New Irish Songs To Hear This Week

Dose, ‘Shelley’

Today, Dublin four-piece Dose return with their striking new single ‘Shelley’, coming ahead of their upcoming EP Sycophantic. Blending eerie atmospherics with driving grunge, ‘Shelley’ draws inspiration from Shelley Duval, cinematic horror, exploring themes of isolation and scrutiny, building from a simple riff into something expansive and unsettling.

Speaking about the origins of the song, the band explain: “Musically, ‘Shelley’ came together from a bass and guitar riff Lauren and Lizzie wrote before practice one day. Once we had the structure, we were stuck on a single lyric - ‘it was a shame that you left, never to perform again.’ That, paired with the eerie tone of the music, led us to Shelley Duvall and her experience around The Shining. There’s this widely believed narrative about her disappearing after that film, which isn’t actually true. The song reflects that - the loneliness of being watched, misunderstood, and the self-doubt that can grow from that kind of scrutiny.”

Crying Loser, ‘Dem Jobs’ from new album

Hailing from Cork no-wave band Crying Loser’s brand new album The Ick, ‘Dem Jobs’ is a breathless tune where gritty guitar chords meet silky bass lines and urgent percussions, with a whisper of frenzied saxophones. Relying on instrumentals only for almost half of the track, the ‘Dem Jobs’ is a gloriously noisy and hazy piece , blending post-punk with jazz leaning chaos, exploring the mundanity and painfulness of working under capitalism.

Basht., ‘Perfume’

Fast-rising Dublin rock quartet Basht. Release their foreboding new track ‘Perfume’, an introspective piece blending all intoxicating vocals and pitch-black subject matter, quietly gestating before erupting to make good on the threat of its looming atmospherics.

Vocalist and guitarist Jack Leavey comments on the new single: "Perfume is about the relationship between father and son from the perspective of the son as he recounts his parents' marriage falling apart.

“​​Ireland also has a darker history, shaped by the strong influence of the Catholic Church over private life, particularly in cases of unplanned pregnancy - where young couples were often pressured into marriage to preserve respectability and avoid shame. These unions were not always based on love or readiness, but on moral expectation and social control, with alternatives like single parenthood heavily stigmatised, especially for women.”

Johnny Depp & Imelda May, ‘Haunted’ [Shane MacGowan cover]

Coming ahead of the highly anticipated tribute album 20th Century Paddy - The Songs of Shane MacGowan, Johnny Depp and Imelda May’s version of ‘Haunted’ is a breathtaking interpretation of the tune. Powerful, ethereal, and unflinchingly honest, originally penned for the Sid and Nancy soundtrack, the 1995 duet featuring Sinéad O’Connor transformed a ballad into a hauntingly beautiful anthem of eternal devotion.

“It’s such an honour to pay tribute to my beloved friends Shane MacGowan and Sinéad
O’Connor,” May commented, “soon after losing both precious souls in such a short space of time by singing. Shane’s beautiful song ‘Haunted’ on this special album with my dear and incredibly talented friend Johnny Depp.

“We recorded this duet before we knew of this tribute album as we were (and often are) overcome by the absolute brilliance of Shane’s writing. He was a truly gifted poet, romantic treasure and literary genius who always wrote with such fine detail and purest truth that resonates deeply with every listen.”

McGrath, ‘Rotha’

Emerging Donegal musician McGrath, aka Mick Russell, releases his debut single, ‘Rotha’, a beautifully compelling track exploring the emotional aftermath of a relationship’s end, delivered with a blend of wit, storytelling, and honesty. Drawing inspiration from everything from drinking stout with his father to the cyclical nature of life—Rotha Mór an tSaoil (‘The Great Wheel of Life’)—his songwriting balances humour, melancholy, and poetic insight.

Speaking about the track, McGrath says: “Bottling the hurt from leaving a relationship and harnessing it for the better. Knowing you’re better off having left, but hopeful and without spite for the other person. Rotha means wheel. It keeps spinning.”

BK Pepper, ‘Brother Sister’

Irish composer and producer BK Pepper today unveils his highly anticipated second album Pagan, including its emotional core of a track 'Brother Sister’. Caturing the album’s exploration of connection, identity and belonging, the piece is built around a striking performance from Icelandic violinist Viktor Orri Árnason, and balanced fragility and tension, pairing exposed vocals with raw, expressive strings.

Pepper says of the track: “‘Brother’ Sister is about the bonds we are born into and the ones we choose. It explores the idea that family is not only blood, but shared experience, shared struggle and shared belief. Viktor Orri Árnason’s strings brought a raw and fragile honesty to the track, and I kept the vocal delivery very exposed to reflect that vulnerability. There is tension in it, but also deep loyalty. It feels like a conversation between closeness and distance, which is something many of us recognise in our own relationships.”

Oscar Blue, ‘Bones’

Clare indie-pop heavyweight Oscar Blue today releases his new album Birds in Winter, including the magnificently moving ‘Bones’. A soul-stirring folk track, with its swirling melodies, heart-wrenching lyrics and and carefully built cinematic instrumentals, ‘Bones’ offers a beautiful introduction into the new piece of work, complete with the honey-rich vocals of Blue.

Bleech 9:3, 'Underrated'

'Underrated' is a new electric single straight from Bleech 9:3's upcoming self-titled EP, out May 15.

The song is a brilliantly heavy, emotional alt-rock anthem, inspired by classic '90s and '00s flavours of that genre.

"Bad worship is a theme that runs through the EP. I felt driven to write about how it twists love into something else. How the twisting becomes the thing that you end up wanting," said Bleech 9:3's guitarist and vocalist Baz Quinlan.

Blending themes of love, desire, and addiction with their distinct sharp aesthetic, Bleach 9:3 continue to raise the bar for the Irish alt-grunge music scene.

Salamay, ‘YAH’

'YAH' by Nigerian-born, Cork-raised artist Salamay, is a bold Hip Hop track. Offering a fusion of sounds and vocal experimentations, the song is an extremely well-produced tune, blending elements of Soul, R&B, and Afrobeat.

Incredibly smooth and unapologetically confident, the track showcases Salamay's wide ranging sound. 'YAH' pays homage to East Coast Hip Hop with its energetic, 'braggadocious' feel and soulful bass played by London-based producer INTRSTLLR.

"'YAH' is the affirmation and response to what you already know is true," said Salamay. "Walk in your truth."

Wynona Bleach, 'Not Cool With It'

'Not Cool With It' is a bouncy indie-rock track by Belfast-based band Wynona Bleach.

Featuring on their upcoming album Animal Style, out May 29, the song is led by a punchy bass and sharp guitars, sympathetic to the group's alt-pop inspirations.

Made up of Melyssa Shannon (Vocals), Jonny Woods (Guitar, Vocals), Aaron Black (Guitar), and Matt Killen (Drums), the four-piece offer a sound that feels dynamic and confident in what it's trying to pursue.

The Swings, 'What's It Gonna Take'

'What's It Gonna Take' is a new single by the young up-and-coming four-piece The Swings.

Consisting of singer Leon Cullen McLoughlin, bassist Ben MCluskey, guitarist Kyle Doherty, and drummer Cian Quinlan, the group explores themes of coming of age and difficult life decisions that come with it.

"When I wrote 'What's It Gonna Take', I was going through a really strange time of my life," said Leon.

"I had just finished school and I was trying to decide whether to go down the college route, start a trade, or just go with the music. That moment of catching yourself questioning everything that you do is the whole idea of the song."

Mirroring an internal monologue, 'What's It Gonna Take' is an excitingly fresh track, driven by sharp guitar riffs and immersive vocal storytelling.

Darren Flynn, 'I AIN'T GONNA WORRY ABOUT IT'

Darren Flynn is an Americana-infused folk and country artist from Dublin. His new single 'I Ain't Gonna Worry About It' blends country blues fingerpicking with a conversational vocal style.

Enduringly playful and positive, the song delivers a simple yet clear message about learning to worry less in life. Produced by Anthony Gibney, this tune was written by Flynn when he got sick and had to give up "the relentless lifestyle" he had at the time.

"Whenever I start to get stressed out about things nowadays, I try to remember how I felt when I was writing it," he said.

Nice and bright, 'I Ain't Gonna Worry About It' is a brand new feel-good classic for the fans of folk and country.

Niall Horan, 'Little More Time'

'Little More Time' is a brand new offering from Niall Horan's forthcoming album Dinner Party. Dreamy and bright, the song resonates with home nostalgia.

Asking the world to "keep spinning without him", so he can have a little more time to do what he loves, Horan captured the feeling of not wanting the good moments to end so perfectly.

"I spend a lot of time away from home," he said.

"So having found roots and wanting to be at home more, I felt compelled to write a song about the smaller moments and wishing that you could just stay in them."

Accompanied by soft, heartwarming guitar riffs and punchy drums, 'Little More Time' offers a very pleasant journey through the moments that make life a little more meaningful.

Kaeyan & Forg.ie, 'Take Us In'

Kaeyan and Forg.ie have teamed up for 'Take Us In' - an authentic, best of Dublin creativity rap classic.

Blending a variety of samples in a way that's fresh and addictive, the track showcases the Dublin rappers' ability to mix flows and styles.

Embracing their bitter-sweet upbringing in the city, the duo takes pride in their distinctive sound that's marked with the struggles of daily life and hopes for a better future. Dynamic and bold, 'Take Us In' blends its sharp lyricism with incredibly smooth melodies that will have you hooked.

AE Mak, ‘Love Free’

Irish artist AE Mak, whose real name is Aoife McCann, has released a new single ‘Love Free’, from her upcoming debut album Folk Songs For Mama & Papa, due May 9 via Spacer Records.

‘Love Free’ is a luminous and slow-burning folk-pop track filled with spacious piano, choral harmonies and AE Mak’s beautiful, intimate, and melancholic vocals.

“‘Love Free’ is based in romantic relationship - if you can love me right, I will expand out into all that I am,” said AE Mak. “And I will move with all my being to give and be the same for you.

“But it’s about the wider heart consciousness and the reason why we are all here - to love and be loved and to walk the path we’ve chosen, been given, whatever you believe to be true, with inner trust.”

Driven Snow, ‘Slowly Gently’

Following the single ‘Knots’, husband and wife duo Driven Snow have released a new single ‘Slowly Gently’, from their upcoming album Mother of Christ, which is due this September.

‘Slowly Gently’ is an intimate and comforting track driven by Emily Aylmer’s smoothly swooping vocals, with balanced harmonies, fuzzing guitar lines and hypnotic metronomic drums.

The track is about healthy relationships and the quiet, unquestioning support partners offer each other during tough times. Kieran McGuinness and Aylmer both thought the track was about the other.

“I thought it was about Kieran supporting me, while he thought it was about me supporting him,” said Aylmer.

Def Nettle, ‘The Party’

Def Nettle have released a new single ‘The Party’. Fronted by musician, producer, and engineer Glen Brady, the band’s new single follows the track ‘Mohawk’, released in February.

‘The Party’ is a dynamic and kinetic track that begins with synths that transition into a blend of accordion melodies, with Ely Siegel’s fluid bass lines, and Damien Fox’s minimalistic but punchy drums.

The track also features jazzy guitar tones by guest guitarist Dissenter Melody and Lisa Doyle-Taaffe’s soft backing vocals, which give ‘The Party’ an atmospheric and whimsical feel.

Def Nettle also released a remix of the track by Glok, Andy Bell’s electronic project. Andy Bell is the guitarist of Ride and the bassist of Oasis.

Patrick Stefan, ‘Ever really know’

Patrick Stefan has announced his sophomore album IM, due this September. Alongside the announcement, the indie-folk artist shared the single ‘Ever really know’.

Showcasing Stefan’s intricate guitar work and atmospheric production, ‘Ever really know’ is a bouncy mid-tempo track with drum loops and guitar shards.

Stefan’s soft, breathy, and melancholic vocals shine in the track, gliding beautifully over the atmospheric soundscape.

“Born in a moment of lucidity of recognising tendencies that can feel like the world is conspiring against the way I want it to be, this song is a query and an attempt to wrestle back meaning & optimism,” said the Irish-Dutch singer-songwriter.

Stefan also released the track’s accompanying music video, which was shot in Dublin and directed and edited by Colette Goran.

Evelyn & Dec, ‘Some Comfort’

Singer-songwriter duo Evelyn & Dec have released their sophomore album Wait Up.

“We’ve grown together as songwriters and truly enjoyed exploring different ways of creating music,” they said. “This album reflects the depth of our musical backgrounds and the path we’ve taken together.

The heart of the record is the track ‘Some Comfort’. ‘Some Comfort’ is a comforting, intimate, slow-tempo track that beautifully blends the singers’ beautiful, hopeful and warm vocals with soft guitar touches, and minimalistic but punchy percussion.

"The focus single for this release is ‘Some Comfort’. The song touches on our tendency to hold on to the wrong things when the world feels uncertain, and the quiet search for real connection."

The duo comprises veteran guitar player of the Irish music scene Declan Sinnott and Curaçao-born Evelyn Kallansee.

SexyTadhg, ‘The Slag of Carlow Town’

Lucky for us, it seems like SexyTadhg never takes a break! Ahead of their forthcoming EP TADHG, the multi-genred artist has brought us a teaser with their new track ‘The Slag of Carlow Town.

The Carlow performer goes all out on this new single, with the joyous traditional music and whimsical fiddle, energetic lyricism as Gaeilge and an overall exploding display of passionate artistry.

“I wanted to blend images and themes of queer and pop culture with Irish culture in hopes that one day this inclusive image of Irish culture would feel tangible and less surreal,” they said.

Additionally, SexyTadhg will embark on their Slut Trad tour across Ireland and the UK this autumn. We can’t wait to hear the full EP!

Holly Munro, ‘Big Kids’

Dublin-based artist Holly Munro is set for an exciting year of new releases. Her new single ‘Big Kids’ was released today, and tells an all-to relatable story of what it feels like to live in a house share with your friends.

The track grapples with the complicated feelings of young adulthood, being wise in your own right but still not knowing exactly what will come next. Truthfully, we’re all just winging it!

The indie-folk tune steers away from her latest Gaeilge EP, Domsa, Duitse, Oscailte, released last year, and evokes similarities to alternative vocalist favourites such as Adrianne Lenker and Julia Jacklin.

‘Big Kids’ features voice notes from her former housemates and fellow musician pals, adding to the energy of nostalgia.

We’re looking forward to what the future holds for Holly, especially if that includes even more indie summer sounds!

SAL, ‘Rain’

A songstress of melancholy, SAL has returned with her newest tune, ‘Rain’, an acoustic confessional that plays as a cathartic release.

Her vulnerable, emotional writing doesn’t hold back in expressing frustrations, with track as a whole holding a therapeutic weight for SAL and listeners alike.

Recorded with Martin O’Malley at Malbay Studios in Miltown Malbay, County Clare, SAL has said that ‘Rain’ is for survivors, reminding anyone facing a dark period that “even the heaviest storms can pass”.

Goodtime John, ‘Heavy’

With the arrival of Goodtime John’s new album Good As Gold, ‘Heavy’ is one of the many glistening electronic tunes we’re thankful to take into the new season.

The track beams with a psychedelic glow, complimented by multi-instrumentalist Glenn Keating’s expert contributions. Keating unfortunately passed last month, though we’re lucky enough to witness as his artistry shines through throughout the album.

The lo-fi atmosphere, combined with John’s humming optimism, evokes similarities to Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s ‘Nadja’ and Beck’s Morning Phase. Good As Gold is definitely worth a full, thorough listen.

Action Rec, 'Feel The Groove'

ActionRec’s fourth single of the year, ‘Feel The Groove,’ is an upbeat pop track with a pronounced early 2000s influence. While adhering to a core pop structure, the song is enhanced by hip-hop and R&B elements, featuring groovy drums, guitar solos, and infectious earworm harmonies.

Video Blue,  'Rise'

'Rise,' from Jim O’Donoghue Martin’s project Video Blue, is a notable track that utilizes a spoken word poetry style. This is set against an unusually atmospheric soundscape that borders on white noise, creating a calming and relaxing effect that effectively draws attention to the lyricism.

Mark O’Donnell, 'Dawson Street'

'Dawson Street' is a powerful and emotionally raw track from the singer-songwriter, recalling the fragile intimacy found in the music of artists like Noah Kahan and Lewis Capaldi. The song pairs poignant lyricism with an intimate, stripped-back sound.

“'Dawson Street' is basically about love, but through the idea of losing someone," said O'Donnell. "It came from a really vivid dream I had, where everything just felt gone, and it left me with that kind of fear and confusion. Dawson Street is kind of the place where all those memories live—it’s nostalgic, but a bit fragile too.”

Brinda Irani, 'Summer Air'

Subverting expectations, Brinda Irani 's ‘Summer Air’ introduces an unexpected depth and darkness to what its title suggests would be a light and airy track. Beginning as a simple, lyrically profound song, it grows in complexity as intricate beats and piano arrangements build, injecting a sense of urgency and strength. Irani’s light, melodious vocals provide a perfect counterpoint to the song's gravity. Her theatrical and emotive performance resonates with the potent themes of loss, heartbreak, and obsession, making her vocals a standout element.

 

Listen to our playlist: