Every month we take a look back at the best new releases from Northern Ireland, showcasing the sheer amount of talent coming out of the North in our featured playlist. This month’s cover artist is Yinyang. Words by Aaron Cunningham, Robert Brown and Will Mac Aoidh.
Yinyang – Parasite
Yinyang’s bold artistry shines through again, as she makes a return from a few quieter months. There’s a brooding atmosphere on ‘Parasite’ that reflects the “motions of grief” explored on the track. While ‘Parasite’ snakes through a slower burn than some of her previous work, Yinyang’s bite is still evident through her delivery. AC
Lord Jane – Kaleidoscopes
I’m all about the punchy vibes from Lord Jane’s ‘Kaleidoscopes’. It’s a tune that takes the fun and energy from mid-era pop punk, then infuses intricate melody and polish to create something with a distinct and dark feel. Really fun without being saccharine, energetic without being overenthusiastic. WMA
Aine Gordon – Chaffeur
The sophomore single from Áine Gordon is a warm and engaging listen characterised by her deep and evocative lyricism. It reinforces her growing credentials as one of the rising stars of our burgeoning indie folk scene. RB
Monday’s Child – Love, You’ll Figure It Out
I was a big grunge and metal fan when I was young, so listening to ‘Love, You’ll Figure It Out’ brings me back in time like the ratatouille from the movie Ratatouille. (I’ll admit that this reference is not going to be universal. Take a second to Google it if need be). Soaring vocals combined with the sludgy guitars remind me of bands like Lacuna Coil or System of a Down, combining virtuoso musicality with power and punch. WMA
Mob Wife – Make You Rich
An always engaging listen, Mob Wife have yet to fail when they take aim at interesting lyrical targets. The band dream big again as ‘Make You Rich’ goes in on the rise of influencers and grifters. Leckey’s sharp tongue stabs through the track’s shifting dynamics on this massive track that has the band on top form ahead of new EP in June. AC
Charlie Hanlon – Foreshadowing
2025 brings a new sound for Charlie Hanlon with the Downpatrick native showing off his softer side on his latest single. ‘Foreshadowing’ explores the pressure from peers to be in a relationship, across a soundscape that feels bittersweet. A more nuanced sound from an artist who we often forget is still very early in his career. RB
Stratford Rise – Gunshow
Bangor’s Stratford Rise have been around since 2022 but despite plenty of exhilarating live shows, their studio output has been minimal. That looks set to change with the vigorously robust ‘Gunshow’, the first of several new releases set to catapult them into contention for the noise rock crown. RB
Tom Gee – You Got Me
You couldn’t stuff more groove into this baby, not without planning permission. Smooth, easy and featuring some serious guitarwork, ‘You Got Me’ is a such a fun lil’ belter really reminiscent of some of the more lighthearted guitarist-songwriters of the early 2000’s. WMA
Junk Drawer – Nids Niteca
The hypnotic guitar work and persistent beat of ‘Nids Niteca’ has been a Junk Drawer live fixture, previously appearing on compilation A Litany of Failures Vol IV, and now hails the coming of album number two Days of Heaven in June. The band smoothly condense their varied influences into two minutes of psych-rock form. Catch them on an 8 date Irish tour with Cola and Mhaol from the end of May. AC
Dullahan – Stand
Headed up by Allan McGreevy (New Pagans, Rupture Dogs), Dullahan feels like a return to Glasgowbury days when the likes of Jetplane Landing led the way for NI music. Hard hitting, guitar led hard rock from the band’s second single to date. AC
Playlist
