New Irish Songs To Hear This Week

find-joy, 'Float Away'

Alternative North Dublin indie band find-joy have shared their new single 'Float Away' from their sophomore EP.

The warm, fuzzy and dreamy air sets the tone at the start of a track that creates a chillwave feel of growing into yourself. It pushes further into their signature blend of alternative rock and pop sound with lush synth melodies.

"I wanted to capture the feeling of your twenties as this wild, formative stretch of life where everything can feel beautifully possible one moment and completely uncertain the next," says vocalist Colleen Conlon.

"There are high highs, low lows, and a lot of learning to be done somewhere in between. You're given this newfound independence, but along with it comes the weight of responsibility; the realisation that your choices are yours to make, and yours to live with."

Good Swim, 'Chasing Shadows'

Belfast folk singer Good Swim mixes fingerpicking acoustic with plaintive vocals in his newest single 'Chasing Shadows.' Although described as a love song, there is an overarching melancholy throughout the track. A sense of frustration with the world for unfair struggles is found within the fervent lyrics.

"Chasing Shadows started with a fever dream during a hot summer. At the time, it felt like things were falling apart a bit. I was scrambling for faith or feeling, but had this numbness to everything... A bit like it was happening to someone else. At its core it’s about dealing with loss and trying to find a new way to be happy,” Good Swim explained.

Holly Lester, 'Open Your Mind'

Holly Lester hits the decks for her debut EP and title track 'Open Your Mind,' from her own label Duality Trax. It's no surprise that Lester has made the perfect club song considering she is a leading nightlife advocate. This techno-house fusion consists of heavy bass, snare and synth combo, sure to get your body moving on the dance floor.

Throughout the EP, Lester wanted to "bring together the sounds that have inspired me over the years rather than fitting neatly into one style. Finding your own sound if a long process, but I finally feel like I'm getting closer to what I want to convey."

Miranda Faul, 'Favourite Friend'

Mentioned on Whelan's Ones to Watch for 2026, Miranda Faul has released 'Favourite Friend' in anticipation for her new EP The Bar Is In Hell. Produced by Cian Sweeney, the track features modern pop textures with a moody piano melody. Vulnerability can be heard in Faul's voice, especially come the middle eight, where she pours her soul out for all to hear.

“‘Favourite Friend’ is about calling up an old ‘friends with benefits’ situationship and asking them to come over. There’s a tension throughout the song between promising to keep it casual, and deeper feelings of longing and frustration, " says Faul on her new single.

Samuel Pierre, 'Get U Home'

Samuel Pierre continues to be one of the few artists flying the flag for new R&B disco music in Ireland with his new track, 'Get U Home.'

The emerging R&B soul artist blends early-2000s R&B with pop, funk and disco. He's developed a style of smooth, soulful melodies.

He says he draws his inspiration from the likes of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Frank Ocean; the legends' influence creeps in, but overall he's created his own distinctive sound.

Jesse June, ‘Vessels’

Jesse June has released ‘Vessels’, a deep, reverential hip hop track. With a unique, ambient backing and raw, unfiltered lyrics and vocals, June’s song reveals a new path for the Irish-Nigerian alternative artist’s catalogue. More gentle and emotional than his usual sound, ‘Vessels’ showcases his range, from storytelling, to acoustics, to ambient soundscapes, to pop – June excels at it all.

The song is about “Jesse realizing life is a vessel, he is a vessel and that we are all vessels,” according to a press release. The song comes alongside a video directed by the artist, and filmed “across enchanted places in Ireland.”

Sloucho, ‘Something Else’ feat. KIBO

Ahead of his set at Electric Picnic’s GlowDepot next weekend, Irish producer Sloucho collaborates with KIBO on ‘Something Else’, a heavy hip-hop tune, hard-hitting a filled with bone-shakingly powerful production and bass lines, blending the lines between rap and techno is an incredibly distinctive and futuristic offering.

Stunner5G, ‘STUNNER’

Luka Palm today presents his newest project Stunner5G, kicking off with the somber yet gorgeously heavy new track ‘STUNNER’, blending deft bars with minimalistic and atmospheric instrumentals, where rousing bass lines meet delicate synth melodies, making for a hip-hop tune with pretty, pop-adjacent flavour.

 

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Softdrink Millionaire, ‘Buses’

Softdrink Millionnaire today release the brand new The Good EP , including the brilliant opener ‘Buses’, an early 2000s-infused indie rock tune, lined with delicate guitar riffs and driving bass lines that make the heart flutter, all wrapped up in nostalgic, moving vocals. Building tension with a sudden break in the centre of the track, Softdrink Millionaire showcase their explosive quality with sharp, observant lyricism and deliciously gritty instrumentations.

Travy, ‘Keep Up’ feat. Boohavinn

Adding to a magnificently promising string of releases in recent weeks, Travy is back with a new version of his single ‘Keep Up’, this time in collaboration with Boohavin. With hard-hitting trap production and an incomparable sense of rhythm, the new single adds an incredibly rousing new verse to the powerful tune, offering it a delightful second life.

A.S Fanning, ‘On Your Side’

Coming ahead of A.S Fanning’s upcoming EP Unbearable Miracle, ‘On Your Side’ is a magnificently dark number, both intimate and incredibly cinematic thanks to its slow building, almost dissonant instrumentation, and the depth of the singer’s vocal performance which exemplify the talent that draws regular comparisons to Leonard Cohen or Nick Cave.

"'On Your Side' has always been a bit of its own standalone thing,” says Fanning. “It didn't quite fit the last album, and it's never been played live, so it occupies its own strange space. It centres around a feeling of anxiety, and how our brains have the ability to make us think that enemies are everywhere and conflict is everywhere. It’s sort of about the idea of a divided self. I remember my Dad saying that he always felt his body was on his side but he wasn’t sure if his mind was with him or against him. In this song, I think I’m saying to a person who’s having a battle against their mind that I’m in their corner, whoever that separate self might be.”

Broncos, ‘Gloom’

Belfast alternative band Broncos return with their magnificently dark new single ‘Gloom’, a slow building tune, mixing swelling, dreamy synths with tension-filled guitars and crushing riffs, creating a piece that is as delicate as it is hefty. Lyrically, the track explores knowing from the outset that a relationship is doomed, but entering into it regardless – it’s not hard to imagine why the track has slowly become a live favourite for fans.

Cosmic, ‘Minemine (cosmic)’

Emerging underground rapper and producer Cosmic today offers his brand new single ‘Minemine (cosmic)’, a distinctive and gorgeously melodic track, blending r’n’b flavours with powerful lyricism and vocal interpretation, firmly establishing the musician as a force to reckon with in the Irish hip-hop scene.

 

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Jayne Pomplas, ‘Mother Superior’

Dublin-based fiddle player, vocalist and composer Jayne Pomplas returns with a powerful new single, ‘Mother Superior’ – the final preview of her upcoming album THIS IS HOW THE WORLD ENDS. Described by Pomplas as “the most vulnerable song on the record,” the track sees a unique, forest-like resonance. Pomplas’ beautiful voice sets a steady rhythm on top of frolicking, experimental melodies and sounds.

“’Mother Superior’ came from trying to understand the voice in my own head,” Pomplas explained. “The one that’s constantly measuring, criticising and questioning. I wanted to write a conversation between that voice and the part of myself that’s searching for compassion.”

Conor Furlong, ‘Deranged Monster’

Dublin-based alternative artist Conor Furlong has released a new single ‘Deranged Monster’ – the fourth single off his upcoming album Descent. The track holds inspiration from Lou Reed, the Velvet Undergound and the Pixies’ “weird, twisting, bending guitar sounds,” as Furlong put it. ‘Deranged Monster’ was described by the artist as “the most swaggering, straight ahead rock song on the new album.”

With heavy guitar riffs, a raw voice and an intense sound, the track feels honest and authentic to Furlong – a great addition to his catalogue.

“I can imagine this song might be a bit divisive – spoken word verses!” Furlong said. “For a brief moment, I did consider releasing it as the lead single just to confuse everyone."

Mimics, ‘Skullcap’

Anonymous Belfast quartet Mimics has released ‘Skullcap’, a heavy metal track that sees intense drums and guitar riffs, matched with strong, echoing vocals. The band draws inspiration from the theatre of ancient Greece, using masks to “answer the audience’s question before it was asked.”

“’Skullcap’ is the first transmission from what comes next, and it is the most direct thing they have made,” reads a press release. “Polyrhythmic and thick with groove, its refrains reach past defiance into something closer to ecstasy in the old sense: ekstasis, the self stepping briefly outside itself.”

Anna leah, ‘Say The Word’

Dublin indie artist Anna Leah is back with her new single ’Say The Word’, released on Wednesday.

The song begins with gentle guitar picking before the introduction of a rumbling cello, interspersed with a pulsating beat. Drawing from influences such as Phoebe Bridgers and Lizzy McAlpine, and with a voice like Olivia Rodrigo, she gently brings together folk and pop elements. Her lyrics create a romantic atmosphere and showcase her talent for storytelling.

“This song is one of my favourites I’ve written in a long time,” she said. “I’m proud of my songwriting…. which are words I rarely say.”

She is set to perform at Electric Picnic on the Rockshore Live stage.

Pauric O’Meara, ‘Ocean Floor’

Indie singer-songwriter, Pauric O’Meara returns with his new single ‘Ocean Floor’, which he released on Wednesday. As the title track of his upcoming EP out in November, it follows the same theme as the other songs - the struggle to get back on top after hitting rock bottom.

Written for his girlfriend, the track embraces overcoming hardships through emotional lyrical storytelling. The messy guitar and heavy drums create a rich soundscape, which is punctuated by his soulful voice.

Fontaines D.C., 'Marianne'

Fontaines D.C. released their new single 'Marianne', ahead of their highly anticipated fifth studio album. Following the dreamy, indie ‘90s celebrated in Romance comes the dark heaviness of Dopamine Chamber.

The song channels the Stone Roses ‘I wanna be adored’, using distorted guitar and quiet tension to create an intimate soundscape. Frontman Grian Chatten changes dynamics throughout the song, from hanging on to his whispers to reeling from his shouts, he moves through the verses into the explosive twist of the chorus.

Partially based on the psychological thriller series Ripley, the track has a trance-like cinematic darkness that feels deadly.

Ricky Warwick, 'Last Chance To Dance'

Ricky Warwick is back with a new Thin Lizzy inspired single ‘Last Chance To Dance’, ahead of his solo album Fire & Vengeance, out September 4.

The Co. Down singer presents a track set to become a rock classic. His husky voice is supported by ringing guitar, punchy drums and an upbeat tempo. The repetitive chorus is catchy, surrounded by harmonies and heavy instrumentation. Warwick brings together elements of ballads, anthems and traditional Irish music.

“It’s about scars, second chances and squeezing every last drop out of the night,” Warwick shared. “If this is the last chance to dance, then we’re gonna make damn sure it counts.”

Fake Friends, ‘Let Me Go’

The Dublin/Kerry collaboration that make up the Fake Friends duo are back with their new single ‘Let Me Go’, out today. This is the fifth studio single from the indie-pop band. 

For lovers of the 1975, WALK THE MOON and COIN, Fake Friends bring an exciting relevance to the upbeat, indie-pop scene.

The song kicks off with powerful drumming and bright guitar, before settling in with soft vocals. Catchy guitar riffs, danceable rhythms and emotional lyricism create a cheerful atmosphere, which is undercut with the gut-wrenching bridge breakdown.

“You were standing at the corner with a smoke in your left hand/ You were with another man”

Shane Barry, ‘Later than you think’

Shane Barry returns with a ‘60s inspired track ‘Later than you think’, out today.

The guitar sounds like a mix between No Doubt and The Academic, distorted at the beginning before settling in to a catchy guitar hook. The rich instrumentation gives the track a propelling motion and energetic feeling.

The Waterford artist presents a forward projection of his imagined future, where he speaks to his daughter about not rushing into adult life. The song is about appreciation for the little things in life and not taking things so seriously.

Venus Grrrls, ‘Mother Knows’

Anglo-Irish alt-rock band Venus Grrrls transcend boundaries on their new track, ‘Mother Knows’. An explosive and evocative song, ‘Mother Knows’ sees intense guitar riffs, heavy drums and haunting vocals – composing a dreamscape only Venus Grrrls could think up. With inspirations from classic rock, embedded with the distinct texture of guitarist Eliza Lee, 'Mother Knows' makes an impressive addition to their catalogue.

Uniquely inspired, the song is “written about the myth of Mary Shelley having sex on her mother’s grave,” vocalist Grace Kelley (GK) explained. “There’s a lot of discourse and nuances to whether this truly happened, but the alleged event really struck me visually and immediately inspired me to narrate it lyrically.”

ALKY, 'As You Were'

'As You Were' is equally hopeful and heartbreaking.

ALKY delivers the lyrics with a gritty honesty, emotional power, and a soulful, rugged weight.

The tracks soaring melodies and anthemic sound compliment his personal storytelling with its uptempo rock and dramatic brass.

This is a track that will certainly make its rounds in the Irish indie scene.

November Dog, ‘Out of Ideas’

Belfast indie four-piece November Dog are back with a new single, ‘Out of Ideas’. The track sees a rich sonic landscape with dark, cinematic synths and bright, percussive acoustics. With a wealth of depth and texture, ‘Out of Ideas’ brings a dreamy addition to the emerging band’s catalogue.

November Dog see a distinct “no rules approach to their song writing,” according to a press release. This track is no different. Lyrically, the song is a continuation of their single ‘Cake’, which “dealt with facing down a no-win decision.”

“‘Out of Ideas’ is a song characterized by desperation, being committed to a situation that is only detrimental with no other choice.”

Bleach 9:3, 'Figure 8'

The newest single from Bleech 9:3 transports you back to the early 2000s, where grunge and punk are as rampant as ever. A heavy electric guitar powers the narrative of 'Figure 8,' with the brazen drums keeping the moody feel. Produced by Dan Cary of Fontaines D.C and mixed by Rich Costey of Arctic Monkeys, the song infuses classic post-punk elements while also breaking the barriers for a whole new sound, leaning almost towards 90s metal.

The song was described as, "the product of crying quietly so your flatmates don't hear you," by frontman Baz. Paired with the visually enthralling music video, it's no surprise the band are quickly moving up the Irish music ranks, with their Electric Picnic debut coming next week!

Paahto & The Bull, 'Eibhlín Gheal Chiúin Ní Chearbhaill'

Guitar duo Paahto & The Bull have released their version of the 17th-century literary song.

Also known as 'The Charming Fair Eily' or 'Bright Quiet Eily O'Carroll', the Skipper's Alley founders give a brilliant, fresh rendition of a song that's been covered extensively.

The album, The 123, is named after the Dublin bus route - "The 123 was the bus that went from John's road in Marino all the way to Paahto's road in Drimnagh at the opposite end of the route."

Their stripped-back sound is retained throughout, with traditional airs and tunes intuitively adapted for two guitars.

owin, 'upallnight' feat. Curtisy & Lil Skag

Emerging Dublin-based music producer and beatmaker owin, has teamed up with Curtisy and Lil Skag for an atmospheric underground hip-hop track.

A story of hazy, restless energy and an anxious nocturnal lifestyle is told to a background of fractured, textured Irish hip-hop.

 

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Aaron Coughlan, 'Anyway'

Having already been featured twice on Hot Press' New Irish Songs of the Week, Aaron Coughlan returns in force with his new single, 'Anyway.' The acoustic guitar melody amplifies Coughlan's raw lyrics and soulful vocals, making the track an easy listen. Incorporating Gaeilge, he mixes contemporary sounds with Irish musical heritage to create a story, completely entrancing listeners into the narrative. Taking inspiration from the likes of AMBLE and Jamie McIntyre, the atmosphere throughout the track is filled with aspirations of love, hope and acceptance.

Declan O’Rourke, ‘For Free’

Irish folk artist Declan O’Rourke returns with ‘For Free’, the second single off his upcoming eighth studio album, Oceanic. Following lead single ‘Echo’, the new song is a love letter to family and a reflection on the importance of expressing love while we still can.

With gentle piano rhythms, steady vocals and authentic lyrics, the track brings raw emotional resonance.

“We all know the day will come, and we’ll lose the ones we love the most,” O’Rourke said. “Or maybe they’ll lose us! So you wanna make dead sure they each know exactly how you feel about them.”

Listen to our playlist: