A lot music from Ireland and Northern Ireland comes Nialler9’s way and every week, we listen through it all and select the tracks from emerging artists and some established acts that deserve to be heard by you.
For more extensive Irish and new music coverage, follow our Spotify playlist or hit up the Irish section for individual track features.
1.
Sarah Crean
2:00 AM
I love this latest track from indie singer-songwriter and producer Sarah Crean.
‘2:00am’ has an indie-rock glow in the vein of stated influences Japanese Breakfast and Dayglow with its guitar in soft and bony mode.
Co-produced with Adam O’Leary, the song is a confident stride for this up and comer, with a plea for clarity in a relationship – words sometimes mean more than actions.
3.
Blimp
M5
It’s the third Irish tracks feature for Irish electronic producer Shane Smyth aka Blimp.
Following on from his Orchids EP and ‘Only Your Pressure’, ‘M5’ is a propulsive electronic instrumental.
4.
Meryl Streek
False Apologies
There’s a visceral slant to new punk band Meryl Streek’s debut release, that brandishes anger and frustration at the Catholic Church’s abusive actions and lack of remorse of what they’ve done to the people of Ireland with a particular focus on Mother and Baby homes, following the findings of The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.
The song is produced by Dan Doherty at Darklands Audio Dublin, and the anger-underscoring video by Peter Kingston features Irish actor Jack Galvin.
‘False Apologies’ was a way to deal with my anger about the atrocities committed by the Catholic church against the young women and children of Ireland, specifically the mother and baby homes. Sadly not their only crimes, it made me sick that the government and church not only allowed this to happen but have actively tried to erase it from history. That in my mind is a step too far.”
Meryl Streek
Meryl Streek have signed to the Scottish band Gallows’ label Venn Records, and will release a debut album entitled 796 on November 4th. There’s another song out called ‘Yesterday’.
“The album is for anyone that has been affected by the church’s actions and those that feel that the government not only mistreated them but took away their voice along with it.”
5.
RTL.Bluuwoods
Cave In my Face
Wicklow R&B, soul and hip-hop artist RTL.Bluuwoods comes through with the sweet tones of this two-minute ditty.
6.
Chameleon
Show Me Where Your Heart Is
Matthew Harris started as a producer of the Irish rapper Malaki and has been dropping solo songs as Chameleon of late. His latest ‘Show Me Where Your Heart Is’ brings a melodic slacker-rock R&B sound to proceedings.
The track explores what it’s like to be torn between wanting to dive right into a relationship and having reservations about commitment.
It’s out now on Rubyworks.
7.
Jack Dora
Take What You’ve Been Given
Jack Dora is an Irish artist whose debut EP Take What You’ve Been Given features seven songs that bring in 80’s synth-pop, new wave and post punk and classic rock sounds, while thematically, is “centered on the struggle to escape the male ego and toxic masculinity we often grow up with through different characters and relationships.”
The title track is my pick of the bunch but do dive in.
8
Lowkick
Slippin’
After appearing here last month, the Dublin trio Lowkick (formerly known as duo CK&MCG) continue their forays into rap, jazz and lo-fi beats.
‘Slippin’ is shuffling rap track with a beat that sounds like it came from Mount Kimbie’s studio.
9.
Local Boy
Milkshake Pilltaste
Dublin sunny slacker artist Local Boy is a sun-worshipper on new song ‘Milkshake Pilltaste’, a song that is comfortable enough for the artist to compare himself to Republic of Loose front man Mik Pyro.
Makes sense.
“The themes get heavier on a lot of my new music so I wanted to remind myself that sometimes getting out in the sun and breathing fresh air can be so important for giving us a fresh perspective when times are hard.”
Local Boy also announced some gigs:
‘An Evening with LOCAL BOY + some special guests’ will be coming to Áras na nGael, Galway, August 25th; The Record Room, Limerick, August 26th; and Workman’s Cellar, Dublin, September 22nd.
10.
The Swedish Railway Orchestra
The Ballhaus
Dublin producer Rob Smith is the man behind the The Swedish Railway Orchestra project, and has a new album entitled Dance To The Drum Machine out next week, July 27th, via Blowtorch Records.
‘The Ballhaus’ is a recent single from the forthcoming release, an electronic song with roaming vocals and atmospheric production.
11.
Burlie Mac
Oh Alright!
A second feature for the Galway DJ and producer Evan McSweeney aka Burlie Mac after recent song ‘Sick In Da Head’.
‘Oh Alright!’ makes use of video game-esque coin sound to punctuate its sparse house sound.
As previously mentioned, McSweeney also has a collaborative project with Osunlade called po-lar-i-ty, and runs a festival called Éalú Le Grá, which is on in September.
12.
Hannah Horan
Holy One
Dublin-based Hannah Horan’s ‘Holy One’ is a dreamy indie pop song that explores the LGBTQ+ experience through the prism of living in a religious country, where shame and guilt are widespread.
Interestingly, the song was produced by Sarah Crean, who you can hear above on track one.
For more extensive Irish and new music coverage, hit up the Irish section for individual track features
For this and more Irish songs, follow the Nialler9 New Irish Spotify playlist.
