Every month sees more and more great Irish music released to the world. Aaron Cunningham and Martha Greer select some of their favourite releases of last month, including cover artist Julie Dawson. All found in our rotating playlist.
Julie Dawson – Silly Little Song
‘Silly Little Song’ is the haunting first release of Julie Dawson. Described as “a space to try things I normally wouldn’t when writing” by the NewDad singer, its eerie repetitive nature breaks down the traditional song structure leaving us with a lulling story of love and deception. MG
Banríon – 17 egg
Dublin alt-rock piece banríon’s ‘17 egg’ perfectly brings the summer to a nostalgic close. The track’s quirky jangle is sweet. It feels like a little bit of home wrapped in melancholy and much hope for the future. MG
Qbanaa – Best Time (Cuba Version)
Irish-Cuban artist Qbanaa returns to her roots with this acoustic oriented version of her June single ‘Best Time’, made alongside Uly. While the pop production is stripped away, this is a vibrant recording with Qbanaa’s layered vocal harmonies wrapped in soft rhythmic beats and guitars. AC
Aonair – Love/Fiction
Another love letter to throwback sounds from Aonair as he builds to his new EP later this year. Amongst the melding of modern and 80s production is a swirling pop song about yearning. AC
DREAM BOY – Take Whatever
The massive ‘take whatever’ is rich with hazy reverb as Dublin based four-piece DREAM BOY delve into an alt-rock shoegaze soundscape. Brought to life by layers of eerie vocals, the track builds and builds until it reaches a final eruptive ending. MG
Henry Earnest – Forever 2
The third of three August releases from Henry Earnest, and the second with a little country-folk influence is this gorgeous vignette. Henry Earnest’s unique pitch-shifted vocals, alongside harmonies from Banríon, sit softly yet at odds with the track’s gentle acoustic sway. AC
Skull the Pierre – Dublin.
An ode to the Swedish rapper’s adopted home and a surprise single just two months on from his May full-length MANC. A laid back hip-hop beat and the rapper’s idiosyncratic style with an earworm hook. AC
YARD – Bend
‘Bend’ is the Dublin three-piece’s second release of the year, and their heaviest to date. A bruising beat lies under shouted vocals and sharp guitar lines. YARD are proving another success from Ireland’s post-punk surge of recent years. AC
The Fae – So You Said
Shifting alt-rock with elements of shoegaze in the latest offering from trio The Fae. There’s an undercurrent of heaviness to carry the dreamier elements towards the chorus and the release of a pitch-shifting guitar solo. AC
Fontaines D.C. – Romance
The dramatic opener to the Irish lads’ fourth album of the same name, ‘Romance’ sets the scene for a band that have hit worldwide renown. A release of varied sounds, ‘Romance’ opens to with a menacing bassline and Grian Chatten’s refrain of “maybe romance is place”. AC
Kez ft Alex Gough – The Follower
Kez teams up with Irish hip-hop artist Alex Gough on new single ‘The Follower’. Self produced, the combination brings a new perspective, Gough’s softly softly processed contributions intercepting Kez’s strong, emotive vocals. AC
Ethan Hollan – Valentine
The long-awaited return of indie alternative artist Ethan Hollan points listeners towards a new musical journey. ‘Valentine’ propels Hollan into a 90s shoegaze cosmos amongst heavy reverb and spacious vocals. A twisted love song, it is the perfect mixture of grunge and gentle. MG
Tramp – The Birds (Lowered Suspension)
The best from the North West, Tramp have yet miss whether its their impassioned live performances or their first two single releases. Single number three has been long-awaited, and it delivers. A tongue-in-cheek commentary on lad culture and ‘not all men’ with biting riffs and Siânna Lafferty’s powerful vocals. AC
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