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 new songs from emerging artists that deserve to be heard by you.
For more extensive Irish, and Northern Irish coverage, follow our Spotify playlist or hit up the Irish section for individual track features.
1.
Luunah
Heat Fire
The Cork five-piece band Luunah released a debut self-titled full-length last Friday and ‘Heat Fire’ is a fine way into the album, a crunchy rock song with electro-pop smarts.
2.
Feef
Who Are You
Feef is Siobhra Jordan, a Roscommon artist debuting with a new catalogue of music and ‘Who Are You’ sets out a stall of alt-folk pop music that lingers long after its running time.
3.
Silent Ghost
Introduction
An impressive monochrome intro to Silent Ghost, a producer who has collaborated with Bobby Basil, Tebi Rex and Marcus Woods. The contemporary electronic track ‘Introduction’ catches fire when combined with the visual by director Paul Lucaci a.k.a Dublin.fx and movement by contemporary dancer Angel Harte.
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4.
Afterwardness
Vessel
Afterwardness are an experimental three-piece from Dublin who were formerly in bands Female Hercules, The Idiots and Pet Lamb, and they just released a 35-minute 2-track LP last week, recorded in the band’s practice space by Alan O’Boyle (Decal/Legion of Two).
One half of the record, ‘Vessel’ is an 18-minute piece of music that sounds like its delicately stuck on a loop for its beginnings. It takes its time to unfurl into vocals and pleasing changes, meaning its elongated running time becomes an easy endurance test.
The album is released on the thirtythree-45 label which has previously put out material by The Bonk.
5.
Good Thing
Love Like That
When Lisburn native Susy Good was forced to move home from Sydney earlier
this year due to the pandemic, she got in touch with her friend and singer/songwriter Jon Wilson. Together, they hit it off musically and formed Good Thing and their first track Love Like That’ is a sweet retro-flavouted intro to the pair’s creativity.
“This song is about realising the person you’re in a relationship with has stopped trying and moved on – an anthem for anyone who has been let down by someone they loved and is trying to get over it. – Susy
6.
Hex Hue and Arvo Party
Anyway
Alt-pop artist Katie Richardson aka Hex Hue hooks up with the busiest producer on the island in terms of output Arvo Party for an ’80s-leaning electro-pop song.
7.
Jackie Beverly
Sea Glass
Jackie Beverly’s fifth single comes across as the artist’s take on Bon Iver’s ‘Re Stacks’ , in that the usual electro-pop artist explores her acoustic folk melodic side.
8.
Aby Coulibaly
Maybe
Dublin R&B singer-songwriter Aby Coulibaly follows up second single ‘Taurus’ with this gorgeous soft-glowing followup.
9.
Ciara Vizzard
Victory
There’s a lovely late-night vibe to Ciara Vizzard’s ‘Victory’ with its minimal atmosphere guided by Vizzard’s hooky chorus. The song is produced by Nosa Apollo (Craig David, Ella Mai, Mabel).
Vizzard was born and raised in America to Irish and American parents,
up in Paris, moved to Belfast and now lives near London.
10.
Andrew Simon McAllister
Rainy Days
Belfast-based film and TV composer Andrew Simon McAllister, whose credits include Planet Earth, Agatha Christieand HBO’s Halfworlds, used lockdown to write a “classical crossover” album in the vein of Olafur Arnalds and Max Richter. Set against the backdrop of Belfast city, ‘Rainy Days’ is a wistful cinematic beaut.
11.
Zimback
Big Up
More an Irish production than an Irish artist, the Japanese rapper Zimback hooks up with Loud Mouth producer Luke B on this beat. It’s on Bandcamp alongside a Leigh Michael track.
