New Irish Songs To Hear This Week

Gurriers, ‘Nothing Happens Twice’

Hailing from Gurriers’ highly anticipated upcoming album Nobody’s Coming To Save You, new single ‘Nothing Happens Twice’ fuses existential lyricism with gloriously noisy soundscapes. Inspired by Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot and the Dead Internet Theory, the track offers a sharp look at the absurdity of modern live, lined with a healthy amount of dark humour and brilliant guitar riffs.

Dankenstoned's Bongster, ‘Rathcormac Begley Blues’ feat. Post Punk Podge

Cork band Dankenstoned's Bongster collaborate with Post Punk Podge on the glorious new single ‘Rathcormac Begley Blues’, bringing sludgy riffs and restless groove together in a powerfully rowdy tune. With deliciously messy yet perfectly controlled instrumentation and acerbic lyricism, the track is stoner rock at its finest, packing in complex production and powerful vocal delivery.

Trá Pháidín, ‘Garbhóg’

The latest taster from Trá Pháidín’s upcoming fourth album Cloch 's Claí, ‘Garbhóg’ is an addictive kosmische. Mixing jazz flavours with clear inspiration from Irish trad, the track’s production is deliciously busy with winds, percussions and complex vocal arrangements, making for an absolute magic-tinged earworm that is far too easy to get lost into.

Search Results, ‘Secret Bench In The Bardo’

The newest offering from Dublin alt-rockers Search Results, ‘Secret Bench In The Bard’ is a folk-tinged noise rock number that breaks the rules of every genre - to our greatest listening pleasure. With its 2-minutes run time, the track is straight forward but widely hard hitting, with carefully layered instrumentation and widely catchy melodies.

Jimbo Jones, 'Modern Day Business Man' feat. Curtisy

Dublin's own Jimbo Jones' Irish Arts Council-funded album features the track, 'Modern Day Business Man', a satirical take on modern-day commerce, drawing parallels between entrepreneurs and the criminal underground with rapper Curtisy.

Using outlandish studio tricks, wild instruments, and acid house, trip-hop, and dubstep beats, the track tricks your brain into feeling untethered from gravity.

The hard-hitting drums and tongue-in-cheek vocal delivery would convince the most ascetic monk to start trading on Wall Street.

Forg.ie ‘White Water’

Forg.ie has dropped the first single ‘White Water’ from his upcoming EP of the same name. The track uses the metaphor of white water rapids to explore sudden shifts in life. He centres themes of broken trust, changing relationships and personal chaos while bringing his characteristic raw, Irish energy.

‘White Water’ comes as a welcome addition to the emerging Dublin rapper’s catalogue, putting his homegrown perspective at the forefront of his music and paving the way for an exciting new EP.

“Like a river, the project constantly changes course, moving from calmer waters into moments of intensity and turbulence before settling again,” reads a press release for the EP. “The sequencing mirrors the emotional highs and lows of Forg.ie’s journey.”

Mechanical Wonders, ‘Fabric of Lines’

Dublin indie band Mechanical Wonders returns with ‘Fabric of Lines’, a track inspired by the birth of frontman Richie McGrath’s children. It comes as the third single from the five-piece outfit’s upcoming EP, blending driving rhythms, rich guitar textures and soaring melodies with emotionally resonant songwriting.

With a compelling voice, unique acoustics and catchy lyrics, ‘Fabric of Lines’ marks the newest evolution of Mechanical Wonders’ sound.

 “Looking into the eyes of his newborn children prompted Richie to reflect on the lives, experiences and the wisdom passed down by those who came before us, leading to the realisation that we’re all part of the same story,” according to a press release.

McGrath, ‘Home’

Irish songwriter McGrath (Mick Russell) has released a deeply personal new single ‘Home’ as a tribute to his hometown of Rathmullan, Donegal. It reflects on the people and place that shaped him, capturing the universal feeling of longing for home.

With gentle acoustics and a distinct, soothing voice, McGrath brings an emotionally resonant addition to his impressive catalogue.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child,” McGrath says, speaking about the song. “That sentiment is certainly applicable to my upbringing. I hope that this song comforts those who miss home. I also hope it manages to deliver as much gratitude as possible to my beautiful hometown and its people. My Rathmullan.”

Whozyerman?, ‘A Simple Sharp Act’

Alternative solo-artist Whozyerman? (aka Paul Savage) has released a new single to feature on his sophomore album Belly of the Beast.

Savage’s impressive storytelling takes centre stage on ‘A Simple Sharp Act’. With an upbeat, indie sound blended with Savage’s wistful voice, the track tells the fictional tale of a woman who murders her partner before heading to her local pub to sing karaoke.

“I wanted to write from different character perspectives – drawing inspiration from people I often see in my area, or from fleeting encounters that stayed with me,” Savage said of the record. “Creating these character sketches gave me parameters to explore lyrics, themes and moods, which in turn connected to my own personal experience of the area.”

FYA FOX, 'Hometown'

A poignant reflection on loss, community and the familiar faces that quietly shape our lives is the best way to describe FYA FOX's new single.

Blending her signature heartfelt songwriting with warm, lo-fi, indie-pop and folk influences, 'Hometown' captures both the comfort of belonging and the bittersweet reality of change with soft instruments and vintage fuzz, feeling comforting and nostalgic.

"Most of the EP was scratch ideas/melodies I wrote at home, and that inspired the tracks to be less synthetic; I wanted real instruments to be present," she said on her new album Bittersweet. 

The Kyd G, ‘Treesha’

Fresh off the heels of his second mixtape GEEZY, Dublin musician The Kyd G returns with his afropop infused track ‘Treesha’. A fun and contagious number that extends the summer for just a few weeks longer, the contagiously fun song includes a fantastic hook and verse from Kene and a fantastic sense of melody.

Michael Bibi & KETTAMA, ‘Mystery of Raw’ feat. Wu Tang Clan

KETTAMA collaborates with Michael Bibi for the Wu-Tang Clan-sampled new single ‘Mystery of Raw’, offering a fresh and exciting take on the legendary vocals. Originally created in 2018, the track soon became a cult favourite at KETTAMA’s gig, but only meets its release today after having officially secured clearance from the Wu-Tang Clan - who are even credited on the record – one of the most anticipated releases in alternative club music, and for good reason.

Robbie Doherty, ‘Loneliness’

Robbie Doherty dips into his unreleased catalogue with the fan favorite ‘Loneliness’, out today, a straight-forward yet widely exciting club tunes, lined with deliciously fun synth melodies and a vocal delivery imbued with breathless intensity, all wrapped in the DJ’s perfectly measured production and infectious beats.

Kingfishr, ‘For The Boys’

The new stirring offering from Kingfishr, titled ‘For The Boys’, combines moving lyricism with Kingfishr’s signature sound of emotive guitar arpeggios and understated, arena-ready melodies, looking back on a life well-lived with pride and without regret, produced with David Curley at Grouse Lodge Studios in County Westmeath.

Vocalist Eddie Keogh comments: “‘For The Boys is about wanting to look back at things when you’re older and be proud that you tried to make the best of the time you had.”

Susi Pagel, 'Part Of Me'

Northern Ireland's turn-of-the-millennium-inspired pop-rock and punk artist Susi Pagel returns with her new single, 'Part Of Me'.

The track is reminiscent of the captivating hooks of early Paramore and Avril Lavigne, blended with the bite of contemporary alt-rock. It's refreshingly current, anchored by driving distorted guitars, soaring melodies and candid lyricism; she captures the passionate intensity and acute depression of Y2K pop-rock while simultaneously pushing into heavier territory.

"This is a track about never feeling like you fit in anywhere, and finding that one person who makes you feel like you do," said Susi. "It's a powerful song that I wrote at a time when I was feeling lost."

Paddy Sherlock, 'FAI FU !'

"Israel still rhymes with hell," is one hell of a message to the FAI delivered by Paddy Sherlock in his new song, following all of the recent outrage on the upcoming Ireland v Israel fixtures.

Overall, it's a catchy tune; the basic beat creates room for the scintillating lyrics that make sure listeners get the memo - 'FAI FU !'. 

An "Oh no, Oh no, Oh no" chant to the tune of the classic Olé, Olé, Olé is just one of many sports references he used to cleverly voice support for the Palestinian people's rights in a tune on par with his previous songs for Gaza.

Bell X1, 'Coughing Up Butterflies'

Bell X1 return with their new single 'Coughing Up Butterflies', the latest track unveiled from their forthcoming ninth studio album Good Bones produced by Josh Kaufman.

The track's groove really comes together through the interplay between mandolin, drum machine and standout electricTheano.

"This song has that immediately satisfying groove for us, and one that Josh played a big part in shaping - with the mandolin at the top," said the band on the single. "I think it captures a lot of the character of the record, using these organic elements with the drum machine and that bar-room piano."

SJ McArdle and Lisa Lambe, ‘In The Dark’

‘In the Dark’ by SJ McArdle and Lisa Lambe, blends elements of traditional song, folklore, soul and contemporary performance. Their voices co-create a modern day haunting vibe, with Lambe’s vocals bordering on theatrical. The breathy vocals of McArdle are resonant, supported by deep bass and dark, heavy piano at points. Underlying it all are Celtic-like trickling strings by McArdle, who is credited with vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolins and piano, as well as writing the song. 

The project focuses on turning historical stories into songs. Set in pre-Famine Fermanangh, the material spotlights a courtroom drama. 

Folk songwriter McArdle had previously worked with Lambe on his latest album All My Dream Companions Gone, which also features performances from Trevor Hutchinson and Graham Henderson.

CHELLE, 'Have To Do’

Independent artist CHELLE released her latest single ‘Have To Do’ on August 12. 

The alt-pop artist introduced her dark, cinematic sound with her previous track ‘Trouble’. This song takes a different approach, focusing on electronic, synth-pop elements by incorporating a pulsating bass line, fun tempo and crisp vocals.

The track investigates the realization of settling for the easy choice in love rather than risking a loss. It flips the heartbreak narrative on its head by not focusing on the replacement aspect, instead seeing the new partner as a convenient substitution that will ‘have to do’.

Ciara Lawless, ‘Battlefield Of Your Mind’

Athlone singer Ciara Lawless released her latest single ‘Battlefield Of Your Mind’ today, August 14. 

'80s synths, catchy lyrics and a fast clap along beat create the perfectly melodramatic pop track. The emotionally heavy lyrics contrast with the song’s light mood, delving into heavy themes. Moving from her lower register to higher notes fluidly demonstrates her vocal agility, possessing a sonically diverse voice reminiscent of Kate Bush. 

The track comes ahead of her third studio album and explores the struggle of moving forward, despite being comfortable, and contending with doubt. 

Sonaírí, ‘Fix You’

The emerging classical crossover duo Sonaírí, Amie Dyer and David Corr, have released a reimagining of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’. 

As a classically trained Soprano and Tenor, the simple piano accompaniment at the beginning creates an intimate atmosphere. The song has a dramatic lift with the addition of percussion and strings, cementing strong harmonies before reaching the bridge. A slow build to a big lift, demonstrates the pair’s classical opera twist on a ‘00s hit and shows how their voices working together.

Sonaírí describe their work as “reimagining opera with a distinctly Irish spirit”, blending traditional with the contemporary. 

Swimmers Jackson, ‘Trichotillomania’ 

Swimmers Jackson has released his new single ‘Trichotillomania’ today, ahead of his third album Komorebi, out September 4. 

The alternative rock artist from Dublin returns with a track that kicks off with vamping guitar and an easily recognisable guitar hook that plays throughout the rest of the song.

At the chorus, the drum line is reminiscent of the Kooks, the guitar of the Ramones and complete with a Tom Petty like voice that focuses on storytelling.

Trichotillomania means the abnormal desire to pull out one’s hair. Jackson says the song was written cycling home after a hospital appointment in the morning.

Youngiz, ‘Whichever One’ 

Rising artist Youngiz returns with his latest track ‘Whichever One’, released today. 

The rapper dropped a two-part psychodrama in song form. The intense beat, dramatic strings and electronic sound creates a rich and cinematic soundscape. It's quietly explosive with an upbeat tempo and somber tone. He made the song in Sweden with the musical artist LeeBoy.

'Whichever One' is about an energy shift," says Youngiz. "The version of yourself that sees the collision coming, and the version that decides to drive toward it anyway. LeeBoy built something that feels like a film score, I just had to write the scenes."

Godwin and God Knows, 'Heihachi Riddim'

Irish rapper God Knows and producer Godwin collab on their new joint EP 'Heihachi Riddim,' including their experimental title track. Reminiscent of JME's flow, on-top of a hardcore beat, this grime track takes inspiration from the video game Tekken. Nostalgia emulates from the track, with adlibs and sound effects fully immersing you into the pixelated world.

God Knows noted, "I want to make music that reflects the times while having the time of my life, which is not always guaranteed."

"I was in awe of how on-the-nose his Tekken history was. casting himself as the 'Heihachi' of the music, the one who can't be killed or pushed away, vital to the story of Irish music," said Godwin on creating with God Knows.

Kabin Crew, 'Lunchbox Flex'

After previously being longlisted for a Grammy, Kabin Crew is back with their new electrifying single 'Lunchbox Flex.' This single sees the youth collective pushing the boundaries of what hip-hop is all about, bringing back the high energy beat that they’ve become known for internationally.

The Cork music group released the single in collaboration with Lidl Foodies, a free initiative to get children to develop positive relationships with fruit and veg.

"We set out to make a song that young people would genuinely enjoy listening to and performing, something full of energy, personality and humour that could inspire healthier food choices in an authentic way" explained creative director at Kabin Studios, Garry McCarthy.

Christopher Molloy, 'Da'

A simple yet devastating single from Christopher Molloy. His forthcoming album Thank You, Universe focuses on Molloy's father, who passed away last year, and the gratitude that survives grief.

It sticks to the basics: acoustic guitar drives the storytelling and is backed up by contemporary alternative production. "This is the type of music my father loved the most," said Molloy. "And me too."

He's no stranger to writing about reflective and melancholic topics, but 'Da' - and the album in its entirety - pushes that bit deeper. "I wanted the finished album to be a way of saying thank you to my loved ones in the purest way I could as a son, father and a partner."

Cormac O Caoimh, 'Dark/Light'

Cormac O Caoimh tells a story in his new single 'Dark/Light'. O Caoimh's clever lyricism paired with the clash of both an eerie yet gentle melody, perfectly encapsulates ones conflicting feelings about a complicated person.

The lyrics centre on a 19th century Waterford man, sentenced to 14 years transportation after committing a range of crimes. O Caoimh tells us, "the song was really directly influenced by one of my first phone calls with Richard about him where I asked was he a hero or a murderer and Richard answered 'Both."

The single was created as part of Bring Your Own Hammer, a collection of historians and composers brought together to create songs based off of 19th century Irish history.

Steven Cway, 'Tar Isteach'

The gentle breeze of the Irish coast is infused in this new single from Steven Cway. 'Tar Isteach' is a fully-Gaeilge indie-rock anthem with folk textures, featuring rhythmic guitar, kinetic percussion and Cway's velvety vocals. The song is destined to be sung by screaming crowds in grass fields, with a pint in hand.

"This wee ditty is in Irish and uses phrases my grandmother used to say," Cway noted via Instagram.

Ria Timkin, 'Slo Mo'

After being named on Hotpress' Hot For 26: Irish Acts To Watch This Year, alt-pop singer Ria Timkin brings another single in anticipation for her debut EP, Favourite Child. 'Slo Mo' pairs heavy synthesisers with Kate Bush esc vocals on top of an addictive beat, inviting listeners to break into dance or reflect on their anxieties, depending on what the mood calls for. The track works as a cautionary tale on waiting for the perfect moment, which may never arise.

Jessica Brett & Marty Guilfoyle, 'Sweet Escape'

Jessica Brett teams up again with renowned Irish DJ Marty Guilfoyle for this addictive new track, 'Sweet Escape'.

The single blends romantic, sweet sounding vocals with modern pop. Guilfoyle adds his signature dance-pop, building the song with driving basslines and bright synth melodies. This is a tune that will undoubtedly be heard at festivals and in late-night club sets.

Ultras, 'The Dream'

New album from the Ultras, I Love Where I'm From, is a celebration of life in Ireland in 2026 - a kaleidoscope of sunshine, lashing rain, fears, tears and faith.

This single, 'The Dream', epitomises all of this.

Opening with punchy, driving guitar and a fast rock beat, the single continues with a high-energy, early 2000's indie-rock sound combined with their authentic Dublin vocal edge. Overall, it's an anthemic blend of youthful rebellion, infectious indie energy, and summer warmth.

Audrey Bridgeman, 'the truth is'

Audrey Bridgeman has released her newest single 'the truth is' this week. Bridgeman has previously noted that she takes inspiration from Afro-Cuban influences, and the percussion in this track demonstrates that clearly. The slow ballad features vibrant instrumentation alongside Bridgeman's soulful voice, creating a powerful and ultimately gripping listen. Bridgeman described the single as a, "reflective track about listening to your inner guide and following your intuition."

Featured in the song credits is the singer's father, Noel Bridgeman, legendary drummer best known for his work with Skid Row and The Waterboys. The track follows a string of gleaming singles released this year by Bridgeman, including 'I Know What You Did' and 'Sweet Thing.'

Paahto & The Bull, ‘Bonaparte Crossing the Alps’

Paahto & The Bull have released the second single off their upcoming debut album The 123. The traditional folk tune focuses on a simple, stripped-back acoustic guitar sound. The song does not have lyrics, but they are not missed – the lack allows the duo’s masterful string skills to shine. Coming off the heels of the first single of the album, ‘The Tenpenny Piece / Elizabeth Kelly’s Delight’, the track makes for another welcome introduction to the duo’s budding catalogue.

“The music of Paahto & The Bull is a very honest reflection of the unique kind of sound that Cummins and Flynn have consistently created with each other over the past fifteen years,” reads a statement about the album.

Listen to our playlist: