New Irish Songs To Hear This Week

Gurriers, ‘Party Lines’

Coming ahead of Gurriers’ upcoming album Nobody’s Coming To Save You, ‘Party Lines’ is a furiously rousing tune, written as frontman Hoff was watching the war in Sudan escalate.

“There was so much killing that they could see the blood from satellite pictures and that really fucked me up a bit,” he explained. “It’s about the hypocrisy of governments that will help certain countries whilst arming other countries that will kill people in the same place, which I think is insane.”

Built around breathless guitars and dance-punk soundscapes, the track combines rousing vocals with a ruthless rhythmic section – certain to build the excitement even further for the new record.

Chalk, ‘Get Fucked’

Following the release of their brilliant album Crystpunk, Chalk are back with the ferocious new single ‘Get Fucked’, created in collaboration with Irish producer Kettama, is a heavy, head-spinning, and insanely danceable tune, offering their signature brand of punk sensibilities and 90’s rave.

“We met Kettama (Evan) last year at our London show at Village Underground and ended up being big fans of each other’s work.,” the band say. “‘Get F*cked’ was going to be on our album but we didn’t work it out in time and so it sat for a while until we worked on it with Evan who gave it a new lease of life from the demo to the track.”

Maverick Sabre, ‘Eleven’

Maverick Sabre explores memory and desire on his sultry new single ‘Eleven’. With laid-back groove and smooth melodies, making for the perfect backdrop to the musician’s honey-rich vocal performance, the track is a perfectly sensual while exploring the difficulties of trying to pull away from someone despite unresolved feelings.

MOIO, ‘remember my name’

MOIO continues his string of brilliant 2026 releases with the delicately powerful ‘remember my name’, leaning into rock and pop textures thanks to its hypnotising guitar riffs and rousing rhythmic section, without compromising on the glistening quality of the musician’s vocals. Dark yet gorgeously catchy, the track is certain to be a summer favorite in our playlists.

David Keenan, ‘World of Refuge’

David Keenan continues to push social issues in the lyrically potent, musically addictive and powerful new single ‘World of Refuge’, where he explores the rise of racism and xenophobia in recent years, through addictive melodies and bouncy trad flavours.

“This is an anti-racism song that pays tribute to music,” says Keenan. “A welcoming and caregiving force of nature that keeps me open minded & free from the clutches of hate”

Rían, ‘Divide Of Ten’ feat. Charlene

Emerging Dublin singer-songwriter Rían releases his deeply moving new single, ‘Divide of Ten’, featuring ‘80s icon Charlene. Blending folk and pop influences with poignant storytelling, the track reflects on grief, distance and the bonds that can both fracture and endure in the wake of tragedy.

“This song has sat with me for so long that it has become a part of me,” said Rían. “I wrote it about a family 'divided' by the loss of their mother and the pain they felt in one another. To have Charlene on this track was simply bliss."

Scullion, ‘Face In A Cloud’

Following last month’s release of their John Prine cover ‘I Remembering Everything’, Scullion return with the new single, ‘Face in a Cloud’, both coming ahead of their upcoming September 2026 record Home In The Sky. A delicately built tune build on gentle acoustic guitars and otherworldly vocals, making for an absolute velvety dream that would accompany slow mornings and gentle summer nights alike.

Teague & Joyce, ‘The Last Hotel’

Hailing from Teague & Joyce’s brand new album Lost on the Wander, ‘The Last Hotel’ is a deliciously Americana-flavoured folk tune, filled with classic country soundscapes, charmingly catchy melodies, and the perfect bland of summery acoustic guitars and pretty fiddles, highlighted by a silky smooth vocal performance which transports you right into the Great American Plains.

GARAGE, ‘Human Jukebox (Last of a Breed)’

GARAGE, aka Ohio-born artist Charlie Travis, pay homage to bar-bands and Willy Vlautin’s novel The Horse on the new track ‘Human Jukebox (Last of a Breed)’, hailing from the upcoming album RESISTANCE!. Blending dreamy production and glistening guitars with gorgeous ‘90s flavour, this tune celebrates resilience and new beginnings alike.

Tender Claws, 'Twinge'

Alt-grunge artist Tender Claws has shared her new single 'Twinge' - a powerful and emotionally charged gut-punch that offers a glimpse into her debut EP. The single combines a fuzz-soaked bassline, relentless drums, and a wall of guitars to generate a palpable sense of urgency, offset by shimmering synth flourishes and atmospheric depth. The vocal delivery is instantly catchy and accessible while remaining true to its alternative-rock core.

"I wanted to write an upbeat, in-your-face song to, ironically, have some fun while processing the feelings stemming from a relationship that I had really hoped would develop into something more, ending quite abruptly," she said on the single.

"It left me quite devastated at the time. Despite things not going the way I wanted, I felt some freedom from being 'released' from a connection that was making me feel anxious and small in a way."

Haunted Images, 'Sleepless'

'Sleepless' explores the twilight moments of the mind, when prolonged sleep deprivation causes the boundaries between dreams and reality to dissolve. Through cascading guitars, intense rhythm, and a dreamy soundscape, the song reflects the disorientation, anxiety, and surreal clarity that can emerge in the depths of insomnia. Haunted Images' David wrote the lyrics and vocal melody over three years ago to an industrial electronica demo he made. While at the time he decided not to release the song, he held onto the lyrics, waiting for the right music to come along, and it certainly did with 'Sleepless'.

Snow Patrol & Kylie Minogue, 'These Alarms'

Written by Snow Patrol with Minogue specifically in mind, the track is a yearning, bittersweet anthem driven by urgent, pulsating synths. At its core is the striking contrast of frontman Gary Lightbody and Kylie's entwined voices, building toward an epic, sweeping chorus.

"As a huge Kylie fan, I originally wrote 'These Alarms' with her in mind," said Lightbody.

"I played it to Johnny and Nathan, and they loved it, and we decided to record it for our album Forest Is The Path. All the way through the recording process, the song was simply called KYLIE."

John of the Apocalypse, 'Twisted Bird'

Informed by the hypnotic weight of Swans, feral poetics of Nick Cave and the wonky melodies of Slint, John of the Apocalypse's sound straddles industrial post-rock, spoken word, grunge and psychedelic prog, especially in new single 'Twisted Bird'. Their debut album Anima Mundi was crafted from two years of mining immersive patterns, circling liminal grooves and ideas, until shapes started to form. The resulting songs were recorded by Rian Trench in the Meadow Studios.

"It's fairly obvious we might be nearing end times, and there are dystopian themes in the album," said main songwriter Patrick Hallinan.

"But I think the more important threads hint at the sacred, the remaining spaces of light, no matter how immense the dark."

Patrick Dowling, 'Out Of Our Control'

South East singer-songwriter Patrick Dowling is back with his new single, 'Out Of Our Control'. The track is a shift away from his heartfelt ballads and a move towards more contemporary pop, with a sprinkling of hip-hop and R&B.

"Growing up, I listened to all sorts of music, from rebel ballads to pop, but one genre that has always had a huge place in my heart is R&B," said Dowling.

"The flow and beat of R&B sit so comfortably within the lyrics, and I have really enjoyed trying to bring some of that sound into my own music."

Declan O'Rourke, 'Echo'

At the age of 13, when living in Australia with his family, O'Rourke was given his first guitar by a priest in Kyabram who recognised his love for music, hence the title of his debut album Since Kyabram.

From there, he has released seven albums, and with new single 'Echo', gives Oceanic the potential to be his best work yet.

"The simple message of 'Echo' is that what you send out into the world is what comes back to you," said O'Rourke on the release.

"Jim and I wrote it fairly fast. But it became such a fun kind of beefy rocker as we recorded. I love how dynamic and robust it turned out to be."

KhakiKid, ‘Easy Does It’ feat. Chameleon

‘Easy Does it’ is the latest release from Dublin rapper KhakiKid. The track is accompanied by the release of a new music video.

KhakiKid addresses initiatory themes like drugs, relationships and coming of age.

The track opens with a poppy electric guitar riff before driving his hats and a syncopated snare drum provide the track with energy and vibrancy.

“It’s been my favourite tune to perform for 2 years now,” Khaki Kid said in an Instagram post announcing the track “Delighted ye all will finally get to listen.”

Lucy Robinson, ‘Let Down’

Alt-pop singer-songwriter Lucy Robinson returns with her first new music of 2026, ‘Let Down.’

Co-written with producer and drummer Matt Weir, the track is a soulful, groove-driven pop track.

A groovy bass line propels a track that comprises sundrenched vocals, blocky piano chords and a driving drum beat.

"Being a 'let down' sounds very freeing in this pressure-cooker society," Robinson explains. "As an independent artist, it can feel like a lot falls on your shoulders. I'm actively going against hustle culture and allowing myself time to pause so that I can create a sustainable music career. Hustle does not equal sustainable. You can be ambitious and also feel like doing nothing."

Shimmer Boy, ‘How Did I Lose You’

Irish indie artist Shimmer Boy (Aaron O'Sullivan) today releases his debut album In The Aftermath, We Bloom on 1 July 2026, alongside lead single ‘How Did I Lose You’.

The song reflects on a bittersweet experience of looking back on a past relationship while finding the strength to move forward.

An acoustic guitar, textured synths and anthemic drums leave room for Shimmer Boy’s indie rock baritone-tenor to fill out the otherwise stripped back arrangement.

Speaking about his new album, Shimmer Boy said,”There was never a masterplan behind it. I just kept writing songs, and somewhere along the way they started to tell a bigger story than I realised."

 

Frowning Hours, ‘The Orchard’

Frowning Hours is the indie folk-rock project of Irish singer-songwriter and actor Ger Kelly. Kelly began releasing music under the project in 2024.

‘The Orchard's’ orchestration is paired back. A youthful guitar riff is anchored by an understated drum beat, as Gavin Kelly’s earnest vocals take centre stage in the track.

‘The Orchard’ seems to change its meaning for me every now and again,” says Ger Kelly. “Ultimately, I think it’s a song about the resuscitation of a sense of community that seems to be lost these days. It’s a call for compassion and understanding. It’s very strange to me how, in the golden age of communication, there’s so much isolation. I guess I’m just trying to say, ‘Hello in there,’ like John Prine advised.”

Jamie Duffy, 'Rising (Acoustic Version)'

Jamie Duffy has released a new version of his single, 'Rising', trading the track's original expansive textures for a warm, organic, folk-driven arrangement that leans heavily into Duffy's traditional roots. Listeners can hear the original melody re-energised by the earthy tones of banjo, acoustic guitar, driving percussion, and soaring, traditional fiddle lines working in tandem with this signature tin whistle-style.

"Rising is one of those pieces from my album that reflects my idea of Ireland and all of the beautiful parts of this country," said Duffy.

"Rising was written whilst on my Irish tour when I got to see so many new places and wonderful people. and that is the well from which the piece comes."

Malaki, ‘A-Men’ 

Malaki uses ‘A-MEN’ to deliver something that feels more like a message than a performance, turning the track into a reflection on faith, family and survival. There’s a sense of vulnerability running through it, with the Dublin rapper balancing self-possession and introspection in a way that gives the song a real emotional pull.

That weight deepens in the closing stretch, when the track shifts into a more confessional register before circling back to the chorus one final time. The repetition of “Amen” lands less like a hook than a form of release, giving the song a sense of hard-won resolve. 

Spooklet, ‘Cardinal Fury’ 

Dublin experimental electronic artist Spooklet's new single 'Cardinal Fury' feels less like a conventional single than a plunge into a fractured inner world. Built from glitchy textures, asymmetrical percussion and ghostly vocal manipulations, 'the track leans into the darker edges of post-club music without losing its emotional pull. 

There’s a cinematic quality to the production, with Spooklet's voice shifting between intimacy and distortion as the song unfolds in uneasy, immersive waves. As an introduction to her forthcoming project, it sets out a bold and unsettling sonic landscape. 

Paddy Mulcahy, ‘All Your Opinions’ 

There’s an ominous pull to ‘All Your Opinions’, as Paddy Mulcahy builds tension from a small palette of analogue synth textures and lets it gather weight by degrees. The track unfolds with a quiet sense of unease, its pulsing electronics and wavering tones creating the feeling of something slowly taking shape just out of reach.

That creeping momentum makes the ending all the more effective. As the piece reaches its peak, Mulcahy lets it fall away into a chilling silence, cutting the track off before it can fully resolve. Recorded on a 1977 Yamaha CS10 synthesiser, ‘All Your Opinions’ also marks a notable shift from his more familiar piano-led work, pointing instead towards the rawer, more experimental world of his upcoming album.

Absolute Lilt, ‘Dreaming in Lilt’

On ‘Dreaming In Lilt’, Absolute Lilt continue to bring one of Ireland’s oldest vocal traditions into a strikingly modern setting. The latest preview of Lisa Canny and Niamh Hinchy’s forthcoming EP is built around lilting, close harmonies and a slow, hypnotic pulse, with the duo steering the track into hazy electronic territory.

There is a softness to the song, but also a quiet assurance in the way it lets texture and atmosphere take the lead. Fusing Irish tradition with an R&B-leaning electronic backdrop, ‘Dreaming In Lilt’ lands as one of Absolute Lilt’s most immersive releases yet.

Kerry Fearon, ‘Handyman’ 

Kerry Fearon brings a warm, unhurried charm to ‘Handyman’, a track that leans into classic country storytelling without sounding overly polished or nostalgic. Framed by gentle pedal steel and a steady rootsy groove, the song gives Fearon plenty of room to settle into the narrative, with her vocal carrying a lived-in ease that suits the material well.

‘Handyman’ points towards the richer Americana and roots influences Fearon has been exploring in recent years. It’s a confident, understated release, favouring warmth, melody and craft over unnecessary flash.

 

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