NewDad, ‘Entertainer’

Galway noisemakers NewDad flaunt a polished swagger on their new Safe EP, providing a hint of what it’s in store following their smashing 2024 debut album Madra.

The four tracks boast their tried and true shoegaze wizardy, with some sweet pop-leaning hooks thrown in. Listen no further than opener ‘Entertainer’, where lead singerJulie Dawson’s vocals brim with Pavement-influenced, slacker rock cadence.

“The song is about entertaining other people’s idea of who you should be,” she explains. “I'm only learning now that I just need to shut out the noise and do what makes me feel comfortable.”

Search Results, ‘Too Much Time’

Search Results suggest a healthy Oh Sees influence on these trippy, mesmerising few minutes of hypno-rock. A gurgling, repeating bassline and distorted glitchery run through the track. The vocals meanwhile, are echoed and hard to decipher for the most part, aside from the earworm chorus, which spins off like a chaotic and claustrophobic thought loop towards the end. Cooler than the other side of your pillow.

Amble, ‘Treehouse Wings’

A more accurate name for these boys would be Stampede, if the rate of their success is anything to go by. When we spoke to them in October, they were elated at the prospect of playing the Olympia. If that show wasn’t impressive enough, a few months later they sold-out the 3Arena (and landed themselves a coveted spot on the cover of Hot Press). This is all without the existence of a debut album, which arrives in the form of Reverie on May 23.

The latest single from the record, ‘Treehouse Wings’, gleams with the soft nostalgia and folky riffs that have earned Amble so many admirers so quickly.

“It was a bit of a ‘dual’ song,” remarks the band’s Oisín McCaffrey. “I wrote the first couple of verses, and Robbie swooped in with the chorus and another verse. It came to life around the time we got signed. ‘Treehouse Wings’ is a bit of a ‘fuck you’ to anyone who ever said we couldn’t do this. It’s our ode to them.”

49th & Main, ‘Feels Right’

Kilkenny party duo 49th & Main offer a typically groovy and uplifting house bop with ‘Feels Right’. Like the band members themselves, the track is highly energetic and youthful, providing the latest taste from Ben O’Sullivan and Paddy King’s upcoming album Happy Tears, which hits record store shelves and streaming services in June - right in time for summer.

Mark McCabe, ‘Maniac 2000' (25th Anniversary Edition)

Few songs can boast the elevated status in Irish culture like Mark McCabe’s ‘Maniac 2000’. The fifth best-selling single in our nation's history is a favourite of ravers, club goers and just about anyone with a penchant for boogieing. The Dublin DJ celebrated its quarter century birthday with a special re-release, as well as an equally special dance-laden evening at the 3Arena a few weeks back.

Harry Fennell, ‘Ablutions’

Harry Fennell’s new single ‘Ablutions’ is his first for new Dublin-based independent label Rubarb Music. The song touches on the themes of love, loss and the amusing irony of drinking your feelings away. It’s all wrapped up in a package of whimsical lyrics, quivering vocal thrum and a rollicking folk-pop chorus.

The song is said to have been partly inspired by the 24-year-old’s own relationship with alcohol, when he observed how he and his peers reacted to news of a loss by “heading straight to the pub”. After losing a friend who was “a massive drinker” to suicide several years ago, he realised that their immediate inclination to raise a glass to them was jarring, in all senses of the word. “So I'm kind of singing for the person who might be going through that for the first time, or the second time, or it might be their best mate,” says Fennell. “In a way, these are natural reactions - to not realise that you're actually numbing yourself with ‘the craic’. It’s a bit dark, but it’s important to talk about, too. “

Bren Berry, ‘Come Alive (Andromedae Remix)’

The opener to Bren Berry’s debut solo album In Hope our Stars Align, ‘Come Alive’ is a glowing, big-hearted pop song, bursting with killer hooks and sun-kissed melodies and harmonies. The new remix offers a brooding and edgy proto-electronic reworking of the original, setting its stall out as a chugging post-punk infused late night anthem fit for dancefloors.

“I wrote the song on my daughter Eve’s 21st birthday,” says Berry, “and it is a celebration of those magical perfect days filled with sunshine and joy that we love to have with family and friends. It is also about the importance of home and the power of music.”

Danny Groenland, ‘Never Going Home’

Danny Groenland travels to the future on his new track ‘Never Going Home’, a ‘60s inspired tune of acoustic guitar chords, strings and dreamy piano lines, lined with an ambient, atmospheric production. The accompanying music video was made by Irish animator Marc Corrigan. The story is told through the lens of a character in space recalling his time back on earth.

Lorc D, ‘Westside’

An introspective piece that delves into the complexities of youth, Lorc D’s debut single ‘Westside’, is an introspective piece that delves into the complexities of youth, blending raw emotion with intricate storytelling, said to have been inspired by “the poetic realism of Fontaines D.C., the emotional depth of Damien Rice, and the harmonic textures of Ye Vagabonds.”

BoolaBoom, ‘Shuffle’

Cork 24 piece live house and techno big jazz band BoolaBoom share the vibrant new single ‘Shuffle’, capturing their signature carnival-esque atmosphere, whilst highlighting the beat driven EDM inspiration through an explosive mash-up of bluesy horns, samba rhythms, and hands-in-the-air house drops while further into the track, ‘Shuffle’ breaks into a joyous Brazilian call-and-response.

Band leader and producer Darragh O’Connor explains: “We love mixing big band jazz with a thumping samba-house beat and we’re delighted with how this track turned out. When we play this live we always get the audience chanting along ‘cup final’ style to the vocal hook – fists punching the air just before the drop - which really gets a packed venue or festival crowd bouncing.

ChildsMind, ‘Lost Without U’

ChildsMind has released the new track ‘Lost Without U,’ featuring his fast, punchy beats and wailing vocals. It includes a sample from the indie band Dojo For Crooks to add a layered, dreamy effect. The dance song touches on themes of hope and new beginnings, and follows his 3-leg Project 32 tour– a string of DIY rave shows across each of the 32 counties in Ireland.

The Kings of Cool, ‘Really Over You’

Donegal band The Kings of Cool release their new single ‘Really Over You’, a slice of jangly guitar pop with Beach Boys harmonies on top, complete with incredibly catchy melodies and playful lyricism for a tune imbued with the summer sun, offering an enticing look into their upcoming album, billed for this Autumn.

Lonely Astronauts, ‘These Nights’

Belfast-based band Lonely Astronauts release their summer-tinted new single ‘These Nights’, which finds the band diving deeper into their melodic rock roots, weaving emotional resonance, uplifting riffs, and raw, heartfelt vocals in dreamy, melancholic soundscapes.

The band explain, “This single is our first release of the year, and we want it to make a statement. The whole thing came together really organically - it’s built on each of us offering four different perspectives on love, relationships and life experiences, that have come to shape the song in expected and unexpected ways, and make it what it is. At its core, it’s about resilience, integrity and connection”

Lōwil, ‘Ground Above You’

Irish composer and songwriter Lōwil returns with the release of her powerfully poignant new single 'Ground Above You.' The brooding, introspective and atmospheric track touches on themes of identity, existence and disconnection - tied together with some powerhouse vocals and a dark-pop arrangement. Harrowing and rousing stuff.

Penny’s Band, ‘Leaving For America’

Penny’s Band's intense vocals pair beautifully with their indie-rock sound. Their latest single, ‘Leaving For America,’ touches on themes of loss and new beginnings. Layered background vocals create a dreamy effect, starting off subdued before gaining traction. The energy of the song gradually increases, until Alex Talboti practically wails.

Fans can check out Penny’s Band at their second major show on May 22 at Belfast’s Oh Yeah Music Centre.

Lucy McWilliams, ‘The Greatest Man’

Indie rising star Lucy McWilliams returns for her first dreamy offering of 2025 ‘The Greatest Man’, a melancholic yet transporting tune which lets the singer’s atmospheric vocals take the centre stage, despite its carefully layered instrumentals of head-bobbing guitar riffs and stirring string ensembles.

KETTAMA, ‘Gotta Have It’

A breathless and enthralling electronic tune of fast-paced percussion and heavy bass lines, KETTAMA’s newest single ‘Gotta Have It’ combines mysterious drone notes lines with catchy club instrumentation, before jumping into 80s-inspired, funky synths riffs halfway through the track.

Tolü Makay, ‘WAR’

Setting the tone for her upcoming EP People Still Cry In Summer, out later this year, Irish-Nigerian artist Tolü Makay has released her new single ‘WAR’.

Blending alt-pop and soul, Makay’s latest track showcases pulsing drums, war-cry-like belting that echoes in the distance, and a powerful, haunting harmony driven by guitar, bass, piano, and strings.

‘WAR’ was initially written as a poem, after a gathering at the London Irish Centre “where women shared stories of how Sinéad O’Connor gave voice to the voiceless, often at great personal cost,” said Makay.

“The poem evolved into a song about the internal battles we face shame, fear, guilt, silence and how they mirror the systems and injustices around us,” added the singer. “‘WAR’ is a reclamation of power. A whisper that can be heard over an army. It’s for those who feel small, but know they must speak first for themselves, and eventually for others.

Foot Squeaker, ‘60 Beats’

Wexford-based alt-rock trio Foot Squeaker have released their explosive new single ‘60 Beats’.

Exploring the tension between ambition and contentment, ‘60 Beats’ centers shifts between lush, enveloping indie-rock choruses and hard-hitting emo-rock verses driven by distorted, hammering guitars.

“‘60 Beats’ opens with an elegant, waltz-sounding grace before erupting into a cinematic rock crescendo,” said vocalist and guitarist Diarmuid Comerford, who wrote and recorded the track in his own studio. “It’s about the battle with time itself—torn between slowing down and the fear of not achieving enough, all while searching for that elusive balance.”

Kean Kavanagh, ‘A Cowboy Song’

Fresh off the release of ‘The Whistle’, Portlaoise singer-songwriter and producer Kean Kavanagh has shared ‘A Cowboy Song’, from his debut album The County Star, set for release on June 6 via Heaven Sent.

The uptempo indie-rock of ‘A Cowboy Song’ is haunted by a dissonance always looming in the background, imbuing the track’s sparse verses and its atmospheric, reverb-heavy choruses with a post-punk feel.

A short outro driven by impressionistic piano scales and hypnotic ambient sounds brings the track to a mesmerising close.

JC Stewart, ‘Space Hurts’

Northern Irish pop artist JC Stewart has released ‘Space Hurts’, the title-track from his upcoming album, out on June 20 via Stanley Park Records.

Written alongside Todd Clarke and Foy Vance, ‘Space Hurts’ is an elegant, piano-driven ballad delivered with the melancholy of a cocktail lounge singer on a late, hazy night.

“I wrote this song a lifetime ago but it’s always been a song that I’ve held incredibly close,” said Stewart. “I don’t really know why, but it just always felt like the closest I’ve ever come to capturing my true essence in song form.

“It’s about loving someone for the first time and realising that being away from them is torture,” added the singer.

Beauty Sleep, ‘Radical Happiness’

Alt-pop duo from Derry, Beauty Sleep, introduced the lead single off their upcoming album The Whole Damn Cake, out in October.

The track’s eclectic landscape features layered synths and bright, starry vocals. The title was chosen before ever writing the song, when producer and songwriter Cheylene Murphy painted the words “Radical Happiness” on a canvas in 2020. From there, the phrase was a guiding mantra for her and partner Ryan McGroarty.

“We wanted to embrace radical happiness for our own lives, but we were so far away from that feeling,” said McGroarty, “Our mental health was so low and we were such people pleasers to a fault that prioritising our emotions and desires felt radical. So we embarked on figuring out how to find radical happiness by living it—we did all the things we thought we weren't good enough for, things we thought we would do ‘when we were successful,’ or ‘when we had more money,’ or when the perfect conditions were just so…”

Keelan X, ‘Good Times’

Irish pop act Keelan X has released his new single ‘Good Times’.

Written by Keelan X and co-produced by the artist alongside Alex O’Keefe and Julian Chown, ‘Good Times’ showcases a sunny, upbeat synth-pop imbued with an '80s-inspired production, while its nuanced lyrics borrow a few lines from W.B. Yeats’ poem ‘‘When You are Old and Grey’.

“The song is a reflection on past relationships and places I’ve loved, but I put an emotional distance on,” said the artist. “A lot of relationship endings are marked by bitterness but I wanted to celebrate the good times I had with a person.”

Go Bury Your Monsters, ‘In The Belly Of The Beast Of Love’

Go Bury Your Monsters features musicians like Shayne Byrne, Darragh J. Glennon, Brian Murphy and Stephen Young. The second single off their upcoming EP Body Language, 'In The Belly Of The Beast Of Love' tells the story of being stuck in the oesophagus of some great beast, symbolising “love.” The character in the song claws their way out of the burning stomach acid and into the world, where they can finally make a fresh start.

Sonically, the track features delightful, droning guitars. You can hear a real shift about half way through the song, when the character begins to taste freedom. The band also released an instrumental version of the song today.

Francie Conway, ‘Hit By A Hurricane’

Co. Kerry singer-songwriter Francie Conway has released ‘Hit By A Hurricane’, a rock song with a timeless feel that deals with the turbulence of current times and the need of collective action for change.

‘Hit By A Hurricane’ features sleek synths reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Streets of Philadelphia’, a harmony similar to that of Scorpions’ ‘Wind Of Change’, melodramatic strings, and a powerful electric guitar solo.

“This song was written and recorded at a time when peace was at risk,” said Conway. “No one could ever imagine it would apply to the apocalyptic times we’re experiencing today”.

KAR, ‘Perfume’

Cork singer-songwriter KAR has released ‘Perfume’, the latest in a string of singles that includes 2023’s ‘TIME’ and ‘Ecstasy’, as well as 2024’s ‘Running’.

A midtempo synth-pop track that sounds like it could belong in Taylor Swift’s 1989, ‘Perfume’ is catchy and melodic, featuring an ‘80s-turned-contemporary sound palette, with prominent synth staccatos, broken piano chords and drum fills.

Bowden, ‘Faster’

Bowden’s angsty new song ‘Faster’ ignites with fervor and energy.

“‘Faster’ is about reaching the end of your rope—or even reaching for the end,” the band said. “It’s that moment where everything starts accelerating, because you can’t sit in the slow burn anymore. You need change, or closure, or collapse. It’s about chasing a resolution, not knowing whether it’s the light at the end of the tunnel or a warning to turn back. That uncertainty is at the heart of it.”

The song begins slowly, but quickly speeds up in time with the lyrical unrest. A groovy bassline and layered vocals add to this feeling of chaos and anger. An electric guitar solo takes place about halfway through the song, exploding with sonic excellence.

‘Faster’ is the final single off Bowden’s upcoming debut album Glacier, out May 23.

 

RuthAnne, 'Complete Me'

A pillar of the modern pop industry, RuthAnne announces a new album, a book and drops her latest single, 'Complete Me'. Inspired by Aretha Franklin and Etta James, the track captures that quintessential sound of American soul music - slow and steady drums, sharp intermittent guitar notes, simple basslines and powerful vocals, supplemented by a backing choir.

"I wrote 'Complete Me' about the moment you realise you've found your person - the missing piece that makes you feel whole, safe, and complete," RuthAnne says. "That deep love that exists beyond the honeymoon phase."

"It's messy, beautiful, raw, and real," she adds. "Any storm that comes, you know you'll get through it because you've got each other."

Antanna, 'Say I'm Wrong'

Tony Hoyne, former frontman of Von Bismark and one half of Another White Lie, embarks on his latest project under the name Antanna. His debut release under the new name, 'Say I'm Wrong' blends indie, folk and alternative music styles. Acoustic guitar, piano layered over a driving bass and quick snare drums makes for a high energy yet softer sound in this exploration of unhealthy relationships.

@antannamusic “Say I’m wrong” is available everywhere on 2nd of May!!! #irishmusic #ceolnua #lovesong #breakups #newmusic #irishindiemusic #accoustic #breakupsong ♬ original sound - Antanna official

Some One's Sons, 'Day Two'

As they prepare to kick off an Irish summer tour, folk group Some One's Son release their first single of 2025, 'Day Two'. With raw and intimate vocals and an instrumental that evokes tradition with more modern aspects of folk, the track is a heartfelt ballad of love, doubt and second chances.

"This song is about taking a chance when you least expect it," says Daniel Allen. "We wanted to capture that feeling of surprise - of love sneaking up on you when you've given up on it."

Odhran Murphy, ‘Angel of Mine’

Country-folk artist from County Armagh, Odhran Murphy, delights with his new single ‘Angel of Mine.’ The song feels like a celebration of love– regardless of whether or not things work out in the end.

“It’s a fearless leap into love with no backup plan—this song is about giving someone everything, knowing the fall could break you, but loving them enough to risk it all,” he said.

Murphy’s raw lyricism pairs beautifully with his delicate acoustic guitar. He describes his music as “very uplifting, energetic, fun and great for a road trip.” This includes ‘Angel of Mine,’ which rises in excitement as the song continues to play.

Murphy will host his first headline show at London’s Camden Assembly on May 13.

 

Crybabyamy, 'New York'

From her upcoming EP Superstar, Crybabyamy drops an infectious beat in 'New York'. Written when her partner travelled to New York without her, Crybabyamy captured the sense of jealousy and FOMO, spinning it into a synth-pop track full of energy and sarcastic fun.

"Honestly, 'New York' started as a bit of fun because I was genuinely jealous that my partner was in New York and I wasn't!" Crybabyamy says. "I wanted to lean into that feeling but make it super high-energy and catchy, channeling that classic pop sound from the early 2000s."

Cronin, 'Good Days Ahead (And Some Sad Days Too)'

Brothers Michael and Johnny Cronin reflect on aging, relationships and loss in their latest track, 'Good Days Ahead (But Some Sad Days Too)'. Blending synths of the 80s with Springsteen-style lyrics, the track's steady drumbeat, driving bass and strong vocals give 'Good Days Ahead (But Some Sad Days Too)' a unique energy.

Recorded in their own studio, Transmission Records, the track title comes from a saying the duo's grandmother would say to them as children.

Bernard-M, ‘WOLF’

Bernard-M’s new EP Side Quest dropped on Wednesday, featuring the high-intensity track ‘WOLF.' The fast-paced song sweeps listeners off their feet, lost in a sea of heavy bass and layered beats.

“This is like nothing I’ve put out before, it’s a proper blend of Drum & Bass, Tech-House, Rap, and singer-songwriter vibes (vocals),” he said of the EP. “Everything was completely recorded and engineered by myself, with a serious master done by the one and only Beardfire Recording & Production Studio. And I cannot forget about the production by one of the best DnB, garage, and house producers I’ve come across in a long time!”

Basht, 'Burn'

As they gear up to release their sophomore EP, a month of headliners and some festival appearances, alt-rockers Basht release 'Burn'. With their signature raw sound, the new track fluctuates between slow, steadier verses and a high energy chorus with fuzzy distorted guitar, thumping drums, anchoring bass and vocals that are gritty yet hold warmth.

The last single from Bitter & Twisted, due out on May 9, 'Burn' is further proof that Basht are one of the most exciting rock bands on the rise in Ireland today.

Jordan Adetunji, ‘X n The City’

Grammy Award-nominated rapper Jordan Adetunji has dropped an accompanying music video for his latest single, ‘X n The City.’

Produced by the production duo Take A Daytrip, the song follows the release of Adetunji’s latest mixtape, A Janguar’s Dream. The track blends hip-hop, R&B and Afrobeats into one cohesive sound. The intoxicating beat practically demands the listener to dance along.

The rapper will perform at Brighton’s The Great Escape on May 16.

California Irish, 'Live Fast Die Free'

Belfast psychedelic folk band California Irish release their second single, 'Live Fast Die Free' inspired by the free-spirited sound of 1960s American folk. With a funky bassline, Southern-Gospel style organ, bassy drums and even a lapsteel, the track also features the voice of The Answer's Cormac Neeson supported by a choir of back-up vocalists.

"The song tries to tap into some of the hippie ethos that's captured so beautifully in the movie (Easy Rider), themes of freedom, love and living life without regret," Neeson says. "It's also one of those loose, groovy songs that the live analogue recording process suited perfectly."

Listen to our playlist below: