Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
It’s the Dublin DJ buzzer’s first guestlist in FOUR YEARS (how did that happen?). Sally Cinnamon shares her top 10 songs of the year.
1.
Talos & Olafur Arnalds – ‘A Dawning’
In August 2024 we lost a spectacular Irish artist Eoin French, a very very dear friend of mine. To share and witness the end of someone’s life is the most sacred privilege of friendship someone can experience and this song perfectly encapsulates the experience and it also soundtracked the last days of him with us. We spend time listening and playing music to each other. Holding hands, crying, laughing and saying all that was left to say.
Olafur Arnalds took their recording into the studio with a string orchestra who knew Eoin had recently passed and you can hear how the weight of that was not lost on them. It is so beautifully haunted. The orchestra and Eoin’s voice brings us to the other world, a realm in which Eoin was always a part-time resident.
The collaborative album which features this track was released this year and it is cover to cover heart achingly beautiful. Niall O’Brien also takes our breath away with an accompanying video which was made with the same love and mighty integrity.
2.
Kean Kavanagh – ‘A Cowboy Star’
Another essential album this year with an even more essential accompanying video comes from everyone’s midland cowboy Kean Kavanagh. The dreamy swoony groove sweeps you straight away. It’s very funky and cool, hay!
The video was directed by his city mouse counter-partner-in-crime Kev Smith and it’s an absolute doozy. Kev Smith is an obscenely talented visual and musical artist, he truly exceeded himself with this video though. Peter McCann gives an unforgettable performance as the bould Pa Campion.
RIP Pa Campion all the same.
3.
Seun Kuti & Nigeria 80 – ‘Move (Keep Moving Version); feat Kamasi Washington
Dream collaboration here, it’s so rich and groovy. So dense with Fela flare and Kamasi brings his saxy magic. I played this all summer while I cycled around smiling like an idiot. I defy to to stay cranky or stay still whilst listening to this! Produced by Lenny Kravitz of all cats!
4.
Nu Gunea – ‘Sciallà’
I’m obsessed with these Neapolitan groovers, this was their only release in 2025 but its infectious as usual. Nu Genea signature: groovy, sun-drenched, hypnotic, and irresistibly up-tempo. ‘Sciallà’ is both a soft touch and a burst of energy. Sung in Neapolitan dialect and inspired by the rich musical tapestry of the Mediterranean and beyond, it’s a feel-good anthem crafted to ignite summer dancefloors with warmth, rhythm, and soul.
5.
Tom Carruthers – ‘ESPAÑOLA’
I gave up on Spotify last December and committed to a year without a streaming service to see how it changes and influences the way I consume music. A year of only Bandcamp and Beatport for finding new music was a great way to support independent artists but I learned how lazy streaming had made me. I’m lazy and I didn’t dig deep enough this year but found some random gems and jams. I haven’t a Spongebob who this Tom Carruthers character is but this is so buzzy.
6.
Motip White – ‘Mango’ (Last Man on Earth Latin mix)
Another very fun and infectious banger I discovered randomly on Beatport this year and rinsed over the summer. Get this into you!
7.
Iona Zajac – ‘Murder Mystery’
One of the most enjoyable things for me this year was seeing this magnificent woman’s evolution to the incredible artist and performer she is. It felt like a weekly thing, we’d be smacked in the face and feelings with yet another brilliant song and video and I am just beaming with pride for her. An absolute smokeshow of a woman and someone I am proud to call a pal. She blew us away this year with her witchy, funny, sexy, spooky silly magnificence. If you aren’t following Iona Zajac’s trajectory then I dunno what more can be done for you, frankly!
8.
Little Simz – ‘Flood’ feat Obongjayar & Moonchild Sanelly
There is no cooler artist on the planet right now than Little Simz and when she teams up with Obongjayar they cannot loose. This year was all about the videos it seems, this video is highly addictive watch. The styling, choreography, story telling its just off the charts. So crazy good.
9.
ROSALÍA – ‘Berghain’
This did not make sense to me on first sight and listen, I played it in a loop for a day and realised I wasn’t playing it to make sense of it I was just so into watching and listening to it, and that makes sense. What an artist. What a flex to collaborate with Bjork and Yves Tumor. Hands down the most bonkers and essential symphony this year.
10.
Lankum – ‘Ghost Town’
Out of absolutely nowhere this drops on Hallowe’en and it’s an absolute doozy! As reimagined covers go, it’s up there with the all time best. The video from Leonn Ward is outrageous. Lankum continue to be to cooler than the farside of the pillow though, the second part of this mental trip is an absolute bop in fairness. I didn’t get chance to play it to loud in a field of Pagans this year, but I’m gonna!
- Web : https://www.djsallycinnamon.com/
- Mixcloud : https://www.mixcloud.com/whitenoiseandwhatnot/
- Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/user/1158447419/playlist/5Gu1m9vTDWyTAgHc1S8OrT?si=SaABaWvWQ9Krl8HFEWapLg
- You Tube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFSv0PlSAQA
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
