New Irish Songs to Hear This Week

Glen Hansard, ‘Didn’t He Ramble (Funkhaus Version)’

Frontman of The Frames and one half of The Swell Season Glen Hansard has announced a retrospective live album, titled Don+t Settle – Transmissions East & West. Lead single ‘Didn’t He Ramble (Funkhaus Version)’ is out now.

The album, recorded in the round in front of a live studio audience, was inspired by a summer 2024 performance at Zuiderparktheater in The Hague. During a rainstorm, Hansard invited the audience to join him onstage to stay dry. The result was an unforgettable communal concert experience that Hansard sought to emulate by recording at Berlin’s historic Funkhaus studio.

‘Didn’t He Ramble’ originally appeared on Hansard’s 2016 EP A Season On The Line. This new live recording imbues the track with a push of fresh, rollicking energy.

“Our local bar was The Ramble Inn,” Hansard wrote of the rerecording. “My father spent most of his waking and sometimes sleeping hours in there…he’d ramble in and stumble out. I wrote this song after he passed at the fair young age of 62.”

“My father showed his love shoulder to shoulder, not face to face. He drove The Frames amps and instruments around for years. Rarely staying for the show. But always there to load out the gear with the band afterwards. I loved him very much and wanted to write him a tribute song he’d enjoy.”

Ellie O’Neill, ‘Half Immune’

Ellie O’Neill has announced her debut album Time of Fallow—and with it, a new single ‘Half Immune.’

In the pensive track, O’Neill sings of a love interest “coming up from Skibbereen / eyes of salt and hair to drown in.” The track lilts and lingers, mimicking yearning's winding path. Echoey, understated piano allows O’Neill’s gossamer vocals to shine through.

O’Neill has a gift for describing quiet moments with pristine accuracy. Her lyrical prowess is on full display throughout the track: “As the steeple rings in Sunday, we move in morning prayer / later on, you’ll introduce me as ‘the girl who plaits your hair.’” It’s heartbreaking, yet it’s everyday—an intersection of the magical and the mundane.

O’Neill wrote and recorded much of Time of Fallow during the pandemic. A true coming-of-age record, the album chronicles O’Neill's emotional journey from pining for a love object to the subsequent realisation of her own self-sufficiency.

"It took all this to see it wasn’t about that person, but it was about me and the wider world,” said O’Neill in a press release. “It was a portal for me to learn through."

Time of Fallow is out March 20 via St. Itch.

Megan O’Neill, ‘The Questioning Type’

Megan O’Neill is back with new EP The Questioning Type. Its title track is a tender ballad whose thoughtful lyrics and sombre instrumentation are sure to tug at your heartstrings.

The EP was written while O’Neill was losing a loved one to a terminal illness.

“Grief made me question everything,” O’Neill wrote in a statement. “Why are we here? What’s it all for? Where do we go?”

Recorded at Stoneybatter’s Sonic Studios with producer Ber Quinn, ‘The Questioning Type’ features a host of instrumental collaborators, including Joe Doyle (bass), Paul Kenny (drums), Sam Killeen (guitars), Gareth Quinn Redmond (strings), and David Murphy (pedal steel).

“They created such a supportive, collaborative space to experiment, share ideas, and talk through melodies,” O’Neill wrote.

The song’s quiet strength is audible from its sparse start through its sweeping finish.

By the chorus, O’Neill has come to a sobering conclusion: “Maybe we need to live a thousand times / before we know how to die.”

Fake Saint, 'Sober'

Alt-pop artist Fake Saint has released his new single, 'Sober'.

Sober is an alt-pop confession drenched in late-night regret and emotional addiction. It tells the story of a connection that only exists in the blur of alcohol and crowded rooms, where he’s all in, and she only comes calling when she’s drunk, reckless, and looking for escape. When the buzz wears off, so does her interest, leaving him hopelessly in love, chasing the same cycle of hope and rejection every time.

Carried by powerful, aching vocals and a moody alt-pop production, 'Sober' captures the damage of wanting someone who only wants you when they’re not themselves. It’s toxic, obsessive, and impossible to let go of, the kind of song you scream in your car at 2 a.m., knowing it hurts but hitting replay anyway.

Kate Prendergast, Glass and Glue

Kate Prendergast's new track Glass and Glue explores the ways in which we frame the world and perceive each other, often distorted by our own experiences. Melodic piano surrounded by delicate guitar work that pulls at your heartstrings, it is a song that asks whether or not people are so different.

Kate Prendergast is a young, rising Irish multi-instrumentalist with a gift for crafting deeply evocative songs, blending indie folk, blues, country and alternative rock. Her music is a raw and soulful mix of personal reflection and sharp storytelling, shaped by influences ranging from Bob Dylan to Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Kingfishr.

She burst onto the scene in 2024 with her debut single, ‘Past Letters’, quickly followed by Undergrowth, Lavender Country, Ignition, and Retold Tale, produced in collaboration with producer Declan Legge at Big Space Studios under the Stray Dog Records label.

Whether performing solo or with a band, Kate captivates audiences with her haunting voice and magnetic stage presence.

Lazember, 'Here we go again'

Indie rock outfit Lazember return with their new single, 'Here We Go Again', an energetic, old-school indie rock anthem about taking chances when life presents them – even when it feels easier to look away.

Hailing from County Donegal, Ireland, Lazember blend raw guitars, driving drums, and emotionally charged songwriting into a sound that nods to Kings of Leon, with the sharp edge of Wet Leg and the stadium-ready hooks of Bleachers.

“Here We Go Again is about the excuses we make in life when opportunities come our way – whether that’s love, career, or change,” says frontman Paul Rodgers.

“People convince themselves everything is fine, then get upset when they see others move forward. This song is about finding out what’s on the other side when you finally take the chance.”

Christopher Hockey, 'She Sings More'

Cork folk artist Christopher Hockey has released his debut album, Awakening.

The album explores the heartbreak and disintegration that follows when not just the rug but the whole floor is pulled out from under you.

Simple guitar strings and emotive vocals dominate this album to tell the all-too-familiar feeling of heartbreak that we've all experienced.

Hockey balances this anguish of the sudden loss of a relationship in standout track 'She Sings More' with a guarded hope for the future, moving on from the past and looking to new things. Finding healing in the process of letting go of the previously released. 'I Need You'.

Margaux Regan, 'Sob Story'

From Margaux Regan’s debut EP After Thought comes ‘Sob Story’, a pop ballad brimming with as much sentimentality as its name suggests.

On After Thought, the Dublin-born, London-based singer-songwriter has released four songs that capture the slice of time between ages 19 to 21, when the world is expanding so rapidly that nothing ever feels quite right.

Like all of Regan's music, 'Sob Story' balances tenderness with brutal honesty. Her voice evokes the airy folk-pop of Gracie Abrams with a slight country twist, and her lyrics have a confessional candour not unlike Olivia Rodrigo or a young Taylor Swift.

It’s easy to sympathize with Regan as she wails: “Why’d you mess with my head just to keep me hoping?”

Regan’s debut EP After Thought is out now.

Cable Boy, ‘Icarus’

The second single off of Cable Boy’s upcoming debut album Forever, ‘Icarus’ features a snappy upbeat and is punctuated by a tight, acerbic groove that sways and moves with the listener. Lined with intimate warmth, the tune also boasts glossy harmonies, spoken word segments, and synthesizer craft building an otherworldly soundscape.
Talking about the single, frontman Semilore Olusa explains: “‘Icarus’ is about the fear of ambition and what happens when you decide to take charge. It could all fuck up and you’ll fail spectacularly or you’ll find the most beautiful thing ever.”

Curtisy & owin, ‘The Instigator’

Coming ahead of Curtisy’s up coming album GET A LIFE!, ‘The Instigator’ is a deliciously rousing tune, blending heavy production with glistening melodies and powerfully complex arrangements from owin, making for the perfect accompaniment to the rapper’s raw lyrical style and technically impressive bars.

Speaking of his upcoming record, Curtisy says: “I took my time with this music. I care about this shit.”

Rebel Phoenix, ‘STAR SIGN’

Dublin rapper Rebel Phoenix returns with the new track ‘STAR SIGN’, a gorgeously melodic and delicately soulful track, lined with pop flavours and sulfurous electronic arrangements, making for an anthemic yet glisteningly soft track, accompanied by the musician’s honey-smooth vocal performance and marking a departure from his usual sound.

Announcing the tune on Instagram, Rebel Phoenix said: “Just put something a bit different out. Needed to keep things interesting. Never was a one trick horsie anyway.”

Warren & Hitch, ‘The Moment’

Dublin producer and songwriter Warren collaborates with Aussie producer Hitch on the new track ‘The Moment’. Featuring shimmering vocals, the track marks the follow-up to the hugely successful single 'Dream About U'. and combines dance drums with emotional chords and melodies for a club tune that is as catchy as it is silky smooth.

Belters Only & Seamus D, ‘My Love’

Belters Only bring summer vibes into gloomy February with their new tune ‘My Love’, a hard-hitting and rousing tune, both dance-inducing and deliciously melodic. Straight-to-the-point but perfectly executed, the track boasts catchy rhythms and glistening synthy sections for a track that will make you long for long summer nights out.

CamrinWatsin, ‘Follow Your Lead’ feat. KIRBS

Producer CamrinWatsin collaborates UK rapper KIRBS on ‘Follow Your Lead’, a track that blends the vocalist’s deft bars with bass-heavy, techno-flavoured electronic production, and ethereal synths. Mixing heavy dance flavours with undeniable melodic flair, ‘Follow Your Lead’ is a deeply distinctive club tune that set CamrinWatsin as one of the most interesting voices in Irish electronic music.

Emma Hynes, 'Tell Me How'

'Tell Me How' is the third released song from Emma Hynes' upcoming debut album, due out on Friday, February 20.

The single is a hopeful, upbeat track, leaning into poetic alt, and indie folk. It reminisces on the melodious surf pop and rock of the 1970s while still retaining its own originality. The lyrics are gracefully delivered by Hyne’s deep and captivating vocals, accompanied by a flowing, exciting melody, hopeful guitar, and a beautiful string arrangement. The song was produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Martin Quinn at JAM Studios, Ireland.

The Kings of Cool 'Here We Go Again'

'Here We Go Again' is a bright track that blends catchy melodies with pedal steel guitar solos, and tight harmonies. The song is a fresh twist on classic pop and the Beatles’ rock finest.

The Kings of Cool are a pop-rock band from Donegal. They draw influences from artists like Fleetwood Mac, ELO, Squeeze, and Elvis Costello. Their music is guitar driven and centred in the traditions of classic pop writing.

Morgan Gray, 'If You Ever Left'

'If You Ever Left' is a very emotional song, driven by a soft piano and Gray’s strong, raspy voice. The song features on his new album Let Me Break Tonight, released this Tuesday, February 17.

Gray’s sound echoes that of Lewis Capaldi, defined by heartfelt vocals and emotional, melancholic ballads.
"I am drawn to honesty in music, the kind that feels a little exposed but real enough to connect with someone else’s story too," said Gray.
"It feels like the first true snapshot of who I am as an artist right now — the risks, the emotions, and the start of a journey I’ve been chasing my whole life," he added.

THUMPER, ‘Gang Signs’

With their brand new album Sleeping With The Light On, THUMPER bring us contemplative, high-fueled tracks like ‘Gang Signs’.

The life of rock stars might not be easy, but it sure is cool - at least that seems to be the message of ‘Gang Signs’. Life is a never-ending cycle of falling on your face and recuperating, still THUMPER continue to bounce back with ease.

A commanding grasp of electric guitar and a thrashing production give THUMPER fresh new ground to breathe, with the album as a whole regenerating their fans' desire for even more fresh new music. THUMPER surely fulfil every request!

Big Sleep, ‘Bruiser’

On ‘Bruiser’, Big Sleep take you on a rhythmic speed train from the very first note, along with an effortlessly addictive mood and flirtatious, edgy chorus.

The track takes us back to the 2014 new-grunge of it all, kicking it back to earlier seductive Arctic Monkeys earworms. Sifting into the lowness of ‘Bruiser’, you can close your eyes and be 17 all over again, with the song playing like a nostalgic car ride from your teen years.

Hostile and seductive, the track seems to narrate the scenes of a dark pub corner, uncertain of what’s to come next.

The Dublin rock band have given us the exact easy listening that we needed, with their debut album Holy Show, out today.

U2, ‘Song Of The Future’

On their brand new, unexpected EP Days of Ash, U2 bring us their commentary on the tragic realities of modern life.

‘Song Of The Future’ addresses the death of 16-year-old Sarina Esmailzadeh, an Iranian schoolgirl whose life was taken after joining thousands of her peers protesting in the streets as part of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in 2022. She was beaten by the Iranian Security Forces, who later claimed she had killed herself.

U2 call Sarina the “song of the future” throughout the chorus, admiring her efforts and sacrifices, distraught by the opportunities she was forced to miss out on.

“All the classroom prophets gone to ground / Schoolgirl says everyone knows / Love is a verb and not a noun,” they sing, commenting on the fact it has become the responsibility of children to make societal change, echoing the importance of action above spoken promises.

The track holds a heavy weight and meaning beyond the surface, with empowering words that illuminate a new era of protest songs.

Virgins, ‘reveries’

As Virgins released their final EP Light The Space Left Behind earlier this month, and have announced a farewell hometown show in Belfast in the Oh Yeah Centre on February 28, they bring fans together to celebrate the legacy of their over 5 years of artistry.

‘Reveries’ comes as the 3rd and final track on the EP, with shoegaze instrumentation, a fuzzy, drum-focused production and distant calling vocals from lead singer Rebecca Dow. There’s a heaviness to the song, as the band play out their very last notes together, with the conclusion wrapping up into a full circle ambient soundscape, perfect for listeners to return to years from now.

Tickets for their final show are available here.

Grian Chatten, Antony Genn & Martin Slattery, ‘Puppet’

Fontaines D.C. 's Grian Chatten has worked hard to get his hands in the upcoming Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man film soundtrack, offering his moody vocals and edgy production expertise alongside composers Antony Genn and Martin Slattery.

‘Puppet’ has got a grainy production, with haunting instrumentals that perfectly capture the essence of Peaky Blinders, playing into both the effortless ego of each character, as well as the defeated despair of their environment. The chorus, which echoes Chatten's judgements, comes through as a sickening and regretful inner voice.

The full soundtrack will feature 36 tracks, including 5 new recordings. Several Fontaines D.C. songs will also appear on the album, with other artists such as Nick Cave and Lankum also creeping their way onto the soundscape.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, Cillian Murphy spoke on adding Chatten and his band to the Peaky Blinders soundtrack, saying: “The Fontaines music seems to work. It has that outlaw and dangerous quality… it just clicked for us."

Sun Mahshene, ‘Waves’

Dublin-based five-piece shoegaze-psych band Sun Mahshene have released their new single ‘Waves’.

‘Waves’ is an emotionally charged track that balances the band’s shoegaze, psych and atmospheric rock influences. The single is layered and textured, especially during the chorus, where the vocals are drowning in instrumentals, which makes the song atmospheric, immersive and melancholic.

“‘Waves’ captures the tension of reaching an age where life is supposed to make sense - only to find the plan unravelling,” said the band. “It reflects on expectations and uncertainty when a curveball derails everything you thought you had figured out. Honest and introspective the track speaks to anyone learning to redefine when life refuses to follow the script.”

J Ryan, ‘It's So Easy’

Dublin-based singer-songwriter J Ryan has released his new single ‘It’s So Easy’.

Featuring Ryan’s soulful vocals and calming rhythmic instrumentals, the track is his 11th single since 2024, with the hopes of releasing an album later this year.

‘It’s So Easy’ is a narrative-driven track about “people getting out of their own way, stopping and seeing what is around them, feeling life, taking a breath, simply understanding that it’s ourselves sometimes getting in the way by making simple things complicated, when it’s as easy as breathing, taking the time to witness ‘self’ and just breath.”

Lyterian, ‘Terminal 2’

Limerick-based alternative pop trio Lyterian have released their new single ‘Terminal 2’.

Co-written with producer and songwriter Mark Sunders, ‘Terminal 2’ blends emotional depth with dancefloor-ready energy. A cinematic love story, it uses a rich synth-driven atmosphere, reminiscent of the 80s, as well as pulsing basslines to highlight the emotionally charged vocals.

“The initial idea for ‘Terminal’ came to me after watching Lost in Translation,” said vocalist Samuel O’Shaughnessy. “ The general feel and liminal space aesthetic of the movie and soundtrack sparked the fuse for what would become the love story inside ‘Terminal 2’.

“Drawing on personal experiences and intertwining it with the melancholy from the film, we brought it to Mark Saunders who brought in the cool, robust feel of the 80s.”

The Deep Hour, ‘Hurricane’ feat. Gerry Leonard & Robbie Malone

Cork-based Brian O’Glanby’s latest project, The Deep Hour, has released its new single ‘Hurricane’, featuring guitarist Gerry Leonard and bass guitarist Robbie Malone.

‘Hurricane’ with O’Glanby’s raw vocals and soft melodic backing instrumentals is a heartfelt and poignant track about the devastating and unvoiced struggles of domestic violence.

“‘Hurricane’ is inspired by letters written by a friend’s mother, trapped in an abusive relationship, letters never sent, words never heard, living in hope that the violence would end,” said O’Glanby. “This isn’t just a release. It’s a voice for what was never spoken.”

Lisa Keane, ‘Another Goodbye'

Lisa Keane's newly released single, 'Another Goodbye,' is a powerful showcase of her singer-songwriter qualities, delivering a mature and emotionally resonant track. The song follows love in the midst of lingering fear and vulnerability caused by previous heartbreak. 

Keane's lyricism paints a vivid picture of this internal struggle, where the desire to fully commit is tempered by the hard-learned lessons of the past. It's a track that will easily resonates with listeners.

Helen O’Shea & Brad Butcher, ‘Last Day of Our Acquaintance

Helen O’Shea newly released, ‘Last Day of Our Acquaintance,’ is a tribute to the late Sinéad O’Connor. This follows her earlier tribute single, ‘Lost’, and ‘Caged Birds,’ which also honored O’Connor.‘Last Day of Our Acquaintance,’ is the third O’Connor song O'Shea selected for her upcoming tribute album, Songs in the Key of O (releasing May 1st).

The song's trance-like musical arrangement amplifies the emotional weight of the moment. This sense of quiet devastation is further deepened by O'Shea's interpretation, which features the restrained, performance of Brad Butcher. Butcher's understated delivery brings a shared heartbreak to the song.

The Kates, ‘You Don’t See It’

The Kates have released the new single ‘You Don’t See It’. The Kates are an all-female rock band made up of Eve Clague, Liz Clark, MaryBeth O’Mahony, Míde Houlihan and Paula K, all of whom have written and recorded their own solo work in addition to that of the band.

The song, written collaboratively among all five band members, features O’Mahoney on vocals over a steady rock track, backed up in the choruses by vocals from other band members, and an electric guitar solo towards the end of the song.

‘You Don’t See It’ follows the release of their debut EP Pictures Here Of Dreamers in 2024, and comes ahead of their debut album, which is set to be released later this year.

“We have spent the last year gigging and writing,” said Paula K of the album. “The upcoming album is a collection of songs that happened between takes of our work and family lives. Naming that space as a creative outlet,  where ideas were born and we found out more about ourselves as a band. Our Kates space.”

Travy, ‘Slow It Down’

Travy has released the new song ‘Slow it Down’, along with the song ‘She Don’t Wanna Go Tape’. The song features Travy rapping over a dark bassline and driving drum beat, with a soaring string melody over top.

The song follows Tracy’s 2025 album SPOOKY, which debuted at #1 on the Irish charts, beating out Noah Kahan, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA and Gracie Abrams to claim the top spot that week. His album before that, Doghouse, also took the #1 spot in the charts, the first Irish rap album ever to do so.

Def Nettle, ‘Mohawk’

Def Nettle have released a new single ‘Mohawk’. Def Nettle are a band fronted by Glen Brady, whose long and varied career as a musician, producer, and engineer have seen him work with artists such as R.E.M., the California State Symphony, Andy Rourke of The Smiths, and the late Dolores O’Riordan.

Mohawk is a dark, bass-driven song, led by Brady and rapper Lisa Doyle-Taaffe and featuring guest guitarist Dissenter Melody, drummer Damien Fox, and bassist Ely Siegel, about the commercialization of punk - “nowadays, anyone can have a Mohawk,” Brady sings.

RikShaw, ‘Moonlight’

RikShaw has released the new song ‘Moonlight’ on SoundCloud. It follows the release of the North Dublin rapper’s 2025 singles ‘Can We Roll Back’ and ‘Garden of Eden’.

“The last few years I have really lost a lot of motivation to upload yet I still can't fight that urge that brings me back to writing music all the time,” said RikShaw in a statement accompanying the song’s release. “I've made a lot of songs in the last 2-3 years which I have never released due to the whole lot of noise it takes to get some ears on your songs these days. The whole press thing is draining. I just want to release music again and stop caring about who listens. I owe it to myself to have my art out there in some way.

“So I'm releasing all of my songs weekly on Soundcloud from here on, starting with Moonlight. A Kaytranada & Mac Miller esque inspired track about falling short and being left behind with nothing but the moon guiding you through the cold nights.”

KEELEY, ‘Trains and Daydreams’ feat. Sice

KEELEY has released ‘Trains and Daydreams’, featuring Sice of The Boo Radleys, ahead of her upcoming album Girl On The Edge Of The World. The song is about someone setting out via train to “boldly go where none of [their] friends have gone before”, and wondering at the world they can see out the window.

The song, as with with all of KEELEY’s previous work, is centered around and inspired by the life of Inga Maria Hauser, an young German backpacker who was murdered in Northern Ireland in 1988.

“Inga is so much more than a case – she’s a cause,” said KEELEY in a 2023 interview. “It’s my mission in life to do this, to pursue this. The art is something she inspires the creation of, all the songs are a vehicle for her voice.”

Dermot Kennedy, ‘Refuge’

Dermot Kennedy has released the new single ‘Refuge’, the second single from his upcoming third album The Weight of the Woods, following last month’s ‘Funeral’. The song is backed by acoustic guitar, and features fellow Irish musicians Colm Mac Con Iomaire on the violin and Muireann Ní Shé on the uilleann pipes.

Lyrically, the song explores vulnerability and strength, and their intersection. Say I’m invincible, it’s all a lie ‘cause darling I’m shaking tonight, chasing a dream, but I’m tired,” sings Kennedy in the song. “If we never make it, at least we can say we died trying.”

“I like the ‘died trying’ lyric, because it reminds me of 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” said Kennedy of the song. “On stage, I’ll feel supremely confident…Nobody can shake me. I think the people who are close to me will view me as solid and strong, but it’s not always the case. Gabe” - collaborator Gabe Simon - “brought the vulnerability out of me. Instead of asking what I wanted to write about, he took my notebook and started reading it. All of my feelings were on display.”

Callum Wall, ‘That’s How It Goes’

Callum Wall has released the new single ‘That’s How it Goes’, from his new album Dazz Catt. The release of the album comes after Wall’s 2021 debut EP Livin’ in Limbo. Since then, Wall has toured both as a solo act and as part of the Irish folk duo Heron Red, as well as as a bassist and backup vocalist for the band Adore.

Dazz Catt is Wall’s latest project, and takes the form of both an album and a film.

'I don't want to put Dazz Catt into a box. It is a Film, it is a Mixtape, it is an art piece, and it's a world I've created. Dazz Catt is a collection of all my best, most creative, and most personal work over the past four years, compiled into 45 minutes of media. I just want you to take what you like from it, there's going to be at least a little bit of something for everyone in Dazz Catt'.

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