A lot of Irish and Northern 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 new music coverage, follow our Spotify playlist or hit up the Irish section for individual track features.
1.
Kettama
Higher (Steel City Power House)
Feel like pure shit, just want festivals back. Give me the distant thud of ‘Higher’ felt through the warm soil of a festival site.
The Galway producer’s latest track is out now on Mall Grab’s SCDD label.
2.
ZALI
We Are Not Alright
‘We Are Not Alright’ is the latest track from Dublin R&B pop artist ZALI inspired by the disconnection of trying to stay connected during a pandemic without chance of a proper release. Hey! I can relate!
3.
Odd Morris
The Once Was Enough
Dublin indie-rock band Odd Morris are back with news of a forthcoming debut EP Cityscape the Ballet, preceeded by ‘The Once Was Enough’ which makes an impression with its guitar tones and insistent drums along with soaring vocals by lead singer Daragh.
4.
Caoilian Sherlock
Dream About The Night
Cork songwriter Caoilian Sherlock aka Saint Caoilian (also of The Shaker Hymn, and the promoting game) teases a track from a forthcoming EP. The lush sounds of ‘Dream About The Night’ were inspired by T.S Elliot’s poem The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock (which I did in my Leaving Cert so thanks for taking me back to the trauma Caoilian – nice poem though).
5.
Cooks But We’re Chefs
Resting On Laurels
The Dublin 8-piece band Cook But We’re Chefs (pictured) were one of the bands that got a start at the Bernard Shaw when the venue was on the southside way back. Their jazzy soul and funk style is self-evident on ‘Resting On Laurels’. An album drops in September.
6.
blondmodel
Pipe Dream
Charmingly simple and bouncy electro-pop with some summery saxophone from blondmodel.
7.
Jordan Run
Eloise
The Cork artist Jordan Run channels the textured folk vibe of Ben Howard on the affecting ‘Eloise’, a song about perseverance and loss.
8.
AONAIR
Your Man
Brendan McGlynn has played with bands like Thumper, Raglans and Colour//sound, and from his solo project Aonair, ‘Your Man’ is an unabashedly bright synth-pop song inspired by the likes of Conan Mockasin and Julee Cruise.
“Your Man is a song about possession and love. The video is a visual representation of that message. We wanted to represent all those outdated tropes that represent relationships. The amazing Niamh McGoldrick, also known as the artist NEVV, plays the love interest in the video. She engages with the classic romantic gestures, she is gifted flowers, the white wedding dress, the “A for Aonair” necklace and in the end rips them up!
These actions are less about the destruction of romance or romantic gestures in general, but more so a dig at those traditions that are starting to feel outdated. Buying flowers, jewellery and even marriage were things that people felt like they must do to have a healthy and happy relationship. Nowadays I feel like it’s more of a choice between those individuals how they choose to express their love and how they want to define themselves, without the pressure to conform to any traditions.
9.
Sequence
My Way
The Athlone-based rapper Sequence leans into a full drill sound on ‘My Way’ after spending time building the New Eire TV Youtube channel. The track is produced by LukeFly.
10.
Nagam
Not Young Enough to Care (feat. Typeface)
Orán Magan operates under the name Nagam and this track from his Youthless Dublin EP out on August 1st, is delightful in its overlapping playful melodic tones.
11.
Air Jackson
Chemistry
A Dublin electronic artist previously featured here in May, Air Jackson just released a debut album of electronic productions called Chemistry, and a highlight from my listen to the long-player is the break-filled title track with an unknown vocalist leading the sweet Maribou State-esque melody.
12.
Parnell March
Therapy
Perth-based Parnell March is an Irish Australian electronic artist who is set to release a debut album Ozone Parade in September on Uncle Herb Recordings.
The album’s lead single ‘Therapy’ is a vocoder percussive synth jam accompanied by a very well-done music video.
Parnell explains:
“The video attempts to highlight modern day adult anxieties that are increasingly becoming issues for children. Body image being one example. The main character attempts to manage his issues in modern ways before seeking out therapy. He’s not really content until he gets medication and sort of becomes compliant…..before realising that pills are not the answer. The video is mainly playful while attempting to highlight that not one size fits all and often therapy is about getting the right fit, as opposed to a quick fix.”
