Every month we take a look back at the best new releases from Northern Ireland in our featured playlist. A showcase for the sheer amount of talent coming out of the North, and a playlist worthy of repeat listening. This month’s cover artist is Dani Larkin.
Featured tracks
Spireview feat Leo Miyagee – Out of Mind
“Coming to me during a dark period over the first lockdown, the track became a product of self destructive behaviour.
The hardest part of songwriting for me is the 2nd verse, I had wanted to collaborate with Leo for a while and I knew this would be the one and that he’d have the ability to encapsulate the feelings I was trying to convey in a way I never could.” Spireview
Dani Larkin – Love Part Three
Folk prodigy Dani Larkin returns to bless us with that delicate balance of spectral voice and haunting guitar to craft a thoroughly stirring rumination on affection. Like the wolf howling at the moon on the single’s art, let the lethally belted word “sweet” pierce your very heart and soul. Jack Elmore
Big Daisy – Bee Mine
Some gorgeous lo-fi, bedroom pop escapism from the recent Bangers N Breakups collection is coincidently exactly what I needed. And with Problem Patterns’ Ciara King on vocal duties and detached from her usual firebrand riot grrrl sensibilities, she doesn’t sound out of place at all. There are lovely vocal textures and a charming symbiosis between the tone and melody that is undeniably catchy. Describing itself as a “heart on its sleeve” record, Big Daisy quietly ring in one of my favourite tracks of the year so far. Ben Magee
Amerik feat Gareth Dunlop – Olive
Producer Amerik steps things up a notch with the first track from his upcoming collaborative EP. Combining his stunning piano meets electronica with the gorgeous, stirring vocals of collaborator Gareth Dunlop is a masterstroke. ‘Olive’ is stunning, and it’s hard to imagine any other voice matching the track’s subtle pop. Aaron Cunningham
