A lot of Irish music comes Nialler9’s way and there’s little time to feature everything we think is worthy of a thumbs up or more ears. Every week, we collate the songs that pass our writers that deserve to be heard by you. For more extensive Irish coverage, follow our Spotify playlist or hit up the Irish section.
1.
Biig Piig
Sunny
Biig Piig’s first release under RCA records is a decidedly upbeat affair. ‘Sunny’ is sharp, R&B with added funk bass. Piig’s vocals remain unmistakable, softly delivered as if through a plume of smoke. The track acknowledges a universal truism, the rejuvenating power of the sun on skin.
-Luke Sharkey
2.
Banyah
Nothing Free
Brother-sister pop duo Banyah make a strong debut with ‘Nothing Free’. The single is a moody, synth fuelled pop track. Whirling synths grow gradually more frantic, these culminate in a tumultuous climax underneath a chorus section. The production here is generally solid, if not letting the vocals come across as a little flat. It’s a distinguished first entry from the duo, showcasing plenty of potential.
-Luke Sharkey
3.
Tebi Rex
I Never Got Off The Bus
Tebi Rex have been steamrolling through the Irish music scene and their newest song ‘I Never Got Off The Bus’ shows no sign of this train slowing down.
Previously the hip-hop duo have swung between upbeat pop anthems to heavier hip hop tracks. This new song has fallen right in the sweet spot between the two. The chorus is a sweet clash between Matt Ó’s pure voice and Max Zanga’s raw beats. Not to mention the sweeping dark synths that heighten the emotional impact of the lyrics and elevate the chorus. These lads can do wrong.
-Donal Corrigan
4.
Loraine Club
Bills
‘Bills’ is the second track that has been released by Dublin band Lorraine Club and we are really loving the unique sound that they have. The wavey vocals and airy guitar riffs give us an eighties Miami feeling. However, the song progresses far more than just a nostalgic melody. The dreamy lyrics are cut through by a heavy synth line break that gives this track a really original sound.
-Donal Corrigan
5.
XO MO
Bad Habits
Xo Mo’s new track ‘Bad Habit’ really flexes the vocal range of the Mullingar pop duo. There is some really nice RnB vibes given off by vocalist Xona as he seamlessly moves from each end of his pitch.
Xo Mo never shy away from experimenting with their music and Bad Habit is no different. The song transcends from a soft pop song to some much darker vibes. A heavy bassline gradually makes it’s presence more known as the chorus kicks in, with snares and high hats providing a sharp rhythm from start to finish.
-Donal Corrigan
6.
Double Screen
Blood Stream (feat. Blakkheart
Dublin-based producer Double Screen treats us to a summer-house tune with an excellent guest vocal performance from Blakkheart. There’s something in ‘Blood Stream’ that reminds me of some of Flight Facilities material. There’s some lovely synth work here, with a rising chord progression full of warmth and low-end momentum.
-Luke Sharkey
7.
Ev Carm
I Guess What I Saw, Was An Artist
Dubliner Ev Carm released some solo material, after a prolonged stint performing in various bands. ‘I Guess What I saw, Was An Artist’ is my pick of the bunch. It’s a compelling example of indie-folk, tinged with a DIY production aesthetic. That means all the string buzzes, crackles and, sometimes, pitchy vocal lines made it into the final cut. The song has all the more character and charm for that. The final minute of the track seals the deal. Horns, ranting and raving, crash into the mix adding an acute anxiety to the end of the song.
-Luke Sharkey
8.
ELM
Paris
Glitzy pop music from Dublin four-piece Elm in the form of ‘Paris’. Don’t be fooled by the sugary sweet hook or gentle piano introduction, this track absolutely moves when it goes. Kudos to the producer on this one, balancing acoustic elements like the strings and piano with the rest of the EDM fuelled mix so well is no small task.
-Donal Corrigan
9.
Klark Cant
Mon Amour
There are many bold aspects to this song that create Klark Cant’s unique sci-fi techno sound. The punchy bassline and piercing synthesizers clash together to give a somewhat smooth rhythm to the song. The french vocal sample gives the song a sophisticated atmosphere making it more than a standard techno track.
This is the first song that has been released by Klark Cant since his EP last year. We hope this isn’t the last we hear from him this year.
-Donal Corrigan
10.
BoyW1DR
Demons
This is the third track that BoyW1DR has released this year and he’s taken more of a melodic route for this song. Demons has a really nice texture to it with distorted keys playing a simple melody and a heavy but subtle bassline bouncing off it. The tight flow from BoyW1DR is complemented well by smooth kick drum and snappy snare drum.
-Donal Corrigan
