Featuring Aoife Wolf, Pat Lagoon, Ezra Williams, Proper Micro NV, Becky McNeice, Sister Fenix, Arthur Valentine, Róisín McKeown, The Fae, Volleyball, Alex Tierney, Archy Moor, Lushed.
A lot of music from Ireland and Northern Ireland comes our way and every week, we listen through it all, sift the list down to a manageable list and share the best new tracks from emerging artists and some more 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.
Aoife Wolf
A Ringing In The Ear
Belfast-based Offaly psych-folk artist Aoife Wolf’s ‘A Ring In The Ear’ takes the idea of tinnitus of its title, and accompanies its with discombobulation, and a sludgy primeval instrumental bog of a song, and video featuring mummer masks on rainy streets, and late-night venues.
2.
Ezra Williams
Babyteeth
The Cork-based singer-songwriter Ezra Williams writes songs through the lens of a young person who is both gender non-binary and on the Autism spectrum.
Songs heard on new debut album Supernumeraries, released last Friday.
‘Babyteeth’ is a highlight of the album, and comes with a teeth-focused video.
3.
Becky McNeice
One Million Other Problems
One of the 50 artists announced for Ireland Music Week this week, Becky McNeice has cut a fine line of single features over the last year.
‘One Million Other Problems’ is more a hazy summery jam, with its chorus hook and bright vocal timbre shining over a minimal beat intertwined with a gentle guitar sample, and is a collaboration with producer Eulogy.
“‘One Million Other Problems’ is a profound exploration of love, loneliness, vulnerability, and personal growth. The aim was to express the perspective of someone who is truly heartbroken, but subconsciously it veered off into something else. This song allowed me to express thoughts and feelings that I couldn’t rationalise, and that’s the beauty of songwriting”
4.
Sister Fenix
In Water
Jess Kav and Senita debuted their new band Sister Fenix with the alt-soul disco of ‘Benefactor of Love’ early this year, and this week the duo released a three-track EP called Gentle Life.
The opening track ‘In Water’, is a open-hearted electronic gospel showcase of two distinct and soulful voices.
Catch Sister Fenix at Dublin Pride on Saturday, at 6.30pm in Merrion Square Park.
5.
Proper Micro NV
Never Go On
It’s been two and half years since we heard from Limerick singer-songwriter and electronic music producer Rory Hall aka Proper Micro NV.
‘Never Go On’ is a pulsating synth patterned electronic soul record, like Jamie Lidell singing on a blissed-out dance track, released on Galway’s Strange Brew.
“I’m very proud of the song. I really wanted to try and make something that was electronic and a little bit extra in terms of production so that’s when I added the strings. It’s a big, built up dramatic piece of dance music. The video was shot in Hampstead in North London. There were dogs everywhere. It was glorious.”
Nice to have Hall back.
6.
Arthur Valentine
405
It’s summah alright!
The sunshine vibes are bursting from Arthur Valentine’s new jam ‘405’ (produced by Actualacid and Automatic Blue). It’s a song the Irish alternative R&B and pop artist has apparently “only performed with sunglasses on.
“405 reflects on a period of time I spent living in Vancouver, Canada. The lyrics highlight the lifestyle I was living at the time – a very minimalist, bare-bones, carefree way of living. It reminisces on the times spent skating around the city or to Kitsilano beach to spend all day doing nothing in bliss. The track itself was written at a time where I felt an awful lot of pressure and weight from external sources, as if I was being crushed by the weight of the world. Making 405 acted as a way to escape that pressure and contextualise things a bit. I mean, it’s hard not to feel more upbeat when those drums kick in. 405 is unlike any song I’ve ever released before and I feel like, creatively, it came from a place I had never really drawn from before. Making this track was honestly one of the most joyful recording experiences I’ve ever had and I think that comes through in the track.”
– Arthur Valentine
Released on Hausu Records.
7.
Pat Lagoon
Carousel
Waterford MC Pat Lagoon is bringing those good vibes with ‘Carousel’, taking inspiration from the R&B dance shaking tones of artists like Aminé and Kaytranada.
“The lyrics of Carousel navigate around the themes of misconstrual. Not knowing where you stand with friends or partners. I felt the theme around this bouncy instrumental would deliver itself as a more uplifting track. Speaking up and providing clarity.”
Pat Lagoon
8.
Róisín McKeown
Not Your Mama
A third single feature for singer-songwriter/musician based in New York and Dublin Róisín McKeown with a very clear message.
‘Not Your Mama’ is very much a stream of consciousness, all relating to being a caretaker to those around you. The feeling of giving more than you receive to those around you, and the exhaustion or frustration that comes with that. This song is me trying to face the reality of those situations, while also finding the silver lining in it all.
9.
The Fae
Do You Mind If I Miss You?
We premiered the debut single from the Dublin alt-rock power pop, shoegaze trio The Fae in March.
Their newest single ‘Do You Mind If I Miss You?’ is a janglier affair, that is giving me Pillow Queens vibes in its mood. There’s also a spoken word Middle 8.
Sometimes you understand why people behave the way they do but that doesn’t make it ok to be nasty. I guess it’s about finding compassion, the additional spoken word section reflects on the emotions that come up when you notice a sudden distance between someone you were once very close to, it was a way to admit that although so many years have past ‘i still miss you, i hope you don’t mind?’.
The Fae play The Workman’s Cellar, Dublin on September 15th.
10.
Volleyball, Alex Tierney
Lost
Christian Tierney and photographer pal Cian ‘Duigy’ Duignan got to know each other from their work as photographers (Tierney just photographed Niall Horan for the cover of Rolling Stone).
Having released their debut electronic single last year, the Volleyball pair have enlisted Christian’s brother Alex for the moody pitched-down vocals for this late night electronic excursion.
11.
Archy Moor
Don’t Send For Your Dogs
While Rejjie Snow is off walking in the Pharrell / Louis Vuitton show, the Dubliner is echoing a raspier take on Snow’s vocal tone on new loosie Earl Saga-produced single ‘Don’t Send For Your Dogs’, following this year’s Bonnie Hill EP.
Archy is supporting Denzel Curry at The Helix next Monday.
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.
