10 new Irish songs you should hear this week
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.
Citrus Fresh
DiCaprio
Taken ahead of the release of his Early Days/Late Nights EP on May 10th, Limerick MC Citrus Fresh’s ‘DiCaprio’ is an intuitive lo-fi hip-hop jam. The chopped and pitched instrumental lays host to an incredibly honest, at times brutal self-analysis from the MC in the depths of a post break up crisis. It’s creative, astute and boasts clear artistry.
2.
Zapho
Water Me (Richey McCourt Remix)
Richey McCourt has taken the bones of art-pop artist Zapho’s ‘Water Me’ and absolutely run with it. While the original felt breezy, with an almost 80s synth vibe, this version is fully immersed in contemporary electronica. Breakbeats, squealing synths and low-end synth sweeps are the name of the game here.
3.
Kubb_ feat. Rumi
Wait
Limerick producer Kubb_ collaborates with Limerick singer Rumi on the dazzling ‘Wait’. Progressive dance isn’t easy to make as immersive as this is, so kudos to Kubb_ on the production work. Rumi, who has been steadily gaining recognition over the past few months, impresses on vocal duties. The end result is hypnotic.
4.
Pinhead Reverie
Timekillers
Navan bedroom pop artist Pinhead Reverie caught our attention for the detuned guitars and gloomy vibe of ‘Timekillers’, the lead single from his Kill The Messenger EP. The EP was entirely self-written, arranged and recorded. While other tracks on it tend to be a bit more experimental, we really like the guitars on this one – drenched in chorus and reverb over the breakbeat drums.
5.
Beauty Sleep
Rainbow Ballroom
Listen, everybody knows we love Belfast dream pop group Beauty Sleep. We’re a week away, to the day, from the release of their debut LP Be Kind. ‘Rainbow Ballroom’ is the last single to be released from the LP ahead of its release and it’s a smooth, funky synth pop cut made for dancefloors and bedrooms alike.
6.
BETA-MAX
Pleased To Meet You
Dublin group BETA-MAX have been getting a fair bit of attention for their latest single ‘Pleased To Meet You’, including a write up from Today FM. Rightly so too, this disco punk track channels the likes of LCD and Bodega to craft a foot tapping, earworm-filled banger. The vocalist is none other than former Fight Like Apes singer MayKay.
7.
Post Punk Podge
Heavenly Tones
Has the man himself gone soft? Only Podge himself knows that. Whatever the answer, PPP’s latest single is the catchiest and most approachable of his entire discography. ‘Heavenly Tones’ is an honest to goodness house track, filled with dreamy synths and catchy melodies. Podge’s vocals are about the only post-punk audio aspect of the entire track and they sound fresh on this cut.
8.
Leigh Michael & Chap Stallion
E-14
One that’ll appeal to the lyrically orientated. Leigh Michael & Chap Stallion’s collaborative track ‘E-14’ is a fine example of rolling conscious rap. A sunny day jazz instrumental underpins Michael’s delivery – which, apart from being a bit wordy at times, is more than impressive. Pay attention to the rhyming schemes, they’re pretty dense.
9.
Basciville
Post-Youth
The brothers Basciville seem to have set off on new musical direction on their new single ‘Post-Youth’. The haunting presence of gothic lyricism remains omnipresent but the music itself has been moulded into something distinctly more pop-orientated. The result is the dramatic ballad-esque ‘Post-Youth’. It’s an interesting direction, with an EP on the way this year too we’ll be keeping an eye out.
10.
The BallyBoyz
Young Fellaz
We don’t usually feature videos with people getting murdered in them. However, we’re totally sold on the beat behind The BallyBoyz’ ‘Young Fellaz’ and there’s more than enough by way of flow and lyricism to justify their spot on this list. It’s right on the edge for us, check it out and make up your own mind.
