Category Archives: New Music

Badhands ‘Voices’

Badhands have released their new single ‘Voices’. Badhands is the musical project of Dublin songwriter and musician Dan Fitzpatrick. Having played for years with artists such as The Mighty Stef, The Last Tycoons, Paddy Hanna and Maud in Cahoots, he recently released his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Predictable Boy’. The record features musicians Tom Cosgrave, Aoife Ruth, Chris Barry and Ken Mooney, and upon release received much praise from critics.The band’s first two singles, ‘Waves’ and ‘Monday Morning’, have both received considerable airplay on national radio and have been performed live in session on shows such as Arena on RTE Radio 1.

‘Voices’ is a dark contorted number that chills with eerie instrumentation as Fitzpatrick’s vocals haunt through the psychedelic backdrop. With its heat stricken, western, lone ranger vibe and sliding guitar whines this track is compelling and extremely absorbing. The song travels on a dream-like delusional vibe with pulsating drums and strong piano chords strengthening the ominous foundation for the curdling bass lines to twist around. Filled with plenty of passion and rich emotional tones- this track is a spine chilling beauty with country hues and tumbleweed lonesome vibes peering through the hallucinogenic atmosphere and sweltering instrumental stings.

After a busy year of gigs in 2018, including two packed headline shows at The Workman’s Club Dublin, and supports slots with acts such as Michael McDonald, the band began work on album number two at the start of 2019 and is set for a headline show on April 13th in Whelan’s along with several dates around the country to be announced soon. These shows will feature songs from Predictable Boy, and also new material from the recently begun second album.

Watch the video for ‘Voices’ below


Jake Regan ‘Over It’

Dublin singer songwriter Jake Regan has released his debut single ‘Over It’. Regan who was previously in the band Segrasso has now gone out on his own and is recording his debut album where he plays all the instruments on the recording.

‘Over It’ is the first taste of Regan’s solo work. With nonchalant vocals breezing over a crashing backdrop of grungy shoegaze this track is a charming biter. He blends the laid back hazy vibes of the verses perfectly with the shredding chorus. Blistering guitars lacerate through the punchy drums with knife edged precision while Regan sweetly broods over this raw backdrop. There are some refined moments as the track takes a unique sweet turn half way through. The guitars spiral into a luscious melodic motif that features sublime guitar work from Regan as he meanders through a tight piece of musicianship filled with honeyed tones and gritty elements. This is meticulously blended to create a mind melting listening experience. This track frizzles and distorts while soothing with its sweetly melodic moments and moody tones. It’s quite the roller coaster.

Stream ‘Over It’ below


Birthday Card ‘Shy Away’

After a big year of extensive touring and the release of their acclaimed singles ‘Berlin’ and ‘Something Like Heaven,’ Brighton-based melancholy pop group Birthday Card are starting their 2019 as they mean to go on with a brand-new release. ‘Shy Away’.Having received heavy support and recognition from The 1975’s manager Jamie Oborne for ‘Shy Away’, the band have been turning heads on a regular basis since forming in 2017.

‘Shy Away’ is a chic 80’s flex of indie pop that bounces on an elastic bass groove. Shimmying beats and sublime retro keyboard jingles as Birthday Card flesh out their charming tasty sound. With sharp stings on guitar weaving between the sweet ethereal soundscape while the smooth honey coated melody glides effortlessly upon the biting vibrant backdrop with elegant finesse and laid back vibe. The auto tune vocals cool the track and provide a compelling and hypnotising listening experience as this danceable track struts and grooves its way into your mind coaxing you to sing and bop along. It’s a polished party pop sprinkled ear worm.

On creating the record, the band said :“Recorded, mixed and mastered by Marcus Yates at Milk Man Studios in Banbury, ‘Shy Away’ is a song about overcoming self-doubt and insecurities. Musically, we wanted to pin down a modern-day pop song that channels the anxiety and tension of its lyrics.”

Stream ‘Shy Away’ below


Worth A Listen

Photo credit: Braverijah Gregg

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From TWIN XL

TWIN XL have released their new single ‘Friends’. The band are no strangers to musical success. Ex-The Summer Set members and brothers Stephen and John Gomez and Nekokat’s Cameron Walker-Wright comprise this alt-pop trio. Collectively, the three have written and produced for artists such as All Time Low, Lindsey Stirling, and Life of Dillon, and have had their music featured in commercials and trailers like Disney’s Christopher Robin and Fox’s Lucifer.The accompanying music video to ‘Friends’ was directed by Jade Ehlers (Panic!, Weezer, MAX), choreographed by Kayla Kalbfleisch (The Ellen Show, Backstreet Boys), and conceptualized by TWIN XL themselves in collaboration with Ehlers.

‘Friends’ is a silky sun kissed delicious can of fruity alternative pop filled with refreshing carbonated synths and an infectious groove. Laid back smooth vocals glissade upon the melty sweet melody while and glucose soaked beat slaps and rolls between the elastic bass and lush backing vocals. It’s a tutti fruity gem swirling beneath a rich effervescent synth progression while zesty sharp guitars sting between the catchy melody. It’s a chic, slick, well crafted song that oozes sunshine from every note while a joyous catchy whistle feature injects a dash of peppy delight through the dance-able rhythms. With touching lyrical depth highlighting emotions of self-doubt, insecurity, and anxiety TWIN XL provide darker flickers of emotion through this tasty track adding a beautiful contrast to their refined, crisp musicianship

TWIN XL says of “Friends,” “We really wanted to find that happy balance between writing a catchy pop song that still had a lot of depth lyrically and also had a dark sonic undertone. The lyrics in the first verse talk about our desire for isolation and the internal conflict of an introvert. As the story progresses, we find sanctuary in the presence of strangers in strange rooms completely outside our comfort zone – here, we are free of judgement and we are free to be whoever we want.”

Watch the video for ‘Friends’ below


The Covasettes ‘Like You’


photo credit : Ianthe Warlow

Manchester indie-rock band, The Covasettes have released their fifth single ‘Like You’.The band enjoyed great success in 2018, achieving over 300,000 Spotify listens and played sold out shows all over the UK, including a performance at Leeds Arena after winning ‘Most Exciting Band’ at the ARIA’s awards.

‘Like You’ is a fresh bright indie track that floats delicately around a sweet melody and biting ethereal instrumentation. With an anthemic chorus and adrenaline inducing guitars entwining through a punchy rhythm, this charming sun kissed song is heartfelt and passionate with the perfect indie backdrop. The zest filled guitar riff radiates vibrancy throughout the track while the smooth vocals and thumping sing along ready crescendo give this track that youthful rush and heart stopping power of first love. With lush harmonies and sweet tones it’s a well crafted passionate gem to transport you to the springtime of your life.

Commenting on the track, vocalist Chris Buxton said: “Like you is different to anything we’ve released before. It sounds bigger than any of our other tracks and it definitely shows a different side to us; a side that we’re more than happy to embrace. It’s a classic love song, but with all the elements we look to add to our music, verses that are easy to settle into, lyrics you can scream and a chorus you can jump around to. We judge our songs on the reaction they get live, and whenever we play Like You, people always seem to get behind it. It packs a real punch and gets the crowds moving, so it feels great to be releasing it to the world”.

Stream ‘Like You’ below


A CHat With : Gorilla Troubadour

We sat down to have a chat with Dylan Kearns, James O’ Connor, Eamon Ganley and Eric Walsh from Gorilla Troubadour after their ‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ single launch in Whelan’s Dublin. We talked about the new single, how they come up with their sound, college and what Gorilla Troubadour have planed next.

Watch the interview here


Pin Ups ‘Lunchtime’

London indie three piece Pin Ups have released their new single ‘Lunchtime’.The track which is inspired by Donald Trump’s comments of arming teachers in order to prevent school shootings sees drummer Jesse Baker deliver the lead vocals. This snappy track is a barbed pop sprinkled number doused in light-hearted irony with a catchy chorus and vibrant soundscape.The smooth melody sweetens the bitter sting on guitars as they intricately weave and slice through the punchy drums and swirling synths. It’s dynamic and edgy with a hip – hop element peeping through the indie pop coating. With attitude soaked vocals rapidly rolling over the brisk verses before springing into the anthemic crowd-friendly chorus it’s one sun speckled richly layered tune.. ‘Lunchtime’ is a well developed track that shows just how superbly this band are growing.

Stream ‘Lunchtime’ below


Scally ‘Filthy Animal’


Photo credit : Nicholas O’Donnell Photography
Design: Stuart Hayes Photography

Mullingar rock n’ roll artist Scally has released his intense video for his new single ‘Filthy Animal’. The video which was directed by Karl O’Reilly of Bunsen Media stars Sorcha Herlihy, Dmitry Vinokurov and Ethan Scally himself. The visual tells the frenzied story of lust, jealousy and rage.

The track itself is another riveting rock n ‘roll number from Scally. With a hypnotic bass groove creeping in behind the thumping drum beats and sultry guitars, this track travels on an exhilarating frisson of hysteria. It’s another in your face, swagger dripping track doused in the exceptional instrumentation we have come to expect from this band. These guys blend the sweltering enticing vibes with all out anarchy meticulously to create a mosh ready blood curdling number that will have you hanging on the edge of your seat craving and frothing for more. With panache plunged vocals and an invigorating wall of sound driving that body moving beat and vaporous sizzle this is one well crafted track. A shredding guitar solo blisters through the punchy slick backdrop – Scally has created another searing number that seeps shrewdly under your skin itching right to your bones.

Watch the video for  ‘Filthy Animal’ below


Dres ‘LYSNE’ EP

Houston, Texas anthemic, grungy indie rock/pop band Dres have released their new EP LYSNE. LYSNE (pronounced “LISTEN”) is an acronym for “Last Year’s Summer Never Ended” and was
created straight out of high school.

LYSNE’ is a summer soaked EP sparkling with richly hued multi – genre facets and good times. Brimming with zealous guitar riffs buoyant rhythms and pop sprinkled goodness these tunes are instantly likeable. ‘Just a Thought’ kicks off this delightful adrenaline rush with catchy melodies, smooth vocals, glorious guitar lines and a vibrant rhythm. These guys flood every track with kinetic energy and youthful fun. There is a hint of the band Magic! wiggling its way between the indie pop as ‘Wake Up’, ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Oh (Florida) You Got Me’  are criminally catchy and easy on the ears. Glorious guitar lines weave lush zest filled tones throughout the EP carrying that sun kissed ethereal vibe joyously in each track. These songs are not for the cynics or grumpy as their intense jubilant atmosphere can be a little overwhelming. Each song explodes with this inferno of happy feeling and elated instrumentation. Things get slightly more rock and roll with the gritty bass in ‘What I Want’. With swagger dripping off the scorching guitar this anthemic sing along ready number would be great at a pool party. But it is final track ‘Cobain’ that brings a shift in the EP. The verses are more moody and grunge drizzled, however the chorus returns to that vibrant mass sing along.

‘LYSNE’ shows some sublime instrumentation from Dres that brings the summer in one short treasure chest EP. However like pandora’s box, once opened you have to suffer the consequences – you won’t be able to prise the tracks from your head and that youthful sun kissed glow will radiate from every pore in your body.

Stream ‘LYSNE’ below


Broozer ‘Son of Man

Wolverhampton based duo Broozer have released their new single ‘Son of Man’. This blistering track stomps about with meaty drums pounding through hefty riffs and attitude soaked vocals. Its swagger drenched persona struts in while the pulverizing wall of sound shatters through your ear drums with relentless energy and mighty stamina. Filled with gusto and rowdy power, the drums assault and throttle through the slinky blues-flavoured sharp guitars with a no nonsense attitude and charisma. With screaming vocals and rough rawness in tow- it’s a lean mean machine from Broozer.

Watch the video for  ‘Son of Man’ below