New Irish Songs To Hear This Week

Niall Horan, 'Dinner Party'

In preparation for his fourth studio album, Dinner Party, out on June 5, Niall Horan has released the first single off the album, ‘Dinner Party’.

Dinner Party is the first solo project from the former One Direction member since his 2023 album, The Show. Since then, he has collaborated with a number of artists on singles, most recently with Myles Smith on the song ‘Drive Safe’

"This song is about a really happy and big moment in my life,” said Horan in a social media post announcing the song. "An evening at a simple dinner party that changed the course of my life. After writing the song, the words 'dinner party' became the nucleus for the rest of the record. that once-in-a-lifetime moment that I am grateful for and for everything that came after that night."

Ellie O’Neill, ‘Seabird’ from new album

Ellie O’Neill today offers her debut record Time of Fallow, including the moving closer ‘Seabird’. Lined with complex and intoxicating arpeggios, the track layers almost dissonant and frantic strings with beautifully compelling and delicate vocals, without losing any of its melodic flair.

Recorded mostly over 10 days during the pandemic, the album allowed O’Neill to go through a grieving process she hadn't faced yet, concluding that the new piece “wasn’t about that person, but it was about me and the wider world. It was a portal for me to learn through.”

Joshua Burnside, ‘With You’ from new album

Hailing off Joshua Burnside’s new album It’s Not Going To Be Okay, ‘With You’, a stunning folk track, slowly building in intensity and instrumentation, and layered with rich trad elements and glistening harmonised vocals, making it as poignant as it is compelling.

Speaking of the record, Burnside explained : “I wrote and recorded this album after the death of my best friend Dean Jendoubi. He was an incredible person, and I miss him every day. He drifted unawares into the deepest sleep and died of a drug overdose on August 17th last year.

“Grief has always been a big part of my music; it’s the reason I started writing songs when I was 13. And so, as I did all those years ago, I reach for the guitar, try a few chords and sing a few words and for a brief moment I feel like it’s going to be okay.”

Florence Road, ‘Rabbits Can Swim’

Taken from Florence Road’s upcoming EP Spring Forward, out March 27, ‘Rabbits Can Swim’, a cinematic and sweeping ballad of longing, blending raw emotion with powerful indie-pop melodies, the track jumpstarts a busy year for the band, who will soon open for The Last Dinner party on select North American dates.

Barnburner, ‘Hound’ from new EP

Barnburner have released their debut 5-track EP Nothing To Hold, including the chillingly powerful opener ‘Hound’. Mesmerisingly atmospheric and built on intricate guitar arrangements and inventive melodies, the track offers a enticing first look into the cinematic first offering from the band.

Speaking about the EP, the duo explain, “The five-track EP, is a culmination of everything we've made so far. There are songs that feel more Irish folk adjacent, and then there's stuff that leans more pop/country. So it has a lot of variety, though it's small. I think it's our best work. Looking back on the project, a lot of the songs circle around the idea of transience.

“That’s particularly strong in our song 'Hills'. There's this feeling in the song of something being over, I think it is lamenting that perhaps this amazing time away has ended. The EP title comes from a line in that song: “a long drive home, your shoulder on mine, nothing to hold.”

Harry Hudson Taylor, 'Hiding From Nature'

Singer-songwriter Harry Hudson Taylor, formerly of folk-pop duo Hudson Taylor, has released his new single, 'Hiding from Nature'.

The track sees Hudson Taylor step into his own sound, categorised as being built on indie rock urgency, folk-rooted storytelling, and instinctive pop melody.

Built around the mythology of the Green Man, the ancient Celtic figure of death and rebirth whose leaf-woven face appears carved into churches and forests across Ireland and Europe, the track channels that imagery without being consumed by it.

The Green Man is not decoration here. He is a way of saying: your true nature is always looking back at you, even when you have buried it under years of performance.

Sister Ghost, 'Embers'

Grunge-pop artist Sister Ghost is back with her new single 'Embers', the second track from her upcoming EP Oracle, out April 17.

'Embers' is an exploration of the saying "right person, wrong timing", where the necessity of growth eclipses the comfort of the past.

Over the years, Sister Ghost has grown into one of Ireland's most vital and fearless rock voices, sharing stages with the likes of Snow Patrol, Fontaines DC, Pussy Riot and more.

Oracle stands as a powerful testament to the strength found in truth and the fire of starting over; it’s a visceral exploration of clarity and renewal—a sonic realisation that the view is always better when you leave "the wasteland" behind.

Having played in bands since the age of 12, O’Neill launched Sister Ghost, writing and recording everything herself on an old 8-track recorder. A spectral fusion of art-rock and dark power-pop, Sister Ghost is for fans of the 90s alt-rock sound and other fearless female voices such as Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Alanis Morrissette & Liz Phair.

Danzino, ‘FARGONE’

Dublin rapper Danzino is back with a new track whose high BPM and gleeful energy are infectious. On ‘FARGONE’, he plays with Afro-house beats and fun lyricism to create something fresh and deeply danceable.

Danzino’s got audible charisma—when he calls himself “smooth like Jackie Chan”, we believe him. Every line is rapped with a wink and a palpable zest for life. Playful percussion and clinking synths add to the track's springy effect.

For fans of Kaytranada, Danzino is one to watch.

Papa Boyle, ‘Blood Orange Skies’

Retro indie artist Papa Boyle has released ‘Blood Orange Skies’, a satisfyingly strum-filled single with plenty of reverb to go around.

The Dublin crooner’s new tune is steeped in nostalgia for a byegone time, both in its vintage guitar sound and its wistful lyrics: ‘Those were the days, dancing away, running from those blood orange skies.’ Boyle’s voice is warm and charming, suited for fans of Angel Olsen and Father John Misty. A percussive tempo pickup partway through the song mimics the warped acceleration of memory.

“Sometimes we take life too seriously,” Boyle said of 'Blood Orange Skies'. “There’s a part of us that could learn a thing or two from those memories — a bit of divilment or messing around might be exactly what makes a good time.”

The single was recorded between Stonybatter and Newry. Joel Harkin and Carl Small mastered and mixed the track, respectively. It’ll appear on Boyle’s debut EP, premiering at Dublin’s Button Factory on Saturday, May 23.

Video Blue, ‘Exhibition Wine’

Video Blue returns with ‘Exhibition Wine’, a spoken-word odyssey with a searing beat and glinting instrumentals.

The project of Dundalk native Jim O’Donoghue Martin, Video Blue is known for an eclectic combination of spoken vocals over bespoke electronica and guitar.

‘Exhibition Wine’ is no different. The five-and-a-half-minute song takes listeners on an intuitive and winding journey, covering wide swaths of lyrical ground. Think ‘Velcro catalogues of salmon shirts’, ‘gumption eruption’, ‘xylophone’. There’s no telling what O’Donoghue Martin will say next, and that’s half the fun.

“‘Exhibition Wine’ is a chronological word-association game with myself, charting the years from when I first picked up a guitar to now,” said O’Donoghue Martin in a statement.

It’s a delight to listen to him float from idea to idea throughout the track. How he gets from ‘olive toast’ and ‘processed meats’ to ‘ski lift’ and ‘yellow stars’, it’s hard to say, but it’s certainly entertaining. Light metallic percussion and warbly, ambient synths make it an extra catchy listen.

The song will appear on Video Blue’s upcoming fourth LP, to be announced soon.

Mick Flannery, 'Rising Tide'

Fresh from his double album announcement, Mick Flannery has released the first track, 'Rising Tide'.

'Rising Tide' is a delicate duet ballad featuring Anaïs Mitchell. Mick has long admired Anaïs's work, and this will mark their second collaboration, following on from his 2020 song ‘Minnesota’.

Speaking of the collaboration, Mick said, “I have sincere gratitude to Anaïs for her continued support and, in this case, for lending her beautiful voice to this recording.” The feeling is mutual, with Anaïs saying of the song and collaboration, “Mick is among my favourite writers on earth so I jumped at the chance to sing this stunner with him and also to support his journey from songwriter to theatre artist, a journey which is close to my heart!”

The newly announced double record, The House Must Win, is a collection of 20 songs that, through Flannery’s signature storytelling lyrics, build out a world where tension becomes part of the landscape. As the story unfolds in its ebbs and flows, it ultimately carries the listener toward a shoreline of deeply human stories of love, regret, pride, and longing.

The Guzzlers, ‘20 Pints To Cherbourg'

Irish brother duo, The Guzzlers, perfectly captured the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day with the release of their debut single, the lively trad pub song ‘20 Pints To Cherbourg.’ The song, reminiscent of The Pogues, is an upbeat, cheeky shanty that encapsulates Irish traditional music, making it the ideal pub hymn.

"We wrote the song after getting fired from a ferry gig for drinking too many pints," the Guzzlers said. "It’s a love letter to bad decisions, late night sessions and the kind of stories your mam doesn’t need to know about. Some bands write heartbreak songs, we wrote one about drinking 20 pints. It’s all related to love" 

Pádraig Cooney & Bedtime Now, 'I'll Never Disappoint You Again'

Pádraig Cooney & Bedtime Now are a quartet made up of vocalist Pádraig Cooney, alongside Ross Hamer on bass, Danny Carroll on guitar, and Dónal Walsh on drums.

'I'll Never Disappoint You Again' from their upcoming LP Wet Work, features Dan Fitzpatrick (Badhands) on piano, offering an electric two-minute rush of joy.

With rhythmic guitar strumming and Cooney’s unique playful vocals, the song is a classic take on indie rock, nicely completed with bright catchy harmonies.

The Riptide Movement, '800 Years'

Between playing the main stage at huge festivals like Electric Picnic and Glastonbury, and touring the US and Europe, The Riptide Movement have come a long way since their beginnings as buskers on Grafton street.

'800 Years' is a reflection on history, memory, and the "enduring echoes of the past in the present," said the band.
Recorded at Orphan Recording Studios and produced by Irish producer Gavin Glass, '800 Years' reveals a cinematic side of the group.

The eight-minute track unfolds gradually from a reflective opening into a powerful, chant-like chorus delivered by the band's vocalist Malachy Tuohy.

Combining fearless Irish storytelling with atmospheric and emotionally resonant arrangements, '800 Years' marks The Riptide Movement's second release of the year in celebration of their 20th anniversary.

Bad Mothers Union, 'Jerusalem Jones'

Psych/Kraut rock band Bad Mother's Union return with their stunning new track, 'Jerusalem Jones', from their new album, Sore Losers.

The opener to the album, 'Jerusalem Jones', quickly establishes the mood. The band aren’t here to make radio-friendly unit shifters or interested in bending to some algorithmic idea of what music should be.

The song builds organically as if unfolding before us for the first time. Bass and drums lock in from the start as a hypnotic bassline keeps the track tethered to earth, while drums give the track its drive; subtle changes in rhythm push parts forward and dictate the flow of energy.

Music like this is designed to give you space to think, to let your mind wander and conjure up images that accompany the spiralling music. Reminiscent of bands like Earthless or Sleep, there’s a vastness to ‘Jerusalem Jones’ that just isn’t achievable in 4 minutes with a verse, chorus, verse structure.

KhakiKid, ‘Soul’

Irish alternative rapper and singer KhakiKid, born Abdu Huss, released his track ‘Soul’ ahead of the release of his EP Girl Bites Dog, which is due to drop on April 17.

Following the release of ‘Moved On’ and ‘Favela’, ‘Soul’ is the third track of the Irish-Libyan rapper’s upcoming EP to have been released.

‘Soul’ was produced by Louis Stanley Isaacs and features backing vocals from Ballymun-collective Bricknasty.

The single blends soulful instrumentation with alt-rap infusion, with its kick drum and melancholic piano, which contrasts with KhakiKid’s laid-back spoken-word delivery.

The upbeat track reflects on the words left unsaid after an argument, revealing a more vulnerable side to the rapper.

“It’s the conversation you have with yourself a week after the argument, in retrospect,” said KhakiKid.

FYA FOX, ‘Oversized Denim Jacket’

Alt-pop artist FYA FOX has released her new single ‘Oversized Denim Jacket’.

The track is her second release of the year, following the release of ‘Sweet Goodbye’, which she released after her 3-year hiatus, following the birth of her daughter, and her motor accident.

The bass-rich, drum-driven song, with the singer’s soft, ethereal vocals, explores the warmth and comfort found in relationships.

“I was inspired by that feeling of coming home and putting on your partner’s jumper, or in this case, their oversized denim jacket and feeling a sense of calm, like a big hug with a familiar scent.”

ActionRec, ‘Say Yeah’

Just in time for summer, (which I’ve been told is set to arrive soon enough), ActionRec have brought us ‘Say Yeah’ a beachy-rock track perfect for sunny days to come. Loose and laid back, the tune provides semblances to Summer Salt, riding on a wave of optimism and relaxed mentality.

With gliding guitar solos and acoustic drum melodies, the band has provided the perfect follow up to their last single ‘Skat’, which arrived last month.

Therapy Horse, ‘Sister To None’

The follow up to their first singles 'LET ME BE CLEAR' and 'LOVE/MERCY' last year, Therapy Horse have come back with yet another spellbinding track.

Dark and drum-heavy, the tune is just as intimidating as it is addicting. The grainy production, calls out to you, with whispers, screams and harrowing laughter dragging you in further.

"SISTER TO NONE came about as a product of our process of jamming and refining music," says vocalist Emily Dollery.

"We have quite a collaborative approach to songwriting- like most of our songs, the glut of my lyrics came from a stream-of-consciousness approach during a jam in 2024. Though the bones of the song were there from our very first gig, it really took shape through gigging, as we continued to refine its structure and dynamics. I think it’s our most bitter song and, personally, one I find quite demanding to perform.”

The band have played off a wave of supporting their fellow up-and-coming hardcore bands, such as Galway's own Puck, who you can hear semblances of in the distant calling vocals. Here's hoping this track is part of a lengthier future project!

Therapy Horse.

GNS, ‘NO LOV3’ feat. HYMN

On 'NO LOV3'. GNS becomes a master of sound. Straight of his recently released 5-track EP NOT3BOOK, GNS and HYMN, tune into every ounce of tenderness available, striking a cord with any victim of cupid's arrow.

'NO LOV3' comes from a place of feeling under-appreciated and "unloved", delving into notions of inadequacy.

GNS has said that NOT3BOOK reads essentially as a voice memo, allowing him to remain authentic. The full RnB EP is out now!

Frendan, ‘Backstory’

Verse is no sweat for Frendan, with each line on 'Backstory' seeming to appear out of thin air. His effortless style, combined with charming wit and masterful production, continuously earns him a spot on our favourite new Irish songs list.

'Backstory' is earnest and full of humour (if you're okay with self-deprecation of course), kicking back into a familiar conversational style, with hip-hop influence. With Frendan, listening feels like having a vulnerable chat with a close friend!

The artist recently collaborated with Æ Mak on her latest release, 'Folk Songs For Mama & Papa', and is clearly on a creative streak! Thankfully, he's additionally gifted us with an accompanying music video.

Dave Lofts, 'Holy'

'Holy' is a heartfelt track, reflecting on themes of love, doubt and self-discovery. This classic guitar-driven ballad compliments Loft’s strong raspy vocals, adding sharpness to its emotional resonance.

Reminiscent of sounds resembling young Van Morrison and the best of 2000s Paolo Nutini, the Wicklow-born artist often touches on subjects of mental health in his storytelling.

In 2025, Lofts supported Wolf Alice and The Wolfe Tones, making his breakthrough in Ireland and abroad. Elsewhere, he recently performed at the Oscar Wilde Awards in Los Angeles, alongside Dermot Kennedy and Florence Road.

Mirrorglass, ‘Wasted Time’

Following the release of their debut album, Handle With Care, whose release was postponed due to the breakup of the original line-up of the band, Irish rock band Mirrorglass have released their new single ‘Wasted Time’.

Raised on punk, metal, and classic rock, Mirrorglass’ new track is a powerful, gritty guitar-driven track filled with raw energy, electrifying riffs, and raspy vocals.

“The song captures a moment in time. It was the first words I put to paper in the aftermath of the breakup,” said frontman Joshua Bowles. “It was reflective of the past, but I’m a stubborn person. Not once during that whole time did I think ‘this might be the end of Mirrorglass’. I knew it was the end of something but I also knew, as long as I kept writing, Mirrorglass would still exist.”

The Ocelots, ‘The Switch’

Following their album Everything, When Said Slowly, and their 3-month tour in Australia, folk duo The Ocelots have released their five-track new EP, Revisions. The EP, now available on all platforms, but it was originally released in late 2025 via a private link from their Newsletter.

The Ocelots comprises Wexford-born, Leipzig-based twin brothers, Ashley and Brandon Watson, who, during the recording of the EP, decided to experiment with layered flute harmonies, intimate vocals, richer, bolder piano and drum sounds.

This experimentation is clear in the track ‘The Switch’, which is a soft, upbeat guitar-driven track with ethereal backing vocals and breathy, intimate vocals.

Curtisy & owin, ‘Sonny’

Rapper Curtisy and producer owin have released ‘Sonny’, as part of their new album GET A LIFE!, which is out today. The song opens with the Tallaght rapper over a warm, washed out brass section, then, midway through the song, cuts to big, broad synthesisers and drums.

The release follows the duo’s recent singles, ‘My Friends’, ‘Knotted’, and ‘The Instigator’, and comes after Curtisy’s 2025 album, BEAUTY IN THE BEAST, which was ranked #15 in Hot Press’ Hip Hop Albums & Mixtapes of 2025.

Speaking of his collaboration with producer owin, Curtisy said: “Every time I get in there I can’t help but be inspired to take a new direction. This guy believes in me and he pushes me.”

Rua Rí, ‘Johnny Workman’

Rua Rí, the project of county Cork musician Seán Damery, has released the new single ‘Johnny Workman’.

The release follows Damery’s 2023 single ‘Wonderland’, and his 2021 debut EP, Shepherd’s Delight.

‘Johnny Workman’ was produced by Kean Kavanagh, who released his own “stellar” debut album last spring, and mastered by James Trevascus. The song was released with an accompanying music video directed by Nicole Delarge of Lighter Music and shot in Damery’s hometown of Cobh.

The song, written during a period of unemployment for Damery, stems from a childhood game: he would stand in front of the fireplace, saying “I’m Johnny Workman, looking for some work”, (a refrain that is repurposed in the song’s chorus), and mime jobs for his family to guess. He describes the finished song as “a book full of pictures being flicked through really fast – just flashes of memories, all out of order.”

Mary Black, ‘Light Of Day’

Mary Black has released a new single, ‘Light Of Day’, as part of her new album, Anthology.

‘Light Of Day’, is a previously unreleased song of Black’s, written by Shane Howard, who also wrote her songs ‘Flesh & Blood’ and ‘Don’t Say Okay’. The song, which deals with the effects of climate change, begins quietly, with just Black’s voice over piano, but builds slowly up to the climax of the song, which features guitar, drums, pipes, and the singer Róisín O on backup vocals.

Anthology is a compilation of Black’s work from her over 45 year career. The release comes as Black is set to embark on her Slán Tour this April. The tour, set to be Black’s last, is a celebration of her career, and features shows across Ireland (and one in the Netherlands). The tour is entirely sold out, but for one show at the National Stadium in May which was added due to demand.

Dermot Kennedy, ‘Honest’

Dermot Kennedy has released the new single, ‘Honest’, the third single to be released from his upcoming album The Weight Of The Woods, following January’s ‘Funeral’ and last month’s ’Refuge’. The song is built around a low, racing drumbeat, which, in the few times it cuts out, leaves just pared-back chords and Kennedy’s powerful voice to carry the song.

“I love this song so much,” Kennedy said in a social media post announcing the song. “I loved making it so much, and dream about playing it to you live.”

The Weight Of The Woods is set to be released early next month, and will be touring across the EU and UK over the next few months, including two performances at Dublin’s Aviva stadium in July. In advance of the album’s release, Kennedy was featured on the cover of Hot Press this month, and spoke about the album and his career in the issue.

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