Music
23 Mar 21

PREMIERE: Donegal's Akilo teams up with electro-pop duo SYLK on 'Going Nowhere'

Akilo is the alias of Donegal-based producer Ronan Lynch, formerly a member of Irish trio Tanjier.

Hot Press are delighted to premiere the debut single from Ronan Lynch, AKA Akilo, titled 'Going Nowhere'.

The track is a collaboration with electric-pop duo SYLK, influenced by the energetic beats of Bicep and textural sounds of London Grammar.

'Going Nowhere' was fully recorded and mixed in a rural Donegal home studio, after Ronan began working under the Akilo moniker during Ireland's first lockdown of 2020.

The song reflects on the personal frustrations of quarantine and the sudden end to a long term relationship. Its pulsating beat and atmospheric soundscape blend with vibrant melodies and a spirited vocal to create a powerful debut from Akilo, with dark-wave electro-pop female duo SYLK.

The Dublin-based pair, Taylor and Beibhinn, pair their underground aesthetic with industrial, bass heavy and lyrically dark music.

SYLK began their musical journey with the release of ‘Am I Alone’ in 2017, featuring on Spotify’s curated playlist Spotify & Chill. Following this was their acclaimed EP 'nwyr', which led to a full capacity EP launch show and standout appearances at Forbidden Fruit Festival, Body & Soul Festival, Hard Working Class Heroes 2017, Electric Picnic, as well as headlining the legendary Button Factory- to name a few. They released the single 'all I really need' in 2020, and are reportedly at work on a longer project.

SYLK’s signature genre-fluid noir-sound perfectly compliments Akilo's own brand of gentle electronic dance music on the new track, utilising the restlessness of COVID lockdowns and creative flow to create a catchy, dream-like song.

"I was at a time in my life, that I was unemployed due to the pandemic and had to move back to Donegal," Ronan tells Hot Press of the track's origins.

"It was the beginning of writing and recording again, which eventually led me to take on the alias of Akilo. My life had abruptly changed overnight, having to leave Dublin and move into a mobile home temporarily, off the coast of Donegal. This was when I began to write 'Going Nowhere'."

"The lyrics describe the situation I was in, the free time on my hands and having nowhere to go. I got in touch with SYLK to collaborate on the production and vocals and fortunately they agreed."

Listen to 'Going Nowhere', premiered exclusively on Hot Press, below: