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.
Rebekah Fitch
Need To Feel
Up first on this week’s list is flashy alternative pop of Belfast native Rebekah Fitch. ‘Need To Feel’ is the new single from the artist who has been quickly establishing herself as an exciting creative prospect over the past couple of years.’Need To Feel’ is sleek and powerful. The entire track swings upon a plucky synth bass line, one which begs for the passionate vocal performance Fitch delivers. Full of lust and youthful energy, ‘Need To Feel’ is the alternative pop track you need to hear right now.
2.
Brame & Hamo
Request Rythm
Berlin via Sligo. Densely layered house via the vision of Irish duo Brame & Hamo. Their new EP Celebrity Impersonator hears the group continuing to excel. ‘Request Rhythm’ is our favourite from the project. Spiritually, it feels like something the Chemical Brothers would have put their minds to throughout the Surrender era. It’s in the very fuzzy synth LFO which flutters throughout the track’s low end. The opening half of the track is soaked in a grainy texture, like hi-hats through an old radio speaker. The second half is fair clearer, given a sense of breath thanks to some sweeping synth chords. Needless to say, the beat underlying the entire track is piledriver-esque. More like this, please.
3.
The Future In The Seventies
The Blinding
The debut single from new synthwave meets post-rock project The Future In The Seventies is ‘The Blinding’. Featuring Rory Friers of And So I Watch You From Afar and producer Rocky O’Reilly, the project sees all the progressive elements of post-rock with the glittery surface textures of synth pop. Absolutely love the thickness of the bass track against the very dynamic drum sounds. A little reverb-drenched vocals give the track that added depth of character. Keep an ear out for the breakdown section post the four-minute mark, a showcasing of real songcraft. Very excited for what more is to come from The Future In The Seventies.
4.
Cvcxy
Smoking Air
Admittedly, we already featured Cvcxy‘s ‘Smoking Air’ when it was first released, but we couldn’t resist the temptation of featuring it again with the release of an accompanying video. Filled with all the best bits of trap, hip-hop and dub reggae ‘Smoking Air’ is a tightly produced glitch pop track. While much of this genre can feel copied and pasted, ‘Smoking Air’ feels distinctly well manufactured. Each level of the mix is given its own space and its own room for development, whether it be the pitched vocal samples or the resonant bass line. Be sure to check it out.
5.
Moylan
Naive
The debut single from Dublin-based folk artist Moylan is the sweet ‘Naive’. An affectionate nod of the head to the early feelings of falling in love, ‘Naive’ is vulnerable and all the more charming for it. The singer’s vocal performance touches upon the realms of trad for time to time, but there’s no mistaking the distinctly folk arrangement and instrumental accompaniment of the track. A strong opening statement from a new artist.
6.
Blue Niall
Rainbow
Adding to the recent surge of high-quality Irish trap music is Blue Niall with his new single ‘Rainbow’. Taken from the artist’s upcoming Blue Summer EP, the track offers plenty to excited about. It’s a twisted take on the modern love song only a genre like trap could provide. Woozy and packed full of low-end rumble ‘Rainbow’ is a pure nighttime anthem. The accompanying video, drenched in pop culture references and emojis features drag artist Nikki Stones.
7.
Rogue Poets
Karpackie
Time now for some fresh Irish hip-hop. New Dublin-based collective Rogue Poet’s have just dropped their debut mixtape Róg tapes Vol.1, a sample-heavy old-school influenced collection of beats and lyrics. ‘Karpackie’ is the lead single from the release. Fair deuce to producer Mory for the liquid beat and production. MCs Smokey and Baz take two very separate approaches to the delivering bars, but both find plenty of success with thoughtful and witty lines. Yeah, the refrain is a bit tongue in cheek, but we like it all the same.
8.
Planting
We Woke To Snow
Dark and ambient, Planting’s ‘We Woke To Snow’ does a fantastic job of conveying the sensation its title describes. Set atop a bed of swirling synth arps, the track blends a synthwave aesthetic with the mood and tone of modern ambient works. Perfect music for the dark evenings.
9.
Rocstrong
Ching Ching Ching
Dublin native Rocstrong returns with the blistering ‘Ching Ching Ching’. Channelling equal parts noisecore and modern rock, ‘Ching Ching Ching’ is three and a half minutes of pummeling rock & roll. Highlighting our ending appetite for money and power, the song has a fitting message for such troubled times. Peep the superb video too, filmed in Barcelona, Kinshasa, Montevideo and Paris.
10.
Orchid Collective
Forces
Dublin four-piece Orchid Collective have finally released ‘Forces’, the third single the group have released thus far in 2018. It’s a sweet song, filled with the heartwarming nostalgia indie-folk is so good at providing. The group make excellent use of reverb in the mix, creating a palpable sense of space and movement in the song’s larger than life chorus.
