed how this song came to life in the studio with Tommy McLaughlin in Attica Studios. The bass line gave it so much life and it’s now one of my favourite songs to perform live now.”

Fontaines D.C., ‘Starburster’

Fontaines D.C. return with a pummelling new single ‘Starburster’ that sets a panic attack to punk propulsions.

Its high-octane beat and unrelenting lyrics position self-implosion as fantasy before a brief moment of sobering clarity when the drums fall away and lead singer Grian Chatten moves from throaty almost-rap into an almost-psalm with his rich baritone.

Inspired by a panic attack Chatten suffered in London’s St Pancras station, 'Starburster' features distinctly hip-hop-influenced drums, a rapid-fire vocal performance and a mid-song tonal shift. The track is accompanied by a cinematic music video from director Aube Perrie that captures the song’s cathartic intensity to brilliant effect.

 

Dylan Kearns, 'All I Ever Wanted Was Your Love'

Dylan Kearns has released his first track of 2024 in the form of an 80’s-style electro anthem entitled ‘All I Ever Wanted Was Your Love.’ His most polished and sophisticated offering yet, the release explores the intricacies of all-consuming relationships, anchored firmly by a thundering bass line and soaring synths. 

"I wanted the track to feel nostalgic, as if you've heard it before, while simultaneously adding my own unique sound to it," Kearns explained.

Stewart Agnew, 'Ghost Town'

One of Ireland’s most refined singer-songwriters, Stewart Agnew, is reemerging on the music scene  with a stunning new offering from his fourth studio album, Into the Black Hills, out May 10. ‘Ghost Town’ serves as the perfect introduction to Agnew’s upcoming project, a formidable pop anthem complete with sailing piano riffs, a driving bassline and earworm melodies. 

Co-written by Agnew and his long-time collaborator Phil Wilkinson, who also produced and arranged Into the Black Hills, ‘Ghost Town’ showcases Agnew’s newly expanded palate, featuring a renewed lyrical maturity and pop-centric vibrance.

Tommy Cullen, 'Flatpack'

Dublin-based indie-folk sensation Tommy Cullen has released his long-awaited album Enjoy the Glow, featuring the stellar album-highlight ‘Flatpack.’ A new indie anthem for fans of R.E.M., Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens, ‘Flatpack’ is yet another example of Cullen’s expansive musical talents. 

After a six-year run on Dublin’s underground scene as a member of the alt-rock band The False and the Fair, Cullen decided to start from scratch as a solo artist, slowly building a name for himself across the country. In the last two years, Cullen has successfully completed a seven-date tour across Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, performed at numerous hometown gigs and released a host of stellar singles and acoustic EPs.

Cathal Murphy, 'Emotional Disco'

Cathal Murphy's new pop/funk single ‘Emotional Disco’ is a groovy mix of modern pop with classic dance music, featuring feathery guitars grounded by a funky bassline.

When talking about the track, Murphy says, “it’s been two years in the making now and a favourite at live shows. It’s a sad song to groove to/a happy song to cry to and I fell in love with that concept put in a classic disco setting. The crowd you hear in the track is actually a sample from a few headline shows so if you’ve seen me live in the last two years you’re probably in the track!”

Rowdy Outsider, 'VICTIMS'

Rowdy Outsider's new single ‘VICTIMS’ song opens with a powerful guitar solo which is then paired with emotional, sombre lyrics. This song was pulled from their upcoming debut EP, Different Heart To Break.

When describing the track, Rowdy Outsider says, "’VICTIMS’ is about the people we meet in our lives and how time can change those relationships. Lyrically, it’s about loving someone but the time not being right, wondering if we were wrong in the past and fearing it’s just not meant to be in the future. The title comes from the idea that we are all victims of time passing us by faster than we realise.”

Peter Richardson, 'Better Alone'

Peter Richardson's  'Better Alone' is a tear-jerker, with its slow tempo and disconsolate lyrics that reflect letting go of bad relationships. Hailing from Dublin, Richardson will celebrate the release of his new music with a show at the Grand Social on May 10.

When talking about the track, Richardson says, “‘Better Alone’ is the first step into that new sound, a bold, folk-rock ballad bursting with the extra grit the group has found playing together over the past two years. Despite it’s melancholic title the song is a hopeful one, hoping that from something broken something new can grow, new love can be found, and wondering if maybe indeed we will be “Better Alone”.”

Róisín El Cherif, 'Siúl a Rúin'

Irish-Palestinian artist Róisín El Cherif has released her new tri-lingual single Siúil a Rúin (pronunciation: Shool a Roon) with the hopes of raising awareness and funds for Gaza. Originally a tradition Irish ballad performed by Clannad and Lord of the Dance, El Cherif gives the song a new life, reclaiming her dual heritage as she effortlessly transitions between Irish, English and Arabic. 

All proceeds from the release will be donated directly to Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders’ Gaza Emergency Regional Fund. 

“What links these two cultures for me is grief and perseverance,” El Cherif said. “I find great solace in the traditional music of both lands and it felt easy for me to blend and combine them.”

PostLast, 'Connect 4'

Alt-pop duo consisting of Julie Hough (HAVVK) and Stephen McHale (BARQ) share a new, upbeat track, rife with electric melody, soft toned singing and angelic harmonies. Coming from other bands, the two had been working together in secret before coming out with their new collaboration.

When talking about PostLast, Hough says, “We come from such different musical backgrounds and have such different musical minds…I’ve always loved Stephen’s guitar playing, and it was really interesting to have a departure from rock music and to work on a project with no previous releases to live up to.”

Stray Planets, ‘I Liked You Better Before’

Drawing inspiration from the off-kilter airs of Mac DeMarco and the guitar-driven eccentricities of Kurt Vile, Stray Planets’ latest offering is teeming with lo-fi psychedelia.

Here, Stray Planets wield a 5-piece outfit - consisting of songwriter John Butler, with producer Rian Trench, engineer Robert Watson, and vocalists Dara Kiely and Sinead McConville - to create a unique sunlit soundscape that feels otherworldly and grounded at the same time.

Accompanying the video is an obscure, woozy video submerged in psychedelic tones. Directed and edited by Trench, the film stars Butler with various wild animals and accident simulation dolls.

Curtisy, ‘Wok To Blackrock’

‘Wok To Blackrock,’ Curtisy’s final single from his forthcoming album, is a breezily nuanced offering with an effortless vocal flow.

The Tallaght rapper enlisted Rory Sweeney to produce the track and Kylté as mixer/master, with Lonely Chap and Ahmed, With Love on feature. Its nostalgic, hazy instrumental is a fitting background for Curtisy’s broad-sweeping stream of consciousness verse.

The track sees Curtisy tapping into that same pure electric current where you can tell his antenna is picking unique sonic frequencies that others only dream of tapping into.

Karl McConnon, ‘I Got A Woman’

Karl McConnon returns with another single that channels the yarling vocals of ‘90s-‘00s rock spanning the likes of Pearl Jam to Lifehouse. ‘I Got A Woman’ boats an upbeat, acoustic rock backing over McConnon’s rich voice in a way that is at once unique and dynamic.

With its soulful narrative and vibrant instrumentation, the indie rocker is poised to continue his rise through the music scene. Impressively nostalgic, yet true to his own sound, ‘I Got A Woman’ is a beaming display of McConnon’s rare musical intuition.

Crutch, ‘WYA’

Crutch confirms Dublin’s rap scene is alive and well as Crutch unveils his long-awaited single, 'WYA.'

With influences stemming from the rap exports of Detroit drill and Florida’s heavy bass-laden sounds, the Dublin-based artist is poised to carve out his unique space in the genre, challenging stereotypes and bringing a fresh perspective to Irish hip-hop.

'WYA' is a no-holds-barred rap anthem, showcasing Crutch's bold and unabashed flow. Produced by Tylianmtb, the track fuses gritty beats with raw lyricism that deliver a hard-hitting message demanding attention. Accompanied by visuals from the visionary producer and director LukeFly, the single not only introduces Crutch's musical prowess but also highlights the burgeoning talent within Ireland's rap scene.

Moon Looks On, ‘Hungry The Rock’

On the latest album Way Out West, Moon Looks On continues to cement himself as a burgeoning artist well worth his salt on levels both sonic and lyrical. ‘Hungry The Rock’ makes no exception.

The track draws inspiration from an article Stephen read about the Hungry Rock road in Sligo’s Ox Mountains, which is near his home in Coolaney. According to historians, many poor souls died on this road during the famine and it’s a tradition now to throw a stone or pebble against the rock when walking past in respect of those who passed during this time as this will always keep you from going hungry.

The narrative scintillates over the warm folk sound and beaming rhythm section.

“That was the starting point of this tune and it morphed into a song about understanding the frailty of our own existence and questioning one’s own state of being whilst fighting to stay focused on the road or the way ahead.”

Lucy Robinson, ‘Everlove’

With shimmering guitar and glittering vocal harmonies, ‘Everlove’ immediately cements itself as an offering of ethereal beauty. As the song progresses, it transforms with an effervescent backbeat that expands that soundscape even further.

On ‘Everlove,’ Lucy Robinson delves into the importance of diving head first into a burning love, a consistent love that brings you back over and over again. Something that inexplicably makes sense and that will always stand the test of time.

‘Everlove’ is a strong, forceful cocktail of folk, pop and electronica that harbours introspective lyrics in an easy-listening style, nestled within a wash of synths, electronic beats and ambience.

Wallis Bird & Spark, ‘Babooshka’

Berlin-based Irish singer-songwriter Wallis Bird has teamed up with German classical quintet Spark to bring 1,000 years of music by women to life on their latest offering Visions of Venus.

Covering Kate Bush’s ‘Babooshka,’ Bird and Spark pave a new road for original material that still maintains its beating heart. It’s different but not too different, making it an all the more tasteful and refreshing listen.

The cover magically transforms Kate Bush’s frolicking rock original and suffuses with more orchestral airs and the meandering polyrhythms of reminiscent of Joanna Newsom’s incantations. Bird’s vocals are a powerhouse which can reach fluttering wisps of her upper register or swoop into honeyed adenoidal bellows. It's a dazzling track that fittingly pays homage to one of the greatest singer-songwriters and visionaries of her generation.

 

Ezra Williams, 'Socks'

You’re never short of resuscitating cinematic anthems when listening to Ezra Williams. Today, they release their highly-anticipated EP Socks. On the title track, Williams delivers an enlivening dose of catharsis.

The melodies are beautiful, and the sound is propulsive, despite the raw honesty of its lyrics. ‘Socks’ is, at once, a tender, kinetic and explorative offering in all the right ways.

Williams enlisted longtime drummer and collaborator Jacky O’Halloran, Níah Donnelly on keys and Ciara Short on drums, flute, harmonies and bass to bring the sweeping soundscape to life.

 

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Cian Ducrot, 'Here It Is'

After seeing his debut album Victory skyrocket to No. 1 in the UK and Ireland, Cian Ducrot has set out to begin the second chapter in his already dazzling career with the release of brand new single ‘Here It Is.’ Having garnered 3.6 million views and 250,000 interactions on TikTok before its release, the new track has the potential to be Ducrot’s biggest moment yet. 

“‘Here It Is’ is a song I wrote about the aftermath of something tragic tearing a relationship apart,” Ducrot explained. “Sometimes something happens and no matter how hard the two people try to heal and make things better it’s not enough and they begin to fall apart.”

Louise Gaffney, 'Slow Violence'

Irish vocalist and pianist Louise Gaffney is back with her heart and soul on a silver platter as she offers up a brand new single entitled ‘Slow Violence’. A dizzying array of soft vocals, delicate piano and warm analog sounds, the new single is a raw meditation on love, inaction, and slow damage.

“I spend a lot of time at the studio waiting,” Gaffney explained. “I’m interested in the lack of control over it. You just have to be there waiting till something arrives, so I often always have mics running even when I’m not planning to record anything. 

“This one arrived out of nowhere and fully formed which always fascinates me. How it must have been sitting in my brain somewhere percolating, forming itself without my knowing and then it just comes out.”

Hozier, 'Why Would You Be Loved'

Wicklow sensation Hozier, aka Andrew Hozier-Byrne, has released a brand new addition to Wasteland Baby! (Special Edition) entitled ‘Why Would You Be Loved.’ a previously unheard outtake from the original album.   

Released in celebration of the five year anniversary 2019’s Wasteland Baby!, the special edition record includes alongside a superb rendition of ‘Shrike’ live from Dublin’s Windmill Lane Studios, an acoustic version of ‘Be,’ and the new addition ‘Why Would You Be Loved.’ 

Kynsy, 'Money'

Indie-pop artist and Dubliner Kynsy has signed to Nice Swan Records for her latest single ‘Money,’ a complex investigation of memory and yearning. With a repeated mantra of ‘I’ll be okay,’ the song shows Kynsy at her most vulnerable as she searches for stability in a whirlwind of emotion. 

“This song dives deep into the complexities of love, nostalgia, and longing, offering a raw exploration of the heart’s journey,” Kynsy wrote in a recent instagram post. “Produced in my bedroom with the help of Caesar Edmunds on mixing duty, this project pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I’m proud to say I took the leap.”

 

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JyellowL, ‘RIZZLAS’

JyellowL is back with a pummeling new track that speaks to the enfolding of one’s problems within gossamer rolling papers, and the hope to see them disappear as the smoke settles.

With its buoyant pizzicato and back beat, the instrumental deftly accommodates the Nigerian-Irish rapper’s loose=limbed flow and meandering lyricism. ‘RIZZLAS’ radiates with the kind of compelling energy and lyrical verve that Jyellowl has made his calling cards, braiding several sonic threads to establish a tastefully sampled palette.

 

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Listen to our New Irish Songs To Hear This Week playlist on Spotify below!