Best of 2023 | Best albums | Best songs | Irish albums | Best Of Podcasts | Guest lists |
Niamh Regan is a Galway singer-songwriter whose debut album Hemet was one of our favourites of 2020. Regan’s most recent EP was In the Meantime and was recently supporting CMAT in the UK and has a small Irish tour from January to March.
Niamh recently finished recording her second album and will be releasing it 2024. Sign up to her mailing list to be the first to hear about her new music:
Mitski
Bug like an Angel
This was the first single release from Mitski’s album The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We. I love every aspect of this song. The lyrics, the production, the acoustic strum paired with a bursting choir – love! I also really enjoy their live shows, the theatrical movements feel really fresh and I can’t wait to see/hear this song live one day soon.
I love Mitski’s words, I never know exactly what’s going on and that is the most relatable thing in the world right now for me.
Sarah Klang
Belly Shots
This song comes from the brilliant Sarah Klang and her recent album Mercedes. I love the swing of this track and the Klang Twang. She’s a Swedish artist but everything I’ve heard is in English and has an Americana/pop sound. I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek lyrics and really like the tone of the guitars in this sad pop track.
Caroline Rose
Miami
Caroline Rose is one of my favorite artists. To me their music is smart, bold, vulnerable, and fun and Miami is all that in one breath. I saw their stripped back solo show down in Cork this year and it was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from a solo set. I think the magic sauce to heart break songs is energy and Caroline Roses production and live performance always gets the right blend for me.
Yves Tumor
God is a Circle
You know as someone who adores lyrics sometimes a song comes along and it just sounds exactly how you feel. And for me God is a Circle feels like when you’re ready to burst, scared or spiralling. It’s like a soundtrack to the tensions of human emotion. I wish I could describe it better but what I’m trying to say is overall this song is really great and the rowdy/turbulent energy is fantastic and it had me from the first five seconds with its cathartic scream and intense breathing.
Katy Kirby
Cubic Zirconia
This was a single released this year by Katy Kirby. Again just really good songwriting and guitars. I’m really drawn to their vocal it feels very open and honest. Big fan.
Joanna Sternberg
Stockholm Syndrome
From Joanna Sternberg’s debut album I’ve got me. I’m hesitant to use the word raw but I really feel this in her entire album. The lyrics feel uncomfortably honest but still kind of hopeful all in really sweet melodies. One of my new found favourite artists. I can’t wait to see them live.
Troye Sivan
Can’t go back, baby
This song is from Troye Sivan’s new album Something to Give Each Other. The Australian musician samples Jessica Pratt’s song ‘back, baby’ for this track. Two great artists and songs in one. Big fan. I cleaned a lot to this track this year and it always got me in a good mood.
CMAT
Such a Miranda
This song and lyrics devastate me each time I listen to it. How it ends, yikes from beginning to end. I really love the guitars in this track too. But it’s the last line that gets me, how the song just ends, crazy good.
Jape
Lashing through the Minutes
Jape is a song machine. The production on this song is so much fun. Also what a great song title.
Cormac Begley
To War
Cormac Begley has been long one of my favourite musicians bopping about Ireland. And this tune of his is incredible. A musical treasure. It’s full of character this recording and tune and I love to pop it into random lo-fi easy going guitar playlists to wake me up sometimes.
*2 honorable mentions I really loved also ‘Ten Dead’ by Wilco and ‘Anna Calls from the Arctic’ Dry Cleaning.
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Best of 2023 | Best albums | Best songs | Irish albums | Best Of Podcasts | Guest lists |
