New Irish Songs To Hear This Week

Seán Julian, 'Púca'

'Púca' is the debut solo single from North Dublin musician Seán Julian. Written casually on a bass while sitting at home, the bassline sparked something that felt entirely his own.

The track is named after the shape-shifting figure from Irish folklore and centres on memory -  how past experiences resurface, influence behaviour, and ultimately shape our identity. Whilst a primary songwriter in the 5-piece Irish rock band San Rocco, Púca represents a creative milestone for Julian, as it's the first song he has written and performed lyrically under his own name.

Sonically, the track draws from 80s shoegaze and 90s alternative rock, pairing reverb-heavy and melodic guitars with an atmospheric, mid-tempo build.

With Púca, Seán Julian announces himself with a clear artistic direction: textured, introspective alternative rock rooted in mood, melody, and narrative.

Luke Power, 'What's Going On In My Mind'

Luke Power has released his new track, 'What's Going On In My Mind'. Formally known as Badscandal, Power now steps out under his own name for the track that is his most personal to date.

With 'What's Going On In My Mind', Power pivots towards a more personal sonic identity – blending indie songwriting with an 80s-inspired aesthetic. Analogue textures, melancholic synth palettes, and restrained but emotive vocal delivery define this chapter. For the first time, he is not only the architect behind this record but also the voice at its centre. The track explores introspection, overthinking, and the emotional static of modern life.

"I spent so long writing for the other people and singing on tracks but never having my own voice on my own track that I actually loved," said Power.

"I just wanted to put the songs out there; whether they do good or not doesn't matter. It's about loving the songs and giving the people something to connect to."

UWM, 'over'

Dublin producer UWM (formerly known as Uwmami) is back with an electronic track that will charm and confound. Her new single 'Over' has a bespoke techno sound that gives listeners a glimpse into the future, or maybe a window into a time before language.

'Over' is a living organism: it squeaks, grinds, burbles, and hisses. UWM (real name Grainne Dowling) plays with tempo, pitch, and noise to create a pleasant cacophony of a track.

There are metallic pops, bubbling synths, tinny beeps, and even laser sounds. The beat drops with a mechanical clatter. Bumps and crashes abound. Subtle vocals occasionally break through the din. By the time ‘over’ reaches its muffled conclusion, you won’t know what you’ve heard, and you’ll want to immediately take another listen.

UWM recently teamed up with Selu to create electronic soul duo Marguise, and we're looking forward to hearing more of their collaboration.

Leah Rose, 'Problem'

Leah Rose has released 'Problem', an atmospheric dream-pop track with an addictive warped sound. Edward O'Mahony is credited as producer and co-writer.

Rose's vocals evoke the indie-pop heroines of the mid-2010s, like an alto AURORA or a whispery BANKS. Her sonic palette is as dark as the situation she's singing about washing her hands of. The hooky guitar line that pops up post-chorus is a major highlight of the track, adding intrigue and mystery to already enticing instrumentals.

The song's lyrics are thoughtful and oblique: "Ornamental ally, seductive tribute / Hands that work in shadows altering the mood." Though Rose comes to the conclusion that "it's not my problem", it would be easy to listen to her wax poetic about her problems all day.

HAVVK, 'Bad Look'

Alt-rock band HAVVK have released 'Bad Look', from their upcoming fourth album, Time Will Kill, out June 19. The song unpacks how people tend to romanticise simpler times in life, where responsibilities and consequences were just "distant background noise".

'Bad Look' is a bold introspective track, accompanied by resonating electric guitars that nicely soar through the chorus.

"We all inevitably paint these memories in potential and poignance, and I think there’s a beauty in trying to rekindle that sense of youth and opportunity, even briefly," said the lead singer, Julie Havvk.

Joining their distinctive gritty grunge sound with Havvk's piercing vocals, the song is about, unrealistically, comparing your current life to memories and asking, "What can you let go of in order to regain some of that sense of freedom again?"

Dervish, ‘Blue is the Eye’ featuring Sarah Jarosz

Dervish have announced their new album of covers, titled The Great Irish Songbook Vol. 2: Poets & Storytellers. Their cover of Ye Vagabonds’ ‘Blue is the Eye’, featuring Sarah Jarosz, is out now.

While the original version of ‘Blue is the Eye’ (from Ye Vagabonds’ 2022 album Nine Waves) skews melancholy, Dervish have transposed the song into a major key. The result is a lilting, light tune that’s easy on the ears.

Dervish have been together for over 35 years, and you can hear their expert collaboration front and centre on ‘Blue is the Eye’. Four-time Grammy winner Jarosz (I’m With Her) lends her clear Americana vocals to the track with grace.

The Great Irish Songbook Vol. 2: Poets & Storytellers will feature eleven covers of contemporary Irish folk tracks. The album will release on Friday, May 29, via Down the Road Records/Exceleration Music.

Kevin Walsh, 'Seize The Moment'

Kevin Walsh blends theatrical storytelling with classic rock. Many can know him from RTÉ’s interview series The Assembly, where he’s performed multiple times.

'Seize The Moment' is a strong rock anthem, inspired by the intensity of a night "where love and possibility collide," said Walsh. His powerful tenor, accompanied by pounding drums and sharp electric guitars truly shines through in this song. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Meat Loaf, The Killers, and Hozier, the singer explores different melodies and chord progressions in a way that just feels right.

Kevin said that 'Seize The Moment' was inspired by his college experience "of nights out when love and lust all collide into a giant cocktail of emotion".

Chalk, ‘Longer’

With the release of their debut album Crystalpunk, Chalk have brought us post-punk hits such as ‘Longer’, further expanding their signature soundscape. The Belfast band teeters between Depeche Mode and Death Grips, with hints of 2020s-era techno-pop bringing a new balance to the production.

“It’s maybe our most unadulterated and unfiltered rock song,” says guitarist Ben Goddard.

The sheer ache of ‘Longer’ creates such a powerful image on its own, emphasise the storytelling abilities of Chalk - though thankfully, they’ve additionally teased us with an accompanying music video trailer!

Simply put, Crystalpunk is really good - the real debate is... which track is your favourite?

Harry Fennell, ‘Mad’

The songbird of Galway city’s streets, also known as Harry Fennell, has delivered his newest single ‘Mad’, a narrative love spell for those who like to ruminate on fantasy.

Yearning comes to you almost as a purgatory, the punishment for feeling, but not a bad place to be when you’ve got Fennell’s music stylings soundtracking the contemplative state.

“Following some chaos and a few beers, this song fell out of me and my best friend - a dangerously effective place for the two of us songwriting-wise," says Fennell. "But we were able to make fun of it all.”

‘Mad’ is just a taste of what’s to come, with plans for an EP to arrive later this year. Our heartstrings can’t wait!

Carrie Baxter, ‘St John (Be Good To Me)

Waterford neo-soul singer Carrie Baxter has released the single ‘St John (Be Good To Me)’ from her now-released album Seven.

‘St John (Be Good To Me)’ is a laid-back track with a relaxed mid-tempo groove, which lets Baxter’s warm, beautiful, smooth vocals shine.

The track is deeply introspective, exploring the lasting impact the Catholic Church had on the artist.

“The idea for this song came after I went to Christmas Mass a couple of years ago,” said Baxter. “I guess I was there seeking forgiveness, for a lot of things I felt I had done wrong in the six months prior.

“Around that time, a lot in my life fell apart, or at least the structure I had known did, and I didn’t handle it very well. So I turned to God.

“It was less about religion and more about reaching for something greater, trying to make sense of it all.”

Wynona Bleach, ‘Religion’

Belfast alt-rock quartet Wynona Bleach have released the single ‘Religion’ ahead of the drop of their upcoming sophomore album Animal Style, which is set to be released on May 29.

‘Religion’ is a guitar-driven track that merges grungy guitar riffs, fuzz-drenched guitars, punchy drums and biting vocals with pop-funk melodies.

“The track is about seeing someone you find so attractive, the dirty thoughts make you wanna find god,” said the band. “It’s less a love song, and more a ‘lust' song. It’s about when you meet someone that makes you feel like you’d do anything, even if it was to lie to your true self.

“It also calls out fake people, fake society, organised religion and how everything made out to be ‘cool’ is usually just a con.”

Dose, ‘Chump Change’

Dublin-based four piece Dose have released their breathless new single ‘Chump Change’, marking their first release of 2026. Mixing hazy guitars, atmospheric vocals and pulsating bass lines, the band blurs the line between dream pop, shoegaze and pop punk in a tune that feels as reflective as it is ardent, while also experimenting with layered production and unique vocal styles.

The Scratch, ‘Ringsend’ feat. Susan O’Neill

Hailing off of The Scratch’s highly anticipated new album Pull Like A Dog, ‘Ringsend’, released in collaboration with the magnificent Susan O’Neill, takes a deliciously intense folky turn with the adaptation of a poem by Oliver St. John Gogarty. Featuring powerful drone notes and slow-building, breathless instrumentals, the track offers a perfect blend of O'Neill's and O'Leary’s bone-shaking vocals, which is as compelling as it is transporting.

Basciville, ‘Love In The Time Of The State’

Wexford folk duo Basciville today release their long-awaited second album Love In The Time Of The State, including its delicate title track. Built on gentle guitar arpeggios and velvety-smooth vocals, the track captures modern existential ennui with elegant finesse, building in cinematic intensity and slight heart wrenching quality over the course of its 4-minutes run.

Ultras, ‘Count Your Days’

Dublin-based five-piece indie rock band Ultras have released their new single ‘Count Your Days’.

Punchy and guitar-driven, ‘Count Your Days’ is about stepping into adulthood without losing yourself. It follows someone who is on the edge of “big moves big choices”, but with a voice in the back of their mind warning them not to sell themselves.

The track pushes against pressure and comparison, arguing that there is a way to live where you can balance ambition, legacy, and staying rounded without rushing and losing yourself.

Maverick Sabre, ‘8 Stages’

Maverick Sabre’s ‘8 stages’ relays his grief, finding him in moments of contemplation, resulting in a soulful r&b track that cuts to your core. We see the soft side of Sabre, no need for facade, as he expresses thoughts it seems he’s been sitting on for a while.

His power of verse is truly touching, and how lucky are we to get new music so soon after his latest album Burn The Right Things was released only last year. This is the tenderness we need right now!

donny., ‘hatefulspeech.’

The truth is, sometimes artists create purely for themselves. But thankfully, we’re lucky enough to also be able to tune in, even on the more personal tracks such as ‘hatefulspeech’. Coming off of the recent album releases from Kevin Abstract and Dijon, Galway-based producer donny. plays off a similar distorted, experimental prose and production.

"There’s something about the contrast of futuristic production with real drums," says donny. "It sounds like it was fast and easy to make, but it actually took us a full year to get the balance right."

With ‘hatefulspeech’ he manages to get a decent amount of frustration out, airing his grievances on the ups and downs of artistry. But he’s now said this track will mark the end of his ‘angry era’, so whichever emotional journey he embarks on next, we’ll be keen to listen.

Mute The TV, ‘27 Years Young’

Easing into their sound, with hints of Squeeze and a whole lot of optimism, Mute The TV speak to those of us looking for sunny day tunes, perfect for the commute or days spent near the sea.

In complete contrast to their last single ‘Depression Session’, the Greystones-based group stand out when you’re looking for a pick-me-up. We’re so thrilled to hear they’ve got even more in store for later this year.

Kojaque, ‘Antihistamine’

Kojaque is back to make a few things clear. ‘Antihistamine’ calls out the hypocrisy of prejudice and greed, with the track playing out as a record of the world’s current state.

From an ongoing genocide, to rampant xenophobia to the widening wealth gap, the Dublin rapper expresses the frustration felt by many of us on a daily basis.

This is his first track in two years, with a stunning music video to go along with it and we’re all very excited to see what this new era will bring.

Dave Sullivan, 'The Last Time'

Waterford-based pop-rock artist Dave Sullivan has released 'The Last Time'. The song explores the feelings of beginning again and trying to make a relationship work despite life not working in your favour.

It’s a hopeful up-beat track that joins a clean sounding guitar with Sullivan’s strong and confident vocals. Inspired by the likes of the Foo Fighters, The Killers, and Kings of Leon, 'The Last Time' offers a pleasant journey through the feelings of hope and desire.

Really Good Time, ‘Bob Dylan Was on Pawnstars in 2010’

Really Good Time have released ‘Bob Dylan Was on Pawnstars in 2010’. Really Good Time were one of Hot Press’ Ones to Watch 2026, and this latest release follows their 2025 single ‘Shit One’.

‘Bob Dylan Was on Pawnstars in 2010’ is carried by drums, shouted lyrics, and static-y, dissonant guitars that drive home the dissonance that is at the core of the song’s meaning.

“The seed for ‘Bob Dylan Was on Pawnstars in 2010’ was planted on a bus home, after seeing A Complete Unknown at the beginning of last year,” said lead singer Diolmhain Ingram Roche. “While draining the internet for pointless information about and around the film, I discovered Bob Dylan had appeared on Pawn Stars in 2010.

“I found this shocking, like an affront to a truth that, while difficult to pin down, I had up until this point felt that I understood about the world. For a moment I was fifteen years old and Bob Dylan was supposed to be mine, and I was never going to live in that world again.”

Ivan Nicolas, ‘Train On Fire’

Ivan Nicolas has released ‘Train On Fire’. The song follows his 2025 releases, ‘Voodoo Love’ and ‘Train on Fire’. All three songs have come after a six year hiatus from the artist, and precede his upcoming self-titled debut album. The album was set to be released last October, but has been pushed back.

‘Train On Fire’ features electric guitar, steady drums, and piano, and feels like an 80s rock song. The song was designed with high-flying energy in mind.

“It’s the soundtrack to a good night out… right before the wheels come off,” said Nicolas.

Madams Last Discovery, ‘Out of Fashion’

Madams Last Discovery have released ‘Out Of Fashion’, one of four songs on the Belfast band’s debut EP, The World’s End. Two of the songs, ‘Orange Juice’ and ‘The Message’ were released in advance of the EP.

Though the title of the EP, The World’s End, was originally inspired by the Edgar Wright comedy of the same name, but as it came together, the title came to reflect something of the state of the world.

"From far-right extremism, the threat of AI to the creative industry, and continued conflicts of all kinds in our own city, I feel the EP is fifteen minutes of us retaliating and voicing our own feelings towards these issues."

‘Out Of Fashion’ is propelled by a steady rock groove on the drums, with powerful electric guitars and echoing vocals on the choruses, and, lyrically, explores some of the themes of the EP as a whole.

"In ‘Out of Fashion,’ 'I'm pulling out my hair, with this TV glare, showing me you're accusing the wrong man of stealing your welfare' - we highlight the constant divide-and-conquer methods being pulled by people in power."

Jordan Adetunji, ‘Who Is It’

Jordan Adetunji has released the new single ‘Who Is It’. The song is his fourth this year, following ‘History’, ‘In Between’, and ‘Climbing Up’. These releases follow his 2025 album, A Jaguar’s Dream.

‘Who Is It’ features a low, electronic bass over ethereal ambient effects, with Kehlani singing and riffing in a style that feels somewhat reminiscent of The Weeknd, who Adetunji has cited as an influence in the past.

Adetunji was one of Hot Press’s Ones To Watch in 2019, and first came to prominence in 2024 when his single ‘KEHLANI’ blew up on TikTok. Soon, he had recorded a remix of ‘KEHLANI’ featuring Kehlani herself, and the song was nominated for a Grammy. The artist can now count people from Travis Scott to former US President Barack Obama among his fans.

RÓGAN, ‘2002’

RÓGAN has released ‘2002’. The song follows his 2024 album Rock Bottom, and is his first release in almost two years.

’2002’ represents somewhat of a departure from RÓGAN’s previous rap background. It is a slow, nostalgic song that features warm, electronic chords and a pared back electronic drum kick through the song, with RÓGAN singing slowly over top. Lyrically the song is about reminiscing about things you can never get back to.

“Wish we could go back, wishing to,” RÓGAN sings. “For you it would then be 2002”.

Fun Protestants, ‘God save my toaster’

Fun Protestants have released ‘God save my toaster’, ahead of their upcoming debut album, WKD Infused Blood. The Northern Irish band are known for combining experimental sounds with political commentary.

‘God save my toaster’ is driven by a pulsing beat and something that sounds like a cowbell, with angry satirical lyrics half sung, half spoken over top, from the perspective of someone who hates art (and, for that matter, most other things).

Fun Protestants will play the Imagine Belfast Festival in support of the debut album on March 28.

Alpine Skies, ‘A Long Way’

Dublin alternative-rock duo Alpine Skies have unveiled their new single, ‘A Long Way’, the lead single from their forthcoming debut album, Inspired Conflicts.

This release is a nostalgic throwback to 90s alternative rock, and new wave reminiscent of bands like Alice in Chains or Duran Duran. This moody track blends atmospheric guitar and a poignant lyrism give it a cinematic quality.

Elina Filice, ‘These Days’

Elina Filice's 'These Days' is an indie singer-songwriter/pop-rock hybrid, reminiscent of artists like Soccer Mommy or Tacocat, that captures the emotional strain of a long-distance relationship. Driven by a steadfast rhythm and infectious, memorable melodies, the song powerfully conveys both hope and deep yearning.

As Filice explains, "In a long distance relationship, the future is all you have. So the song is about the necessity of believing the future will be better." It contrasts the loneliness and pain of the present with the necessity of faith, focusing on clinging to small, cherished moments to endure the separation, all while fighting the constant sense of running out of time.

Áine Duffy, ‘Know It All’

Áine Duffy, a powerhouse singer-songwriter and electric guitarist, silences the critics with her track "Rock n’ Roll St. Brigid."

This song is a vibrant genre-blend, fusing the raw energy of 70s rock—reminiscent of artists like Joan Jett and Blondie, with Latin-style world beats, complete with Spanish-inspired interludes.

Walshy, ‘worth it’

The new Walshy track 'worth it' is a reflective piece that foregrounds technical elements, blending soft indie singer-songwriter or bedroom pop with technical elements like electronic guitar, reminiscent of artists such as Phoebe Bridgers or Alex G.

Listen to our playlist: