The Murder Capital, 'The Stars Will Leave Their Stage'

Already earning comparisons to Radiohead from their heart-driven, introspective and uncompromising second album Gigi's Recovery, the instrumentation on 'The Stars Will Leave Their Stage' is especially boundary-pushing for the Dublin rockers and Hot Press cover stars. Creating a stunning level of intensity that somehow doesn't overpower James McGovern's earnest declarations, the pace grows to a magical crescendo that begs to be heard in a live setting (Vicar Street in February, anyone?).

"Just like ships in the night, promising to collide / Well, I'm casting myself aside." Melding guitar crunches and a heavy drum beat are layered underneath arcade synths that forge even more atmosphere by countering James' vocals. Tub-thumping industrial drums and wondrously inventive, Eastern-singed guitars note John Congleton's production presence. The track shows off how wide-reaching the album has the potential to be.

Lisa O'Neill, 'Silver Seed'

As her Rough Trade Records debut All of This Is Chance beckons, due to be released on February 10th, singer-songwriter Lisa O'Neill gifts us with another gem. Starting off with a slow-moving, ambience-building string section, O'Neill's incredibly moving vocals tell a story of love, empowerment and personal growth. "Who make a woman out of me? / No cross can claim my gladness / Tame my madness / I'm born of my mother's seed." Joseph Doyle, Cormac Begley, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Kate Ellis (Crash Ensemble), Ruth O’Mahony Brady, Lorcan Byrne, Dave Odlum Colm O’Hara, Brian Leach, Mic Geraghty, David Coulter and Lisa's young niece, Sadie-Mae O’Neill, all feature on the upcoming LP.

Check out the new video below, filmed in Kerry with Noelle Campbell-Sharp and Daniel O’Neill.

Ailbhe Reddy, 'Last To Leave'

The gorgeous new indie-rock track from the Dublin-raised, London-based singer-songwriter describes the person who refuses to leave the party when they really should. Monologuing in the kitchen, spilling your drink, oversharing angst; it's all relatable lyrics and clever everyday vignettes of quiet but raw moments. The single lands ahead of her second album Endless Affair in March. The beautiful, dreamy lo-fi journey of love, romance and mortification is about an "infatuation with someone who you find frustrating - watching as they make a fool of themselves at a party, while knowing you might be doing the same thing," Ailbhe says.

"Finish your pint / make a meal of it / you act so pretentious / they can't wait for you to finish / but right now, you love this / but tomorrow you'll feel foolish, embarrassed and hopeless / tell everyone you didn't mean it," Reddy croons as swooning instrumentation backs up her points. This album is going to be epic, by the sounds of the initial singles.

Biig Piig, 'In the Dark'

The Cork-raised, London-based producer/singer-songwriter has just dropped her brand new Bubblegum mixtape, featuring previous singles 'Kerosene', 'Picking Up' (feat. Deb Nver) and 'This Is What They Meant' - plus tantalising, vulnerable track 'In the Dark'. "All jokes aside, I'm tired of feeling this way...and I'm dancing to forget you / and the music might just tear me apart / No way I could rest since you left, from my home here in the dark," she croons on the glitzy pop number. With subtle guitar melodies adding an edge and Jess Smyth's trademark ethereal, angelic vocals; 'In the Dark' is an understated gem conclusion to the tape.

CMAT, 'Mayday'

International teen pop sensation CMAT released a brand new single earlier this week as a little *treat* to her fans awaiting Album Number Two in the form of 'Mayday'. The high-energy standalone single debuted on BBC Radio 1 last night on Clara Amfo's show, and has been performed on CMAT's recent tour. The singer-songwriter described how the track was inspired by her boyfriend's trip to a country ravaged by forest fires. "Why would you go away while the world is ending? / You should be spending time with me!" the addictive chorus soars.

CMAT explains: “‘Mayday’ is a very sexy song about climate change. I was so anxious, I kept asking for my boyfriend to text me when he landed [in Portugal]. Eventually he did, like: ‘hey! The runway is on fire’. I thought the human anxieties of the oncoming climate change disaster are something that are either not spoken about, or spoken about in big, sweeping, dramatic statements. I wanted to bring it back down to something pretty mundane and quite funny. Like the musical equivalent of a Coronation Street episode about fracking.”

CMAT by Sarah Doyle.

Sweetlemondae, 'Higher State' feat. Jafaris

Injecting influences from 90s and 2000s R&B with funk, soul and everything in between; the groovy 'Higher State' from Diffusion Lab artists Sweetlemondae with a cameo from hip-hop star Jafaris is a hit in the making. Pairing Doja Cat mumble raps and an addictive beat, Galway-based MC Sweetlemondae's sultry, smooth vocals paired with clever wordplay is dripping with talent. The song itself was inspired by the musician's love for self-help books, natural medicine and spirituality. Music is therapy for the rising act, who uses it to progress herself personally - respecting the journey itself rather than finding a destination.

"Over the years I’ve learned a lot about reaching a ‘Higher State’ from reading self-help books," Sweetlemondae says of the track. "I’ve always been interested in self-improvement and doing any shadow work in order to get to a better place, whether it be mentally, physically, or emotionally. When I was around 14/15 I feel like I had an enlightening moment where I realised my existence. I didn’t like anything about myself so I decided that I wanted to figure out how I could change that. I did that by opening up my mind to new ways of life."

The Academic, 'My Very Best'

The Dublin genre-blending outfit have released a brand new single today ahead of their eagerly awaited sophomore album Sitting Pretty, out on February 10th via EMI Records. Invoking a cruising harmony of 80s pop blended magnificently with the strong vocals of frontman Craig Fitzgerald, 'My Very Best' describes the turbulent obstacles that come with learning to live and build interpersonal relationships. The single also arrived yesterday with news of UK tour dates.

“'My Very Best' is a song about coming up short. We wanted to write something that could encapsulate the heavy heartedness and cruelty of feeling like you can’t emotionally provide a relationship with what it needs to survive,” the band explains. “The song explores the inner turmoil and feelings of inadequacy this realisation can bring.”

The Academic at the 3Olympia Theatre. December 3rd, 2021. Copyright Meryl Prendergast.

David Kitt, 'Wishing Well'

The Kerry-based musician has announced news of a brand new album, Idiot Check, with fuzzy lofi cut 'Wishing Well'. Fluttering with a gentle sense of magnetism, the single showcases the ambient atmosphere of Kitt's forthcoming LP - which will put an eclectic spin on traditional folk tunes. 'Wishing Well' fuses gentle acoustic sensibilities with flickering electronics and earnest storytelling.

“'Wishing Well' relates to the void left by the decline of religious institutions and what we turn to in the absence of faith and superstition," David notes of the track. "These are the themes that recur throughout the record on both micro, personal levels and macro, societal levels. The song is about being on the run from your memories and your past, and those memories fading, morphing and appearing in dreams."

FIN., 'Toothache' feat. kaymol

Newcomers FIN. (Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist Finnian Hurley) and kaymol have teamed up together for an electronic-driven, hypnotic new track that steadily builds embellishments with understated yet captivating vocals. It's an immersive experience in the form of a single, that puts both artists firmly on the map for 2023. Shimmering melodies, inspired by ambient, rave and house genres, give us a glimpse into the production influences. The song follows hot on the heels of FIN.'s debut 'Stained'. Hurley is formerly a member of the band NFT, where he played bass/keys and contributed to the band's self-produced releases.

Dylon Jack, 'Lose U 2 Him'

The Shannon-based singer-songwriter has been honing his craft since 2017, originally an acoustic artist. Dylon Jacl has changed his sound completely since teaming up with producer Adam Redmond (Just Wondering, Milk., modernlove.) to create a sound that hooks you in from the first play. 'Lose U 2 Him' follows previous single 'IDFC' and 'On U', taken from his forthcoming debut EP Something Never Quite Love.

"She comes up to me says, 'Can I use your light please?' - just popped out of my brain when I was sitting down writing and that's what sparked the premise of the song," Dylon muses about 'Lose U 2 Him'. "I feel like every time you hear about something that happens on a night out, it takes place in a smoking area so I thought why not write a song about being attracted to someone who you've just randomly met in one, and then a few minutes later you see them get with someone else".

Dylon Jack.

Whenyoung, 'Shame Train'

Composed couple Aoife Power and Andrew Flood, indie duo Whenyoung have shared their new single ‘Shame Train’ from new album Paragon Songs - out 7th April. The pair filmed the video for in the empty, derelict hull of the Ramsgate Arts Barge in Ramsgate Harbour with director Luke Ogden and some friends to help. The beautiful song excavates deep levels of self-criticism, and was penned (with the rest of the album) between a cottage in County Clare and in a flat on Paragon Street on the East coast of England.

Aoife details, “I was deep in songwriting and self development, trying to overcome anxieties and complexes when I began to understand about shame as a traumatic emotion which affects everyone. Whether we’re aware of it or not, we’re made to fit into a mould and if we don’t, we’re shamed. There’s shame of ageing, socio-economic status, religion, sex, image, the list is endless. This is the first song we recorded for the album and the theme of self love and respect, evident throughout the tracks, really evolved from this song.”

New Pagans, 'There We Are John'

Irish indie punks have shared a new single from the band's forthcoming second album Making Circles of Our Own, out 17th February via via Big Scary Monsters. The rousing single is directly inspired by queer punk artist, filmmaker, activist Derek Jarman. Spirited and uplifting, the track is about growing things out of desolate situations and spaces.

"I first encountered the work of Derek Jarman through his coastal garden, Prospect Cottage in Dungeness," New Pagans' vocalist Lyndsey McDougall muses. "When we wrote this song, we had just lost our home and had moved in with my parents (as a result of restrictions around the creative industry during Covid) and my dream of owning a garden seemed further away than ever. Somehow, studying Jarman's Prospect Cottage garden brought me great serenity and hope. In a place considered so desolate, Jarman created a beautiful, fruitful landscape. This song is about hope."

New Pagans.

Lenii, 'Crybaby'

The Cork-born, LA-based producer and singer-songwriter is known for her prolific method of working, and growing TikTok fanbase. Never shying away from difficult, rage-inducing subject matter, 'Crybaby' takes a more emotion-driven, poignant approach. Lenii's first single of 2023 follows on from 'Take The Money', 'Cherry Gum', 'Already Famous', 'Knife' and more. Opening with a slow-moving guitar melody, her crystal clear vocals describe a diary-entry-like situation. "Hate me crybaby, don't come cryin' to me." String sections elevate the melancholic mood of the song before drum beats and percussion layer with Lenii's vocals to add further texture.

Somebody's Child, 'Hold Me Like You Wanna'

The London-based Cian Godfrey, bandleader of Somebody's Child, has re-released an old fan favourite single, taken from their upcoming self-titled debut album, out February 3rd on Frenchkiss Records. The genre-blending indie/pop-driven gem retains the bones of its original form, brimming with nostalgia as the songwriter explores love, mental health and coming-of-age angst. Upon its original release in June 2020, Cian said:

"'Hold Me Like You Wanna' is a nostalgic song that triggers feelings of both regret and lack of regret simultaneously. It's a love song but not necessarily romantically. Given the climate of the world at the moment, I think it holds a deeper meaning as we all long to spend time together again, but we know that there are risks involved in doing so.” Read a new interview with Somebody's Child in our #HotFor2023 issue, out now.

Nell Mescal, 'Homesick'

The rising Kildare-born talent has shared a melodic and relatable single about the conflicting, complicated emotions of longing for home. Down-tempo second single 'Homesick' was released via LAB records and produced by Steph Marziano, focusing on similar coming-of-age themes to her debut 'Graduating'. Nell Mescal is set to perform the new track on The Late Late Show tonight, after it played on BBC Radio 1's Future Pop show.

“I wrote 'Homesick' on a trip to LA. It's about when I first moved to London from Ireland and really missed home, but also being determined to stick it out so it doesn’t look like I failed at moving away,” explains Nell. “The lyrics give a bit of insight to how hard it is to move away at a young age and the loneliness that comes with it, while the music is upbeat and hopeful to show that you can do hard things and that you can make a home wherever you go if you give it time."

Nell Mescal at The Academy 2- October 2022. Copyright Abigail Ring: hotpress.com

ELKAE, 'Get Ready For The Rumors'

Dubliner Laura Keane (aka ELKAE) is back with a banger, celebrating resilience and determination. The theme is all about the power of believing in oneself the ability to get back up after a knock. The electronic soul/pop artist has created another body of work set for release early this year. Keane also signed a sync/publishing deal last year with West One Music Group (Netflix & Disney+) and will be releasing a new EP titled Here Come The Monsters under LA-based record label Little Assembly.

“As an artist, pursuing success in this industry can be a challenging journey," ELKAE desscribes. "There may be moments of self-doubt and setbacks, but I believe that every creative experiences highs and lows as part of the process. Despite any obstacles, my determination and love for art keep me motivated to keep pushing forward and following my dreams. With 'Get Ready for the Rumors,' I reflect on the people who doubted me and the times I faced adversity. Rather than dwelling on the negative, I use those experiences as motivation to succeed."

A92 & A9Ksav, 'Steph'

Named in honour of Golden State Warriors basketball hero Steph Curry, A9Ksav's debut solo single features head-turning drill and trap elements and a confident flow. Part of the Drogheda-based drill collective A92, who have blazed a trail on the Irish scene, Ksav maintains a steady speed and specific references in his raps. Each member of the A92 collective – named after the postcode in Drogheda, Co. Louth where they grew up – had established themselves as a formidable force in their own right, before joining the group. It's no surprise that A9Ksav's potential is finally showing, alongside his self-assurance and dexterous lyrical ability.

Post-Party, 'Kimbo'

Following 2022 singles 'Turn To Gold' and 'Camera Shy', fast-rising indie kings Post-Party have dropped their first track of 2023 in the form of 'Kimba'. Effortlessly catchy, with a booming chorus as always, the band's single itches to be played live. The quartet recently worked on new tracks with renowned, chart-topping producer Philip Magee. We're expecting to hear their debut EP release this year, with 'Kimba' acting as a fast-paced, guitar-heavy taster.

By Mollie McKay.

Reii, 'fool4u'

Continuing from the foundations lain on 'believe' and 'back2u', Laois-based Afro-Irish artist Reii is back with bedroom indie track 'fool4u'. Full of soul and shimmering synth embellishments, Reii's layered vocals and earnest declarations make a love song worth hearing on repeat. Warm piano chords and genre-melding flecks make it a track that's hard to nail down, but that epitomises Reii's unique sound. Keep an eye out for their work in 2023, it's like electronic R&B for people who get down bad.

Sarah Buckley, 'Louisiana'

For fans of Julia Jacklin, Niamh Regan, Laura Marling; Irish indie-folk musician Sarah Buckley has share da new track from her upcoming debut EP, with artwork taken by the storytelling talent herself in New Orleans. 'Louisiana' is directly inspire by a road trip she took around the Deep South.

"The music journey can be a really difficult one and I was going through a period of having lost my way and stopped playing," Buckley recalls. "I was on a road trip at the time as a music fan around the deep south and saw an elderly jazz man sitting on a bench in New Orleans in the sun playing music. He wasn't busking or recording , it was just a sunny day and he was being what he was. The street car is still in operation there so got on it for a spin, still thinking about the jazz man and sang this song into my phone. I returned to playing music on my return to Ireland."

Robbie Stickland, 'Time To Say Goodbye To My Old Self'

The DIY indie rocker from Dublin is hoping to make sense of the trials of love and mental anguish through wobbly and earnest aesthetics. The Banríon band member's new single is an acknowledgement of the ways your formative experience shapes your personality. His new tunes are just as fabulous as his 2020 EP Well Done Robbie. Think Mac deMarco, Cindy Lee and Dirty Beaches in terms of influences, but his style of lofi guitar crooners is truly one of a kind in our eyes. He crafted the self-reflective 'Time To Say Goodbye To My Old Self' with a tape recorder all by his lonesome, save for mixing by The Bastard.

"It's a breezy facing up to the fact that you must evolve in the way you behave in the world but while still holding love and tenderness for the past versions of yourself, they got you to where you are in the first place after all!" Robbie explains in a press release.

Robbie Stickland by Lile Donohue.

One Flew Over, 'Rise'

The Meath band composed of Irene Ní Chuinn and Martin Quinn of Kells was formed in 2019. Their new single 'Rise' is about breaking away from the constraints that hold you back in order to finally become liberated.

"You make the rules and I stand in line like a good girl / I pay you in full then you hold out your hand for more," the track starts, guided by a tense web of guitar motifs. The defiant single gallops to a faster pace as it dawns on the subject to free themselves from their situation. One Flew Over's sound features strong melodies and weighty arrangements with influences of rock, classic blues and soul. Martin was previously a member of Little Palace and a live touring musician with acts like TURN, Eimear Quinn, Hail The Ghost and many more.

Paul McCann, 'Love is all that Matters' feat. Sylvie Lewis and Gary Lucas

Irish singer-songwriter and musician Paul McCann has revealed the third single from his forthcoming album, Alter Ego, which will land on February 17th. Following two energetic power pop anthems, 'Love is All That Matters' offers a softer folk musical flavour. The idea for originated from a note his young daughter gave to him, which included a drawing of the two of them with the song's title written at the top. McCann’s favourite female vocalist Sylvie Lewis collaborates with him on the single, plus a cameo from guitarist and composer Gary Lucas.

“It has always been a dream of mine to work with Sylvie Lewis and Gary Lucas," Paul expresses. "To have both of these guys on the same song really is incredible, and I think their involvement in this song elevates it to a completely different level."

Paul McCann.

Danny Carroll, 'Affection'

The self-described "embarrassing millennial" has unveiled his jangly debut solo single. Hailing from Dublin, Danny writes idiosyncratic songs about fatigue, failure and football. Shifting between sincerity and self-deprecation, infatuation and exhaustion; Carroll adds amusement and sarcasm to the extortionate, late stage capitalist society we're stuck in. Part of Dublin's musical fabric for years, Danny is co-curator of 'A Litany of Failures' compilation series showcasing independent artists from across Ireland.

Enlisting the help of Belfast based producer Chris W. Ryan (New Dad, Just Mustard, Robocobra Quartet), the two developed songs for Carroll's debut EP with a playful, anything goes approach. Incorporating classical guitar, lapsteel, and melodica, Carroll’s songs have been likened to Wilco, Jonathan Richman and Lee Hazelwood. Detailing the slow disintegration of a long-distance relationship on 'Affection' it marks a shift from the tongue-in-cheek humour that dominated his past work. Chiming guitars, keys, and backing vocals swell with the resignation of a repeated chorus: “We don’t say that little phrase anymore”.

Boa Morte, 'Hard to Know'

The Cork alt-folk band return with the first single from their forthcoming new album, The Total Space. The trademark Boa Morte elements are all featured: close harmonies and lyrics that evoke a time and place, but it seems like the group are going down a slightly fresher path than their acclaimed 2019 offering, Before There Was Air. Boa Morte are wandering deeper into the woods of ambient, drone and synthesised sound with the help of Texan producer Daniel Presley. Emotive vocals, an ease with space and silence, "percussive interventions on drum-shell, tom-rim and cymbal-cup" - as they say - and charismatic harmonies.

Donal Lucey, 'No Regrets'

After over a year without releasing, since 2021's 'Politics of the Heart', Irish musician Donal Lucey is back in the mix with a pop-driven vocal banger. "Hanging on every word you say / Not your first but I'll be your best / Make you forget about the rest / So you have no regrets," he sings as bluesy, fast-paced guitar riffs add a fascinating flavour. His voice sounds better than ever on the impressive, catchy new offering, fresh from his support slots with Wild Youth and Róisín O.

Arborist, 'Dreaming in Another Language'

Mark McCambridge played his first show as Arborist a few yearws ago, supporting James Yorkston. Last March, the Belfast native embarked on a solo trip to Spacebomb Studios in Richmond, Virginia to record the third album under the current moniker, working alongside producer Matthew E. WHite. Mark also recorded with the legendary Spacebomb House Band they completed what has become An Endless Sequence of Dead Zeros. The LP will follow 2020's brilliant A Northern View, and features enthralling new single 'Dreaming in Another Language'. His ability to stretch noise to its limits will stop you in your tracks at any moment.

Chósta, 'Sin é'

The final single from the electronic producer's upcoming debut album Twilight Transmission, out February 17th, is also the final track on the album. The vocal sample at the start is from a 1930s feature focusing on the Barker Brothers - the first known pirate radio broadcasters. It follows on from ‘That Object Spoke To Me’ featuring Jape and ‘Honesty’ featuring Fears. Chósta's choice of melodies, samples, audio clips and electronic flourishes showcase why his potential feels limitless.

"This always felt like the natural endpoint/conclusion to the record," Chósta says of 'Sin é'. "I found this beautiful marimba loop digging on YouTube somewhere and I just layered effects over it and manipulated the sample. It very much reminded me of something Four Tet might build a track from. I then played a counter-melody on the keyboard and added a few other bits."

Listen to the playlist in full below.