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.
Munky
You’ve Got Male
MUNKY are a four-piece rock band from Dublin and their new single ‘You’ve Got Mail’ bangs. The track blends lo-fi grunge soundscapes with sultry female backing vocals and we’re here for it. Thrashing cymbal crashes meet wailing guitar tones and the result is a pure rock jam.
2.
Neverwait
Flee
This Dublin trio play live instruments, electronics, and processed vocals for a digital lo-fi blend of ambient, trap, rock and electronica. Follow them on IG.
3.
Brian Ring
Acid Sunrise
Brian Ring is an Irish producer currently based in Berlin. His latest release ‘Acid Sunshine’ features some pretty glorious progressive acid rave (as the title might indicate). Ring is clearly a bit of a dance enthusiast. Listening to the careful production and aesthetic on ‘Acid Sunrise’ illustrates as much. Filled with warm bass sounds and modular synth sounds to delight your inner geek.
4.
Stupid Son
Bread
Meet Stupid Son, a post-punk tinged indie rock outfit from Dublin. They describe their debut single ‘Bread’ as an ode to “being fresh out of college and straight into the fucking food service industry… the unease and trepidation of entering real-life”. The music video was made with a budget of €15 and its very effective, featuring lead singer Conall Loughney behind a mix of projection screenings – proof that you don’t always need a multi-thousand budget to be creative. The song hosts all the characteristics of grunge-rock with throbbing drums and grimy guitar tones. Yes please.
5.
Rachael Boyd
Blind Spot
‘Blind Spot’ is the latest single from Rachel Boyd’s upcoming album Weave and if this is any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for a treat. The track blurs the lines of contemporary classical with experimental electronic influenced pop and makes for a really interesting listen. A soaring solo violin melody opens the track before a hip-hop beat is introduced. Boyd’s vocal doesn’t enter until 1.30 but because there’s so much for your ears to grab onto, that’s ok. A defly original piece of music.
6.
Orla
dream
https://soundcloud.com/user-926482852/dream
Orla is an 18 year old musician and producer from Meath and ‘dream’ is her debut single. It’s an instrumental track that weaves atmospheric soundscapes through reverb drenched guitar lines and electronic percussion that is never overbearing. Coming in just over 3-minutes, it rises and falls in all the right places.
7.
MELTS
Echoes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czjdMey0UQI
Melts are a Dublin based five piece that formed back in 2017. Their first release of 2019 comes in the form of ‘Echoes’, a post-punk jam that has elements of pop and grunge in there too. Having all been in other bands prior to forming Melts, a mix of influences are weaved through the music to make for a really compelling listen. The music video was made by Hugh Mulhern who you might know from working with Kojaque and Fontaines D.C.
8.
Sunken Foal feat Katie Kim
Red Flags
Taken from his new Ribbon Works Vol.1 EP, Sunken Foal’s ‘Red Flags’ is an immersive piece of electronica. There’s a dark edge about the entire thing, a sense of dissonance the track never quite shifts. Sonically, the track seems to take plenty of influence from more leftf field producers like Jon Hopkins. Kim’s vocal delivery is clear and cool. Love the warbled synth leads that creep into the second half of the track.
8.
Archy Moor
Moonboy
One of the new additions to the Irish hip hop scene comes from Dublin native Archy Moor with ‘Moonboy’. It’s a quality lo-fi hip-hop cut with plenty of psychedelic edge courtesy of its synth accompaniment and warped texture. Moor’s delivery and lyrics are generally solid too, well worth checking out. The MC has been definitely listening to a lot of Rejjie Snow. It could be worth stepping a little further outside his influences on his next release.
