Daithí’s last two singles were dance-pop arrows aimed at the charts. Versed in house, pop, trad and electronic, Daithí’s music is edging ever closer to a more accepted form of UK pop.
On ‘Have To Go’, with impressive vocal collaborations from soul singer Jesse Boykins III, that pitch is more obvious than before, mainly due to to the employment of euphoric synth stabs that are coded in the language of EDM pop.
Co-produced by Ian Ring of Young Wonder, the track has lots of good in it, the fiddle is utilised nicely to bridge the gap and the arrangement is top-notch. I can’t help but feel those synth stabs are too close to what’s heard in most current pop music right now. And while that might bring Daithí closer to the mainstream, I can’t help but wonder if by embracing someone else’s production style too closely, is he losing an a part of his own identity?
Especially when last two singles ‘Case Closed’ and ‘Chameleon Life’ managed to do both. Then again, I thought those songs should have been huge and they weren’t quite. Maybe this tune will open the door?
♡ Nialler9 is independent and reader-supported. Support us on Patreon →
Daithi plays his first Dublin headliner at the Button Factory on Friday night. His debut album is forthcoming.
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.
Nice but agree that he’s definitely shifting himself away from what caught the ear in his last two singles. Gotta say the man knows how to pick a vocalist. Top notch on that aspect again.