Track of the Day: Galia Arad - 'Love Past Him'

Indiana native Galia Arad has delivered yet another beautiful single in the form of 'Love Past Him'; written, recorded and produced in her Stoneybatter home during one of the many Ireland lockdowns.

The powerful anthemic ballad embodies hints of Britney Spears-influenced pop writing, inspired by a typo and a "heart-shattering break-up".

'Love Past Him' is a sequel to the song 'I Must Have Misunderstood' - a track about reckoning, and losing hope. Arad's new offering is the step that comes after that, containing vivid imagery expressing how violent this stage of heartbreak can feel. The song earned its title after a gorgeous typo in a WhatsApp group of her friends. Instead of typing, "We are here to help you move past him", the friend wrote, "We are here to help you love past him", and thus the title was born.

Galia's performance skills and songwriting. craft has taken her to great heights, including past performances at Glastonbury Festival, Royal Albert Hall and Kew Gardens, as well as Irish staples at 3Arena and Convention Centre (opening for Jools Holland), National Concert Hall and Roisin Dubh (supporting Jack L), and Dublin’s infamous Ruby Sessions.

Her music has garnered nearly half a million streams, with little or no publicity team around her.

Arad made a welcome return to the Irish music scene earlier this year, acting as a recent guest on Panti Bliss’ iconic podcast ‘Pantisocracy’, as well as appearing in Irish Times ‘What’s Hot’ list, RTE 1’s Recommended Playlist as well as being selected as one of Today FM's coveted #CeolForTheSoul spots.

In 2018 alongside Bono, Cathay Davey, Loah and the rest of Street Lights; Galia also recorded the Irish charity cover ‘Homeward Bound’ and is known for catching the attention of one of her music idols - Shane MacGowan - who wrote the liner notes for her sophomore album.

Galia's classical musician parents and classical voice training steered her directly into the arms of rock 'n' roll, but her genre-blending melodies have pop music's energy to them. Raised in Bloomington, Indiana; Arad later moved to Dublin to further pursue her songwriting and recording after releasing two full-length albums, 2010's Ooh La Baby and 2015's This Is Lost. Her 2018 track 'Find Me' was another Hot Press Track of the Day.

Off the back of her hilarious Hot Press Y&E series livestream, don’t miss her headline show in Dublin’s Button Factory on September 28th.

Listen to 'Love Past Him' below:

Image: Kathrin Baumbach