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.
Carrie Baxter
Pray
The Irish singer-songwriter is based in London, the city where music most sounds like it identifies with – a sophisticated soulful voice with a R&B production that nods towards hip-hop production.
2.
Elliott Mo
Flight
Elliott Mo (formerly of XO MO) has turned his hand to upbeat electronic productions under his solo guise and ‘Flight’ is a textured upbeat track with the obscured vocal samples and effects adding an air of mystique to its tone.
3.
Chósta
Rush Hour
Conor Kelly’s Chósta evocative electronic project makes a welcome return to this column. There are two songs just out ‘It You On My Mind’ and ‘Rush Hour’ and that I can’t separate the two is indicative of the burgeoning talent on display here. ‘Rush Hour’ is shaving it here today as it’s a track that takes an unexpected journey built on tense keys and bass.
Both tracks are on Bandcamp.
4.
THEO
Jealous
THEO is a London-based Irish artist with a classic soulful connection in her voice. ‘Jealous’ is her third single, with another – ‘Church and State’, on the way this week. Follow her on Spotify.
5.
Noden
Das Funk
Noden are a half Cork/half Essex duo Dave and Ollie, from whom I shared the Skinner EP last year here. They have returned with more nu-disco vibes on ‘Das Funk’. Spotify.
6.
HALLI
Body Never Lies
The Dublin artist Halli wrote this sweet-sounding gentle song after realising the importance of looking after your physical health as much as mental.
“Having moved to rural Netherlands as an act of self-isolation (under the guise of an artistic retreat) I eventually ended up bedridden from self-neglect. During this time, I was forced to recognize that my body deserved the same level of care as my emotional and mental wellbeing – and that there are repercussions to ignoring that balance. I think the song was a way to finally admit that I was mistreating myself. It’s an honest reminder of the body’s fragility and how it will always mirror how it is treated.”
7.
Ria Rua
Bad Girl
Previously featured here last year, professional drummer Ria Rua continues her forays into electronic-assisted art-pop with ‘Bad Girl’, an attitudinal zeitgeist song that is a cross between a multitude of styles that adds up to the song’s unique frenzied pop appeal.
The song is about “about betrayal, but more importantly, it’s about standing up to bullies and being brave enough to embrace your potential.”
8.
Nixer
Relax
Seán Keenan and Gearóid Peggs make up Nixer, a project split between London and Dublin. Working out of their bedrooms, the pair collaborate on their new wave electro music. ‘Relax’ even has a Fontaines reference.
9.
ROOUE
Flavour
Twin sisters ROOUE dropped the excellent pop single ‘What You Want’ last year, and this time around ‘Flavour’ adds some funk pop stylings to their vibe.
Incidentally, they made a great live video for the song.
10.
Gaze Is Ghost
Feather and Bone
Gaze Is Ghost has returned with a two new tracks, and news of a full-length album this year. In the past couple of years, Laura McGarrigle has been working with Keith Mannion (of Slow Place Like Home) and drummer Casey Miller (of Zed Penguin) on her new music. ‘Feather and Bone’ is a teaser of what’s to come.
11.
Myles Manley
Shiteshow
There are very few artists as individual as Sligo artist Myles Manley. From his recent album Cometh the Softies, is this wobbly little wonder.
12.
Strawman & the Jackdaws
Field of Wonders
Strawman & the Jackdaws are Dublin-based musical project consisting of singer-songwriter Riccardo Ranzani, drummer Michael Reolon, guitarist Jacopo Stofler and keyboardist/saxophonist Rory Fleming.
A debut EP called FOX or, F ∇ X was just released and ‘Field Of Wonder’ is indie electronic melodic pop that’s gazing at the stars.
13.
Big Sleep
Tall Stories
Lilting indie soul pop from new Dublin band Big Sleep.
Big Sleep are Rónán Connolly on vocals and rhythm guitar, Matteo Poli on percussion, Evin O’Connor on lead guitar, and Dougie Sealy on bass, with Robben B on this track providing backing vocals.
