New Irish Songs To Hear This Week

Calum Agnew, ‘Anymore’

Rising Irish soul-pop artist Calum Agnew has unveiled his powerful new single, ‘Anymore’, which draws inspiration from the act of breaking free from intense, unrequited love.

Bolstered by his powerful seven-piece band and backing singers, this track radiates with self-determination, both musically and conceptually. It showcases Calum Agnew's exceptional talent as a performer, vocalist, and songwriter, marking the emergence of an artist with tremendous global potential.

The track was recorded as part of Agnew's hugely coveted A New Local Hero prize, with the Meath native getting down to work with decorated studio magician Cian Boylan at Camden Studios in Dublin.

Huartan, ‘Uiseog’

Featuring haunting lead vocals by Múlú, ‘Uiseog’ is brought to life by a combination of organic traditional strings – offered by cellist Laura McFadden and singer-songwriter Clare Sands – and expansive electronic textures.

The marching Irish-language folktronic number tells the story of a red lark seeking warmth during a harsh winter. After several sleepless nights in the cold, the bird finds comfort between two leaves. The single’s cover art also takes inspiration from the words of Bobby Sands: Suffering the loss of her liberty, the lark, a delicate songbird, will no longer sing her little heart out

Mixed by the Grammy-winning Irish producer, Ruaidhrí Cushnan, Huartan’s stellar new track was released as part of their package for winning the Amhrán na Laoch Irish Language competition as part of Irish Music Month.

Curtisy & hikii, ‘Beauty In The Beast’

Fresh from his A1 performance at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize yesterday evening, where the Dublin 24 rapper was one of the album of the year nominees, Curtisy has announced his upcoming working class-focused mixtape, Beauty In The Beast.

The delicious trip-hop of the title track and lead single shows Curtisy is not slowing down any time soon, as his distinct flow meanders between topics of positive nostalgia, addiction and eviction.

“It’s about a personal experience with a friend that I think a lot of people can relate to”, he says. “They were struggling with addiction and it took a toll on our relationship. It’s about being sorry for not being able to help more, and recognising it could just have easily been me in the hole without the right guidance. Where I’m from this type of stuff is pretty common, I just wanted to make a song that people could hear and help them understand they’re not alone and no one’s to blame.”

Softdrink Millionaire, ‘Words / what’

A lo-fi amalgamation of old ragtime blues and an acutely observational eye reminiscent of Silver Jews, Softdrink Millionaire's new single is a queer ballad dedicated to a German city, that loses itself in an inebriated late-night/early-morning seduction.

Opening with charmingly slipshod acoustic guitar strumming, the track crescendos into a strangely comforting ball of distorted noise. Irreverent, delicate and of its own kind in Ireland at the moment, ‘Words / what’ indicates that this Bray DIY outfit are ones to keep your ears cupped for.

Lorraine Nash, ‘Carraig Aonair’

Arriving ahead of the deluxe release of her debut LP All That I Can Be, Lorraine Nash’s ‘Carraig Aonair’ is the Kerry native’s first ever first single as gaeilge. It’s gloriously Goidelic, and the droning strings and forlorn vocals make a strong case for putting the tune right to the top of your ‘music to blare off the edge of a cliff’ playlist.

“The song hails from the 1690’s, written by Conchubhar Ó’Laoghaire in memory of his sons who tragically drowned at sea,” Nash says of the song and accompanying video.

“They had gone fishing when their boat was wrecked, leaving them stranded on the Carraig Aonair, (The Lone Rock, also known as Fastnet Rock). Before they were drowned by the rising tide, one of the men managed to scratch a final message into the boat using the buckle of his shoe. The song was written about Fastnet Rock in Cork and I wanted to honor its origins but also convey my own interpretation of it, musically and visually.”

Amble, ‘Schoolyard Days’

One of the most hot-tipped acts in Irish music have announced some big, debut-album shaped news this morning. Amble’s first LP - which they describe as “a collection of both old and new” - is titled Reverie and arrives on May 23.

To accompany the exciting bulletin, the folk trio have shared ‘Schoolyard Days’ The track is a typically sweet, sonorous, and nostalgia-drenched, combining the band’s signature folk riffage with a lyrical yearning for the days of youth.

Kabin Crew, ‘Kabin Party / Belter’

Coming in hot after winning Irish Song of the Year at the 2025 RTÉ Choice Music Prize on Thursday for ‘The Spark,’ Kabin Crew have released a double single: ‘Kabin Party / Belter.’

Over hard-hitting hip-hop beats, the young artists rap on ‘Kabin Party’ about their parties at The Kabin Studio, a repurposed metal container turned into a non-profit youth music space in Knocknaheeny, a northern suburb of Cork City. On ‘Belter’ they boast about their ability to make shout-along bangers.

With charming lyrics like ‘Kabin Party’’s “I love Christmas, I love birthdays / I party even on a Thursday / If there's a cake I want a swiss roll / Now turn up the bass and let the kids go,” it is no wonder the collective have turned so many heads their way.

Talking about their community-centric roots, head of the project Garry McCarthy said: “We’re doing stuff like this all the time with the lil’ legends that attend – new songs every week with the team of talented and caring tutors and volunteers at The Kabin, having loads of fun and making memories in the process.”

The Darkling Air, ‘Love Letters’

Taken from The Darkling Air’s - Rachel McCarthy and Michael Keeney - latest album Pareidolia, which was released today, ‘Love Letters’ boasts a powerful palette of introspective lyrics that tackle the fallout of personal grief to an uncompromising degree.

"Writing songs for this album was a more deeply intense journey for us than with previous releases. Both our lives have changed dramatically in the last few years but 'Pareidolia' is about finding solace in grief, life-change and the unknown” says McCarthy.

Bróna Keogh, ‘Daisy 2’

Dublin-based artist Bróna Keogh has released her neo-folk EP Daisy. The first track, ‘Daisy 2’ offers fitting summation for the project with its lightly-plucked guitars and sooth-saying vocals.

Written in New Zealand, Berlin and Ireland, it documents a period in her life when Bróna started to recognise the agency she had in her healing journey. She began to question and allow herself to understand the role she played in her cyclical experience of suffering. It is a celebration of milestones in recovery and the people that help us to reach them.

lullahush, ‘Maggie na bhFlaitheas'

Athens-based Dublin artist lullahush (AKA Daniel McIntyre) returns with the scintillating new track ‘Maggie na bhFlaitheas', taken from their upcoming album Ithaca, which lands on 11th April.

An organic take on electronic music blends trad and contemporary airs to create a dizzying soundscape that is both nostalgic in spirit and modern by design.

This statement of intent sets down a series of aesthetic declarations that form a modern interpretation of Irish romanticism. “I am very excited by the power that sampling offers a bedroom producer like me to build multi-layer narratives and self-referential worlds,” says McIntyre.

Curfew, ‘Go Slow’

North Dublin alt-rockers Curfew follow-up their debut single with a rousing blend of desert rock and trip-hop on ‘Go Slow’

With biting riffage, hallucinating drum grooves and haunting vocals from frontwoman Jj, the song offers a nod to such influences as Foals and U2 with the track’s pummelling undercarriage of electronica with organ-synth flourishes.

By merging heavy riffs with haunting atmospheres and a raw, unrelenting intensity, "Go Slow" crafts a sonic landscape that is both unsettling and captivating, drawing listeners into a hypnotically explosive experience.

 

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Fia Moon, ‘The Reason’

Fia Moon serves up a heavy dose of raw emotion on latest single ‘The Reason’.

The track is a wonder of poetic lyricism and soul-stirring vocals, effortlessly blending candid vulnerability with irresistibly catchy melodies. Created in collaboration with London producer GETH (Vance Joy, Ashley Singh), Fia delivers a heartrending ballad that explores the quiet, unspoken pain of a breakup.

“This song is about loving someone enough to step aside so they can find the happiness they deserve,” Fia Moon says. “It’s not about regret or sadness - it’s about growth, about wanting the best for someone even if that means it’s not with me.”

VARO & John Francis Flynn, ‘Green Grows the Laurel’

Dublin-based trad duo VARO team up with fellow songsmith John Francis Flynn on the sky-reaching track ‘Green Grows The Laurel’, taken from VARO’s upcoming album The World That I Knew.

Produced by John ‘Spud’ Murphy, the single sees VARO - Lucie Azconaga and Consuelo Nerea Breschi - and John Francis Flynn blend their magnetic, heartrending vocals with a delicately plucked soundscape. The end result is a mesmeric, yet haunting take on the traditional song.

“We all agreed to bring some dark level of pain and loneliness to it,” VARO say of the track. “We decided to keep the rest quite bare to represent the loneliness of the main character until we reach the ending with a heavy crescendo accompanying the pain and struggles of this heartbroken narrator”.

33kay, ‘Two Desires’ feat. $ONA BLU€

Rapper 33kay teamed up with $ONA BLU€ to create the groovy new track ‘Two Desires.’ The song comes off his new mixtape CYCLE OF IGNORANCE, released on Monday.

“This project explores different layers of ignorance; political, social, romantic, and personal, while staying engaging and relatable,” wrote 33kay. “My goal is to create music that resonates with everyday listeners while offering depth for those who seek it.”

Inspired by artists like Dave, ‘Two Desires’ opens with melodic strings. $ONA BLU€’s rich voice dances over the beat, bringing life to the already powerful track.

Blood Donor, ‘Catalonia Tears’

The title track from Blood Donor’s upcoming EP Catalonia Tears offers a welcome escape to the “golden days of indie rock, with a fresh twist”.

‘Catalonia Tears’ is a riff-riddled, angular track that teeters on the edge of controlled chaos. Twisting through jagged grooves, the track serves up a shot of adrenaline for anyone craving a song with the untamed spirit of classic indie rock.

Working as a paediatrician by day, Blood Donor saw that working on music provided an avenue to decompress from the intensity of hospital wards and job demands. The artist found a gratifying outlet in Catalonia Tears.

Zoé Basha, ‘Worried’

Dublin-based, American-French artist Zoé Basha’s latest single, ‘Worried,’ is an homage to the US South’s rich musical history. The song oscillates a few times between two sections, starting with a downtempo ballad blending elements of jazz and blues. Double bass, rock organs, drum brushes, and Basha’s expressive, jazzy voice carry this part of the song, which sounds like a modern cover of a track from Janis Joplin’s I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! The second part, a high-octane rockabilly brimful with piano riffs, is bound to have listeners wanting to shake their hips on a table top in an old-fashioned rock bar.

For all its rich blend of musical textures, the song also bears a powerful message, as it deals with “the external and internal suppression of female rage in hetero relationships; the fear of losing love, and the loss of yourself as a preventative sacrifice.”

Basha wrote 'Worried' on a friend’s couch following an eviction from a Dublin’s squat, “feeling conflicted about the relationship (she) was in at the time,” said the artist. “It had both a lot of good and a lot of challenges, and I was reflecting on why it was so difficult to talk about things and to find relief in this intimate relationship, when it felt so comparatively easy in my community,” she added.

Zoé Basha's upcoming album, Gamble, is set for release on April 17.

Rachel Goode, 'Western Highway'

Emerging Irish folk singer-songwriter Rachel Goode has shared a new single, ‘Western Highway,’ ahead of the release of her debut album later this year. A country ballad in the fashion of Faith Hill or Carrie Underwood, Goode makes use of her pristine, classically trained soprano voice to sing about love and being on the road.

“Your light is brighter than anything I’ve ever seen / And I hear your voice on every station /Singing out of your dreams,” Goode sings on the song’s chorus.

With an instrumentation comprising acoustic and steel guitars, bass, and drums, ‘Western Highway’’s warm harmony and hopeful lyrics are bound to uplift the spirits of any listener.

Papa Boyle, ‘Falling For A Daydream’

Indie artist Papa Boyle achieves a delicate blend of the old and the new in ‘Falling For A Daydream,’ his recently released rock ballad about letting your mind wander freely. The tremolo-picking guitar solo of the intro and the heavy-on-reverb ending could belong in any contemporary indie-rock track, while the ‘60s Motown drums and guitar arpeggios and the strums’ grainy vibrato give the song a retro feel.

"It can be easy to get bogged down in the mundane tasks of life, and I wanted this track to have a playful feeling to it that shows it’s okay to lean in those daydreams, as oftentimes that can be where the best ideas come from,” said Boyle. 

Nív, ‘God Knows’

Nív employed her strong vocal and writing skills with ‘God Knows,’ released today. Inspired by artists like Damien Rice, The Cranberries and Joni Mitchell, the singer-songwriter looks to Irish traditional music to inform her folk career. Opening with delicate, layered vocals, the track uses religious imagery to reflect on our future selves.

“I wrote it at a time where I was feeling quite useless and was constantly imagining how my life could be better in a few years; rather than living in the present,” she said. “I think from that, this song kind of just fell out of me.”

Hard To Explain, 'S!CK'

The latest track from Northern Irish metal band Hard To Explain, 'S!CK' is full of fury and aggression, with raw, thunderous instrumentals backing quick, fiery vocals. The song is about the end of a toxic relationship, but rather than dwelling on the sadness like a traditional breakup song, 'S!CK' is a venomous anthem out for revenge.

Reminiscent of nu metal giants like Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, and Korn, 'S!CK' is Hard To Explain's first release since their cover of Outkast's 'Ms. Jackson' in November 2024.

Tara Nome Doyle, 'Heaven In Disguise'

Released ahead of her next album, Tara Nome Doyle's 'Heaven In Disguise' is a gentle, delicate showcase of the Norwegian-Irish musician's lyricism. The single reimagines Adam and Eve's story in Genesis, exploring the nature of paradise through Doyle's poetic vocals.

"As a writer I enjoy the double entendre that "heaven in disguise" can also be heard as "heaven in the skies" (especially with an Irish pronunciation)," Doyle says. "Further highlighting the development of going from an idealised, externalised faith to recognising that true salvation lies internally."

Flexx Carter, 'Work'

Waterford's promising hip-hop songwriter Flexx Carter has shared the final single from his upcoming EP, The Strangest Life I've Ever Known. 'Work' is brimming with Carter's joy for music, and his passion for using his rap skills to make the world a more positive place. Tight and punchy lyrics are contrasted with a slowed, relaxed instrumental backing, making for an easy-going experience you just want to play on repeat.

"'Work' is all about wanting to live my life just doing what I want to do, no 9-5 job that bores me, I want to change the world with my music," Carter says. "Hopefully this song inspires people a little."

Ramper, ‘Mothers’

Ramper’s heartfelt new track ‘Mothers’ comes with the release of his debut album, Loner. The Donegal alternative-folk artist, also known as Declan McClafferty, originally wrote the song for a film that never came together. It opens with a delicate guitar, setting an intimate tone.

‘Mothers’ is set in the past, sung from the perspective of a young woman dreaming of her future. McClafferty performed all of the instrumentals, recording and self-producing his album over a period of 6 months at his home studio.

“Make your own way,” McClafferty sings softly. “I’m doing this alone.”

Dave Clancy, ‘Live Our Own Dream’

‘Live Our Own Dream’ is the title track to Dave Clancy’s upcoming album, out on April 25. Following the path set by his previous works, the singer-songwriter blends rich storytelling with evocative melodies in this folk ballad.

The Galway-native's voice has a slight restraint, noticeable mostly in the chorus, that makes it seem as if he were singing a lullaby, trying to lull you to sleep. The softness in his voice draws the listener in, and makes them pay close attention to his heartfelt words.

The track showcases Clancy’s multi-instrumentalist skills, as he contributes vocals, guitar, piano, and pedal steel guitar. He is joined by Eamon Brady (beats, electronics and synths), Eamon Murray (drums), and Conor McCreanor (bass).

Scustin, ‘The Ick (Don't Put Blackcurrant In That Pint Of Guinness)’

Dublin post-funk four-piece Scustin just dropped the lead single to their upcoming debut album, ‘The Ick (Don't Put Blackcurrant In That Pint Of Guinness)’. Tongue-in-cheek in its content, the satirical track’s instrumentation manages to be incredibly riveting, through fast-paced percussions, riotous guitar chords and bouncy bass riffs.

“Lyrically, the track addresses the sacrilegious attempts to taint Ireland's most sacred beverage—Guinness—and draws a line between those who attempt such absurdities and those who don’t,” the band said of their new single. “The global phenomenon of ‘The Ick’ serves as a fitting metaphor, delivering the message with a sharp edge of satire, and highlighting how trivial annoyances can become outlets for frustration in a world full of more significant issues.”

Chasing Abbey, ‘Take Me To The Water’ feat. HARLEE

Irish-trio Chasing Abbey have returned with their first single of 2025. ‘Take Me To The Water’ with HARLEE, is a boisterous dance tune of reflective lyrics, catchy rhythms and jubilant synths melody. With this tune, the group opens a new chapter, moving away from trad-house to lean towards country dance. The band explain that it "fels like a very natural progression” for them. They say “blending genres has always been a core artistic belief of ours and we’re so excited for the next chapter of CA: Get ready for lots of country dance! We collaborated with UK artist Harlee on this one and there’s nothing like a country duet!”

Iann Brennan, ‘M2M’

Filled with power and strength, ‘M2M’ puts Iann Brennan’s vocal prowess on full display.

“M2M is about reaching that unforgettable moment with someone where everything changes—there’s no going back, only forward together, riding the wave of possibility and passion,” he said.

The electrifying track builds into an explosion of drum and guitar. Fans can catch Brennan live at The Soundhouse in Dublin this Saturday.

Neil Burns, ‘Summer Is Coming’

As bright and jubilant as its title might suggest, ‘Summer Is Coming’ is the opener of Neil Burns’ new record, Golden Sunsets. With its string ensemble and woodwind melodies, the instrumental piece evokes lazy summer mornings, until hitting a frantic rhythm on its last 30 seconds, adding a rich texture to the track.

Bantum, ‘Clang Clang (CNTRAST Remix)’

Irish electronic musician CNTRAST - Ciaran O’Neill - releases his pummelling remix of Bantum’s ‘Clang Clang’, accompanied by a video shot in Antarctica, marking O’Neill’s first official release and foregrounds another busy year for the budding DJ.

Speaking about CNTRAST’s take on the track, Bantum (aka Ruairí Lynch) says Ciaran’s approach “melded nicely” with the original track.

“Rhythmically, I think Ciaran nailed what I’d have in mind to remix the track myself,” Lynch recalls. “I was already thinking of redoing the track for live shows and Ciaran immediately brought this two-step garage beat and these big swells and builds that really clicked with me”.

Bowery Boy, ‘Wide Awake’

The grunge-inspired ‘Wide Awake’ captures intense feelings of angst and vitality. Written by the Meath-based Bowery Boy, the band derives inspiration from groups like The Beatles, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Queens of the Stone Age.

“I often feel blessed to use the gift of songwriting to express emotions I would never normally share with the world,” said frontman Paul Clarke. “For me, ‘Wide Awake’ is a perfect example of catharsis through creativity. There’s no denying that I was in a dark place while writing it, and there were specific reasons for that. Thankfully, through psychedelic therapy, music and the unwavering support of close friends and family, I was able to navigate that chapter of my life, and come out stronger on the other side.”

Fans can catch Bowery Boy in Cork on April 4th and Dublin on April 8th.

Meljoann, ‘Data Ghost’

One week out from her third album drop Meljoann presents ‘Data Ghost', a jagged, but catchy, glitch-laden journey through the eerie space between the physical and digital worlds. Layered with warped basslines, twisted synths, and her unmistakable vocal delivery, the track pulses with a strange, unsettling energy that embodies the isolation and disconnection that come with living our lives through screens.

Aslan, ‘Hear Your Call’

Aslan today release their first single 'Hear Your Call' with singer Lee Tomkins, marking the first offering from the band since he came on board following the sad passing of former frontman Christy Dignam in June 2023.

The four piece, who are currently working on a new album, said the reflective, emotional and layered soundscapes of 'Hear your Call' will give fans a taste of what's to come.

Singer Lee said he's excited about the new single and that it feels great to be able to add to an already great catalogue of music from the legendary band: "I showed the idea of the song to the lads and they really liked it so the four of us worked on it and made it what it is today.

"It’s a song about going through hard times and having self-doubt but finding strength in numbers. "The recording process was very enjoyable and very quick. It feels great to be able to add to an already amazing catalogue of music from the band and to be also able to put my own stamp on a song."

Norabelle, ‘I Am Not A Talker’

Coming ahead of their album The Mountain Blinks, Norabelle’s new single ‘I Am Not A Talker’ is a delicate yet deeply evocative composition, exploring the enduring weight of grief and the challenges of verbalising loss. Speaking about the song, Ken from the band shared:

“‘I Am Not a Talker’ is about being unable to speak about grief even after such a long period of time. It’s about internalising it instead and allowing it to colour your view of life. The song also touches on a major theme of the album, the unreliability of memory.

“The music video is taken from a film called Foreclosed by Eoin Heaney. It features a run-down, deserted old house, which I feel fits the song well. It was someone else’s home at some point; full of love and full of memories. These memories are faded now."

M(h)aol, ‘DM:AM’

Accompanying the announcement of their upcoming album Something Soft, due out on May 16, M(h)aol are releasing their new single 'DM:AM', a rousing tune of distorted instrumentals and anthemic spoken words vocals, filled with unapologetic rage and deeply distinctive soundscapes.

Speaking of new single, the band say "This song is about men DM’ing women online and then getting aggressive when they don’t get the response they want. They quickly turn to insults about the women, and then once the woman says she’ll expose what they’ve done, she gets a laundry list of reasons why he behaves like this and how much he has to lose, which is meant to make the women feel sorry for them."

Tigers of Tin Pan, ‘Under the Moonlight’

Tigers of Tin Pan - the genre-defying project led by John Butler and producer Liam Mulvaney - unveil their new single ‘Under the Moonlight’. Joining the pair on this release is an all-star cast of Irish talent: Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox on bass, the world-beating vocals of Naoise Roo, the sublime guitar work of Derren Dempsey, Oising Trench on drums, sealed with the sublime backing vocals of Laura Coffey.

It result is an extraordinary five-minute exploration, inspired by an episode of the lauded 99% Invisible podcast. The song delves into the arrival of street lighting in 19th-century Austin, weaving a tale set against the backdrop of an unsolved murder mystery. This narrative serves as a canvas for the band to paint a sonic landscape that is as haunting as it is captivating.

The Florentinas, 'For You'

Indie four-piece from Bangor The Florentinas, fresh from supporting Snow Patrol's February tour, hit the ground running with their first release since 2023. 'For You' is the band's fifth single, with Paddy Boyd's steady vocals and Luke Swann's hypnotic guitar riffs tied together by Jakob Swann's drums and Jacob Kane's subtle yet effective bass.

“For you’ is a plea to reach a loved one who carries their struggles in silence, navigating the complexities of breaking down emotional walls," Boyd says. "We feel that we have really crafted something special.

"We’re so happy to get it out into the world,” he adds.

Nathan O’Regan, ‘Killer’

Upcoming Irish singer-songwriter Nathan O’Regan’s new release, ‘Killer,’ is an energetic, country-blues tribute to passionate lovers. While O’Regan’s powered-up, soulful vocals bear resemblance to Dermot Kennedy’s or Tom Walker’s, ‘Killer’’s rock elements are reminiscent of mid-2010’s Black Keys, with twangy guitars and a wailing Hammond organ adding texture to the track.

The song, co-written by O’Regan and fellow Belfast-based musician Gareth Dunlop, came from a discussion the two had about their life partners.

"Gareth and I have incredible, fierce women in our lives and we were joking about how we both need that from time to time" explains Nathan. "It's like dealing with an assassin - they kill all the worst parts of you, and leave you with the bits they like the most.”

Listen to our Spotify playlist below: