7 new Irish songs you should hear this week
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.
JJ Lee
Showbiz Baby
A bass player by trade, for Ghostking Is Dead and more, JJ Lee’s two solo single releases have been seriously impressive. The first, ‘Thursday’, came out far earlier in the year. ‘Showbiz Baby’ is the new one. Like its predecessor, ‘Showbiz Baby’ is laced with Irish nostalgia – the focus of which this time around is Eamonn Dunphy. Solid synth layers, sharp bass lines and clever sample manipulation all help make ‘Showbiz Baby’ a memorable tune.
2.
Lydia Ford
Lost My Mind
Mayo native Lydia Ford comes through with some woozy, glamorous electro-pop on new single ‘Lost My Mind’. There’s an offbeat groove to this one, giving the track a summery syncopated feeling. The vocal performances on this one are generally solid, with some liquid autotuned backing vocals mingling well with Ford’s own main take.
3.
Bloodflud
Find Your Man
Belfast native Bloodflud gives listeners an idiosyncratic spin on folk-rock on latest single ‘Find Your Man’. There’s a slacker pop ethos throughout ‘Find Your Man’, a listlessness present clearest through the vocal performance. The singing on this probably won’t be for everyone, but I think ‘Find Your Man’ is full of life and charm.
4.
Bobby Analog
Portal 1501
Belfast producer and founder of Body Fusion label Bobby Analog’s new BF006 EP has more than its fair share of progressive/ambient house gems. We’re highlighting ‘Portal 1501’, a six-minute dreamscape of house hi-hats and old school break-eqaue synth patterns. Tune in, tune out and get lost.
5.
Jack Bashful
Dans Ses Bras
Another Belfast-based artist. This time around its producer/MC Jack Bashful. His new Jack Bashful Presents: Flavours Of France dips its hand into traditional French folk music and crafts it into lo-fi, silky smooth hip-hop beats. There’s a definitive boom-bap flavour to the drums. Give ‘Dans Ses Bras’ a go.
6.
Drew
Duetta
https://soundcloud.com/djcolgan/drew-duetta-original-mix?fbclid=IwAR2RQYFvNpwpQQjt-Uar_YCCjmmz56aJlXiCzbpVIXzoj8yO3IIhQbcOdy4
Andrew Colgan, aka Drew, comes straight of Greystones with the classic house heavy ‘Duetta’. Props are due for the production on this one. Extremely warm lows, mixed cleverly into the song’s stereo image, give this track a sleek, modernist vibe. Straight up house to help your soul.
7.
Emzee A
Legacy
Hip-hop artist Emzee A’s new single ‘Legacy’ takes an objective look at the artist’s ambitions and desires. ‘Legacy’ looks inwards while looking forwards. It’s a depiction of a self-assured artist, one who doesn’t need “no one to tell me what I’ve been through”. It’s a catchy tune, delivered over a summery off-beat heavy instrumental.
