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 Parker. Words by Aaron Cunningham and Martha Greer.
FEATURED TRACKS
Parker – Home With You
Derry three-piece Parker deliver on the promise of their live show and singles with debut album Never Let This Go. ‘Home With You’ sits on the softer side of the album, both musically and emotionally but there’s still a driving tempo under frontman Dylan Bradley’s vocals. A track that sits well within the band’s college rock influences, and an example of the great production throughout the record. AC
Problem Patterns – Letter of Resignation
Dedicated to anyone who has had to leave certain situations because of judgement or discrimination, ‘Letter of Resignation’ is a powerful statement from the shouty Problem Patterns. The tongue twisting racket is fuelled by meaningful lyrics amongst a static sound of fury. MG
Jock – Spoilsport
Fully loaded with a furious fusion of buzzing guitars and thrashing drums, ‘Spoilsport’ is the second single brought to us by this Belfast Queer-Punk trio. Jock have tightened their sound and now fill our eardrums with passionately unforgettable screeches. MG
Reevah – Time to Breathe
The stripped-back folk of Reevah’s early beginnings seems a world away on the alt-pop dynamics of new single ‘Time to Breathe’ as she continues to evolve her sound. A song about reflection and appreciation of the important things; the track dropped alongside news of a debut album later this year. AC
Brand New Friend – Talk It Out
‘Talk It Out’ represents the much-anticipated return of the North Coast’s finest Brand New Friend as they announce the release of their third album ‘Grandstand’. An expressive indie-pop anthem, it’s refreshing and lyrically relatable, only making listeners even more excited for what is to come. MG
Alfie Norma – Jumpscare
A new artist with interesting sounds, Alfie Norma released his debut single ‘Slip’ at the start of the month and followed it up two weeks later with a gorgeous debut EP. ‘Jumpscare’ from that release sits at the intersection of the songwriter’s fondness of both folk and electronic elements. Those sounds come together beautifully here. AC
Garrett Laurie – All About Me
There is something beautifully fragile about Garrett Laurie’s heartbreaking piano ballad ‘All About Me’ that is bound to take listeners back to the early years of Lana Del Ray and Lorde. The rich vocal layering is haunting whilst the electronic ending takes the song in a new direction. MG
Winnie Ama – Get on You
Winnie Ama continues to create catchy soulful infused disco-pop tunes with her latest release ‘Get on You’. An empowering song that preaches about women’s confidence when taking romantic risks, it will certainly end up stuck in your head all day long. MG
Rory Nellis & Philip Watts d’Alton – The Evening Light
‘The Evening Light’ marks the first joint release for Rory Nellis and frequent co-collaborator and producer Philip Watts d’Alton. The two songwriters meld their individual voices, guitars and keys on this upbeat folk track to great effect. AC
Playlist:
