New Irish Songs To Hear This Week

Conor Miley, 'Raise Your Glass'

Wexford-based songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer Conor Miley returns with ‘Raise Your Red Flag’, a new single and accompanying live studio video.

The release marks Miley’s first new material since his acclaimed debut album Thousand Yard Stare and signals a shift toward a more direct, energetic sound.

Written to be performed and recorded live with a band, ‘Raise Your Red Flag’ departs from the painstaking, layered approach that defined much of Miley’s earlier work.

Alongside its forthcoming sister track ‘Peepshow’, the song addresses political polarisation and the emergence of extremist and conspiratorial voices within the mainstream, interrogating how empathy and common sense can be sacrificed beneath rigid political affiliation.

“Departing from the painstaking way I usually arrange songs, I wrote ‘Raise Your Red Flag’ to be performed and recorded live with a band. Recording and filming the performance was a deliberate choice — to document the raw, human power of musicians playing together and to preserve the emotional connection at the heart of live music," said Miley.

Essiray, 'Make It Happen'

Irish singer-songwriter ESSIRAY has released her new single 'Make It Happen'.

On the new single, the former opera singer-turned-electronic-pop performer demonstrates her rare talent as she continues to build momentum.

The Dublin-born, Paris-residing ESSIRAY is undoubtedly a unique talent. Her sound blends classic pop songwriting with underground influences of UKG, jungle, and drum and bass, with live instrumentation and the technical capabilities and emotional depth of a classically trained vocalist.

Drawing inspiration from FKA twigs, Confidence Man, Catching Cairo, PinkPantheress, and Paradis, ESSIRAY’s energetic and emotive live shows have taken her to stages at top Irish festivals, including Electric Picnic, Forbidden Fruit and Beyond the Pale, and seen her perform in support slots for Moonchild Sanelly, Miya Folick and GoldFish.

With new single Make It Happen, ESSIRAY explores a moment of personal realisation, pairing jungle-tinged rhythms with acoustic bass and layered harmonies. Her emotionally driven lyrics centre on having the self-belief to make things happen for yourself.

Shamrock Showband, 'My Wee Car'

Shamrock Showband have released ‘My Wee Car’, a silly tune that’ll remind you to be grateful for your automobile, should you be lucky enough to own one.

The short-and-sweet track features clever, sing-songy lyrics: “My wee car is a good wee car / The diesel dream up the Newtownards road / To town and back up tar-macadam / My wee car.” The song continues in a similar fashion, with a dash of foolish energy despite its leisurely midtempo feel.

The single features vocals and guitar from Conor McAuley, Jamie Muckno on bass, and Ultan Lavery with the organ. Joel Harkin’s use of pedal steel gives the track a country tinge.

‘My Wee Car’ is the first single from Shamrock Showband's upcoming sophomore album, Shankill Road Mission. It was recorded at Swimming Pig Studios in Belfast.

The Co. Monaghan band have an upcoming gig at The Empire in Belfast on Friday, April 3. Per their Instagram, dancing is both “encouraged” and “mandatory”.

Nerves, 'N26'

Nerves are back with 'N26', an anxiety-fueled banger that's sure to get the blood pumping.

The noisy, roiling track has all of the band's trademark intensity, seeing their lyrics hone in on the “slow erosion of rural Irish towns”, per a press release. The Dublin four-piece, who originated from Co. Mayo, aren't afraid to interrogate their rural roots, and 'N26' sees them at their most pointed and direct yet.

The subject matter of the new single brings to mind Hot Press's 2025 interview with Nerves, which addressed the band's strong sense of Irish identity.

Nerves are Kyle Thornton (vocals, guitar), Ryan Mortell (bass, backing vocals), Eoin Keigher (guitar), and Adam Nealon (drums).

The band will headline Dublin’s Workman’s Club on Saturday, June 6. Tickets are on sale now.

Christian Wethered, 'I Won't Speak'

Dublin / Granada-based songwriter Christian Wethered announces the release of his new single, 'I Won’t Speak'.

The track is the first glimpse into his forthcoming album, From The Balustrade.

'I Won’t Speak' explores trauma and its quiet aftershocks. The track feels blustery and exposed: faint sea sounds drift underneath, while drums and electric guitar build towards a storm, somewhere between catharsis and chaos.

At the centre is Wethered’s voice and acoustic guitar, surrounded by contributions from Cillian Byrne (Basciville) on electric guitar/keys, Caimin Gilmore (Ye Vagabonds, Lisa Hannigan) on double bass, Dyl Lynch (Soda Blonde) on drums, and Fiona Lucia on backing vocals.

“The song is partly about how the sea can sometimes express trauma better than words,” Wethered says.

“The sea is meditative and restorative, but it can also be wild and terrifying. I wanted to capture both its terror and its release. The musicians wrote their parts from scratch, and Ber Quinn’s production brought the whole thing to life.”

Whozyerman?, 'Miles Away'

'Miles Aways' marks Whozyerman?'s (Paul Savage) first new music in four years, following his 2022 debut album Blink.

The song is about nostalgically reminiscing about the boredom of teenage years and the days spent mindlessly in the summer time. It's an indie rock number, featuring rich percussion arrangements, exciting guitar riffs, and a driving bass line.

Evoking strong flavours of Radiohead's The Bends era, the single features an incredible sound variety, alongside unique hints of edge to it.

Whozyerman? is one of the most "enthrallingly original artists on the Irish scene", further expanding his horizons as an indie rock and psychedelic bedroom-pop artist.

Helen O'Shea, 'If U Ever' feat. James Maddock [Sinéad O’Connor cover]

'If U Ever' is a single from Helen O'Shea's upcoming album Songs In The Key Of O, out May 1.

Featuring James Maddock, the single is a rendition of the song by the late Sinéad O’Connor. O'Shea's cover highlights her signature 'AmeriCeltiCana' style, combining classic Americana inspirations with a Celtic twist.

Drawing inspiration from Nashville artists, such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and John Prine, the single centres around O'Connor's troubled relationship with her mother. Delivered by O'Shea and Maddock, the cover is a warm, unique, and soulful take on the classic song by the music icon.

Luka Palm, ‘N’ Dat’ feat. Kojaque

Luka Palm reunites with Kojaque on the new powerful tune ‘N’ Dat’, a gorgeously effective tune where hard-hitting production meets the smooth, almost dreamy bars of Palm and Kojaque’s vigorous vocals, as well as deliciously catchy, tongue-in-cheek lyrics marking an impressive for the rapper, who puts out is first single since 2024 ‘Stop It’.

 

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KNEECAP, ‘Fenian’

Everyone’s favourite Belfast trio KNEECAP is back with the title track from their much-anticipated upcoming album, ‘Fenian’, a hard-hitting rap tune complete with bouncy production and the lads' classic bilingual lyricism, as riotous as it is catchy. It marks an enticing look into the upcoming record, due out on May 1, which was described as KNEECAP “sharpening their sound and expanding their vision, delivering a record that is darker, more confrontational, and more assured.”

U2, ‘Song For Hal’

U2 today release their new standalone EP U2 - Easter Lily, coming as a second, separate, self-contained collection of new music to be shared with fans ahead of their forthcoming album. It includes the glistening opener ‘Song For Hal’ a COVID-19 lockdown lament, with The Edge on lead vocals, written for the band’s friend, the music-maker, Hal Willner, who would have turned 70 on Easter Monday and passed away almost 6 years ago to the day.

Cashell, 'Take It Easy'

'Take It Easy' from Cashell's debut EP Raised Hands Planted Feet, is a unique folk and indie-rock track, exploring themes of change, understanding, and acceptance of passing time.

The multi instrumentalist, currently living in Edinburgh, began his career as the lead singer and songwriter for Dublin's Brass Phantomas, also having previously written songs for Champions League adverts.

Pulling from different genres, Cashel experiments with multiple music structures and sounds. Excitingly versatile throughout, 'Take It Easy' explores themes of missing home while living abroad, getting older, and "all the pieces in between," said Cashnell.

Robert Grace, 'Somebody Else'

Pop artist Robert Grace continues to touch people with his gentle lyricism and powerful choruses.

Written with Scott Harris, who has previously co-written with the likes of Dermot Kennedy and Niall Horan, 'Somebody Else' is a guitar-driven, heartfelt anthemic piece, centring on vulnerability and self-doubt.

Asking why "love slips away just as you start to give it everything," 'Somebody Else' explores themes of self-discovery through heartbreak.
The release comes before Grace's UK and Ireland tour, coming to Dublin, Kilkenny, and Cork in June.

John Brown, ‘The Dark Passenger’

John Brown's 'The Dark Passenger' marks a new direction for the artist, moving from his Folk and Roots style into a more alternative and rock sound. The song offers a calm, reflective meditation on chaotic humanity. The deliberate, monotonous momentum and the tranquil beat prioritise the songwriting, allowing the complex lyrics, such as "A prisoner of consciousness who must always be denied," to truly shine.

The track deliberately avoids complex soundscapes, instead focusing on the clean, vintage, and well-executed basics of musicality. This blend of styles evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, sounding like a fusion of a more sombre R.E.M. or Pixies, built upon the backbone of a Springsteen or Billy Bragg song, resulting in a sound that feels straight out of the '90s. The song is now available on Bandcamp.

Novatone, ‘Golden Letters’

Novatone’s new single ‘Golden Letters’ is a feel-good long walk on the beach trapped within a song. The song by the acoustic duo Ann Marie Walsh and Marck McCrorry, is reminiscent of an upbeat Cocteau Twins meets ‘Summertime’ by The Sundays, with a hint of Cranberries. This song could perfectly fit a summer bike ride or a ride up the clouds. The calming and upbeat 2000s indie/pop song is a lifter of spirits.

“At the Killarney lakes, we wrote our names in the sand - the golden letters of the title," said the band. "The song is about the feeling of being carefree and relaxed and trying to hold onto that holiday feeling when you return home to daily life.”

See the band performing at Whelan's on April 17 and April 26.

Becky McNeice, ‘Nothing at All’

Becky McNeice's latest release, the EP Popular Loner 2, showcases a refreshing new sound emerging from the Irish music scene, characterised by a dynamic fusion of hyperpop, indie, and electro/teenpop.

A standout track on the EP is ‘Nothing at All,’ which offers a moment of striking vulnerability. The song features a slower, more meditative tempo than the rest of the collection. While McNeice's general sound often recalls PinkPantheress, the lyricism here is more personal and "diary-entry" in style, reminiscent of softer tracks by Avril Lavigne.

On this song, the dominant hyperpop and indiepop elements of the EP recede, allowing McNeice's voice, reflections, and lyrics to take precedence. This creates a welcome and much-needed moment of breath and pause within the album's overall soundscape.

Fans can catch Becky McNeice performing live for her headline show at Whelan's on June 18.

Decoy Octopus, ‘Demo One’

Decoy Octopus is the new junglist alias for Aran Sheehy, under which he channels the emotional nostalgia of PlayStation 1 era spaces into atmospheric jungle music, drawing elements from hyperpop and dream core. His new EP Demo One, explores a new side of Sheehy's abilities in this unique jungle music sound. 

His music, particularly 'Main Menu,' feels like stepping into a VR game. Initially, the sped-up, hyper-electro sound is present, but then it slows down into a more calming, meditative piece.

VJ Jackson, ‘Shakara’ feat. Sello

Self-taught musician VJ Jackson has released his newest single ‘Shakara’, featuring Dublin artists Sello. Sello aims to establish a new sound native to Ireland called “GaelicDrill”, fusing traditional Irish culture with the modern drill/hip-hop sound.

Jackson also blends several influences in his music, such as afrobeat grooves, rock grit, pop, emo and hip-hop, creating a sound that is both global and authentic.

‘Shakara’ showcases these artists' skill in blending several influences, beginning with a rock guitar riff, then shifting to rap-sang vocals and an afro-rhythm.

With its smooth production and effortless melodies, ‘Shakara’ explores the dynamic of attraction to a woman who knows her worth and isn’t afraid to show it.

Fun Protestants, ‘Mainline Melter’

With the release of their new album WKD Infused Blood, Belfast duo Fun Protestants have once again crashed through the electronic scene with tracks such as ‘Mainline Melter’.

With a bewitching energy, ‘Mainline Melter’ sends the techno-punk band into playful chaos, perfect for a night out.

Grateful for our patience, their debut album WKD Infused Blood, is out now!

and he, the fool, ‘Little Women’

Dublin collective and he, the fool have returned with ‘Little Women’, an upbeat 80s-style disco-pop track, that brings the brightside to the pain of relationships.

“Little Women was born out of a ranting voice note recorded by Kate under her bed covers after finally putting some pen to paper about a toxic relationship she had just left,” said the band.

“The word toxic is so cliche in this day and age but I spent a summer feeling poisoned, weak
and very, very small. So with that concept of useful damage in my head - what good is a rotten experience if I can’t do anything with it? I set out to take all of that pain and vitriol and
misogyny and turn it into a banger me and my friends could dance to.”

Using humour to outshine any unfortunate circumstances, the tune comes through as joyfully relatable.

With funky guitar that’ll please any fan of the 1975’s Being Funny In A Foreign Language, the track could soon be your new favourite!

Dermot Kennedy, ‘Turnstile’

The poet of Rathcoole, otherwise known as Dermot Kennedy, has released 'Turnstile', letting any of his harboured emotions free. As he reflects on the demise of a relationship he believed would last forever, his voice shakes with overwhelming desperation, going through all five stages of grief.

The track comes as part of his new album, The Weight Of The Woods, released today, along with 13 other new songs sure to tug at your heartstrings.

Goth Fight Cage, ‘Girlfriend’s Girlfriend’

DIY songbird Goth Fight Cage, the solo project of Belfast’s Mark Halloway, has returned with ‘Girlfriend’s Girlfriend’.

Perfect for fans of jazz/lounge rock and Arctic Monkeys, the seductive new track takes us through the puzzling journey of complex relationships.

“Lyrically the song tells this outlandish, charming scumbag sort of tale, about fancying your girlfriend's best mate,” says Halloway. “And she's got a fella too, who I'm slagging off a bit, but she's sound because she's got your back when your own girl is giving you a hard time.”

The song is a modern day ‘Jesse’s Girl’ no doubt, and we’re here for it!

Listen to our playlist: