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 Beauty Sleep. Words by Aaron Cunningham.
Beauty Sleep – BIG + BAD
Another duo making a return with their first release in two years is Beauty Sleep. There’s a change in sound since their last record but ‘Big + Bad’ retains their knack for indie-pop, on a track that takes aim at toxic masculinity amongst beats, synth hooks and guitars.
exmagician – Sharpen These
Picking up where they left off back in 2016 (no, what the hell), exmagician finally return with new music. ‘Sharpen These’ is a welcome return from the former Cashier No 9, a track that professes their eclectic indie psych-pop like they’ve never been away. It’s taken from their second album, the aptly named Sit Tight, set for release 21 June.
Cathal Murphy – Emotional Disco
Multi-talented artist and producer Cathal Murphy continues to impress on his latest release. ‘Emotional Disco’ is a real earworm of a track centred on a groove that falls in and out, while the sparkling production elevates it all. A real melding of genres from the Edinburgh based, Carnlough born musician.
David C Clements – Reckless
One of the North’s most deft songwriters, David C Clements completes April’s theme of long awaited returns. He certainly hasn’t been quiet on the live front, including standing in with Two Door Cinema Club in South America, ‘Reckless’ is his first new music in eight years. It’s a song about love, crafted around cinematic production that builds in emotion alongside Clements’ peerless voice.
Gareth Dunlop – Go Down Swinging
The latest in Gareth Dunlop’s 2024 releases is an anthemic number, penned for the songwriter’s daughter. A song of empowerment fuelled by Dunlop’s strong, impassioned vocal in the track’s massive chorus. The track is part of Dunlop’s third album Welcome To The House Of I Don’t Know which is out 14 June.
Lucy Robinson – Everlove
Leeds based Lucy Robinson’s smoky vocals is the real draw on latest single ‘Everlove’. A mix of styles are thrown into its acoustic heart, with percussion, beats and piano making appearances but the layered vocal harmonies standout.
Playlist:
