Tag Archives: indie

Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Late Night Pharmacy ‘Grass-Eating Boys’

Dublin, Ireland-based alternative rock band Late Night Pharmacy have released their new single ‘Grass-Eating Boys’. The single is the band’s fourth single of 2021, following April’s “Too Late for the Rickshaws”, June’s “Slacktivist (Normalise This)” and July’s “Relapse”. Recording the single was only possible after Late Night Pharmacy were one of four Irish bands hand-picked to take part in the 2020 edition of the TiLT Development Deal. As part of this deal, the band received hours of free studio time in Dublin’s legendary Sun Studios (in which artists such as Rihanna, Kanye West and Sinéad O’Connor have recorded over the years). There, the band recorded two songs, of which “Grass-Eating Boys” is the second to be released.

Laced in biting guitars and swirling soundscapes, ‘Grass-Eating Boys’ is a thrilling new single from Late Night Pharmacy. The band create a tightly-knit wall of sound through soaring guitar embellishments and sharp riffs while a buoyant beat maintains a strong and flexible foundation throughout. Late Night Pharmacy layer and craft the song meticulously; a constant instrumental onslaught of propulsive rhythms and blitz on synths is deftly combined with sweet melodies and slight tempo changes to create spacious moments within the frantic soundscape and contrast the post-hardcore rock moments. This wonderful combination of elements is a joy to listen to and showcases how talented this band is. ‘Grass-Eating Boys’ is an exciting tune that boasts Late Night Pharmacy’s refined and powerful musicianship.

About the track, the band said: “Our lead guitarist read the article “The Sex Recession” in The Atlantic, in which he encountered the Japanese terms “sōshoku(-kei) danshi” (grass-eating boys) and “hikikomori” (pulling inwards): Japanese men who express no interest in pursuing careers, financial independence or romantic relationships, and who live the life of a modern hermit. The song was inspired by this phenomenon, which is quickly becoming as visible in the West as it is in Japan.”

Stream ‘Grass-Eating Boys’ below


Author: Danu

Album Review, Alt- Pop, Indie Pop, New Music

The Crayon Set ‘Downer Disco’ Album

Dublin-based, The Crayon Set have released their new album ‘Downer Disco’.The album was recorded with producer Stephen Shannon at Experimental Audio in Dublin in 2019. The release was put on hold due to Covid ’19.To celebrate the launch of ‘Downer Disco’ The Crayon Set will play their first headline show in over 2 years at The Grand Social, Dublin on 7th October. Tickets are €9 (Students: €7) and are available at www.ticketmaster.ie  

‘Downer Disco’ is a glorious collection of alternative pop gems that ripple with shimmering synths, rich percussion and the irresistible musicianship of The Crayon Set. This band’s ability to whack out diverse earworms while creating a cohesive body of work is simply impressive. They pour sweet melodies and bright instrumentation into opening tracks ‘Don’t Step Back Too Far’ and ‘Summer Song’ before stirring darker tones and brooding melodies through ‘Out Of Your Mind’ to showcase the versatility and freshness within their sound. 

The band exude swagger within this album as they confidently sashay through the sassy indie drenched ‘Rock Star// Dream Girl’ and country hued ‘Flames’ before using brooding guitar melodies, jazz peppered keys, punchy drums and a sultry soundscape to create a sense of mystery that keeps the listener hooked throughout. The lush musicianship within ‘Downer Disco’ is compelling. The band effortlessly balance light and sweet tunes such as ‘Boring’, ( with its lush harmonies, ethereal twinkles on keys and warm guitar ) with the more dark, obscure and electronic heavy ‘Not the End of the World’; the latter boasts choppy rhythms, spiralling electronics and distorted guitars that creates an intoxicating and luring psychedelic-hued backdrop for listeners to indulge in. 

Alongside oodles of rich, tantalizing instrumentation The Crayon Set display emotive lyrical content throughout the album that depicts themes such as mental health, love and loss to name a few. The lyrics are powerful and evocative on their own however they are greatly enhanced by the band’s artful use of instrumentation; beautiful, poetic and aptly placed turns of phrase are wrapped within bittersweet or brooding melodies, “skimming stones cause ripples that go on”–  ‘Miss You in my Dreams’. The Crayon Set have a wonderful ability to touch the soul with their lyrics, while soothing and comforting with their musicianship at the same time and these moments within the album are a joy to experience again and again.

A real treat to the ears ‘Downer Disco’ is an immersive gem of sweet alternative pop filled with beautiful melodies, opulent instrumentation and utterly compelling soundscapes. The Crayon Set are refining what they do best, providing eargasmic refreshing tunes that beckon repeat plays.

Stream ‘Downer Disco’ below 


Author: Danu

EP Review, Indie, New Music

Four in the Morning ‘Stress Dreams’ EP

Four in the Morning have released their Debut EP ‘Stress Dreams’. Led by Irish singer-songwriter Kevin Dolan and surrounded by an eclectic group of genre-defying musicians – Kiran Srinivasan, Dan Walwyn and Alex Lees – Four in the Morning write sad songs for insomniacs. As Kevin Dolan puts it: “I’ve always been bad at sleeping, and I find late at night a great time to write. Whether it’s a dream or a song, there’s something beautiful in the subconscious, taking all the stuff from a day and making sense of it. I guess that’s what these songs try to do.” ‘Stress Dreams’ was produced, recorded and mixed by Jono Steer (Angie McMahon, Ainslie Wills, Leif Vollebekk, Julia Wallace) at The Perch Recording Studio in Castlemaine in rural Australia.

‘Stress Dreams’ is a marvellous EP. Four in the Morning define their songwriting to create a moving, multi-dimensional experience full of heart and exquisite musicianship. Their music transports you into a dream-like, sedative world filled with wispy, almost translucent soundscapes. Each track exudes hazy bright tones that create a rosy-hued, memory-like effect between the mellow guitar and smooth melodies. This multi-dimensional sound transcends any genre and is a joy to listen to.

The beautifully melancholic ‘Home Home’ kicks the lucid experience in motion. A soft piano laments beneath Kevin Dolan’s vocals of despair as he pines, “I wanna go home home”. This majestic tune boasts Four in the Morning’s musical prowess as they build on the raw vocals and piano, adding in warm guitars and Irish musical embellishments; these elements lift the song from the stark loneliness displayed at the beginning to give the listener a glimpse into the warmth and joy Dolan longs for as he dreams of returning home to Ireland. This evocative imagery is the EP’s foundation as the band takes us on many mind journeys through the medium of powerful musicianship and eloquent lyrics. From the pulsing heartbeat rhythm in ‘Keep It Together’ to the warm nostalgic melody, dark undertones and striking lyrics in ‘Love in the Asylum’,  the band provide a bittersweet escape for the listener to immerse themselves in while dealing with heavy emotional themes “it’s so dark and I’m so scared I’m living in a brain that’s running out of air”.

‘Stress Dreams’ ripples with light fragments of hope between dark emotions. There are themes of loss, loneliness and despair throughout the lyrics; however, at times, glimmers of hope rise above the pool of emotion; sometimes it’s through a cosy caress on guitar as in ‘Good Love’ or time stopping harmonies in ‘In The Dark’. The band never leave us to wallow in the sombreness for too long. They provide a means of coping through refined, and ethereal instrumentation to make ‘Stress Dreams’ quite the compelling listening experience. 

Within ‘Stress Dreams’ Four in the Morning capture raw, unbridled emotion through spectacular arrangements and eloquent songwriting. The EP is laid back, passionate, and lays bare dark thoughts and feelings that are deftly expressed through mesmerising and expressive musicianship. It’s a heartbreaking but utterly beautiful collection of songs.

Speaking about the EP Kevin Dolan of Four in the Morning said: “I didn’t really notice until the record was finished how many references to sleep and dreams there were across it. The songs are obsessed with family, longing, stress, depression, love, and how we make sense of all of it. They’re fragments, feelings, and a means of coping.”

Stream ‘Stress Dreams’ below 


Author: Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Margot Polo ‘Can You Hear Me?’


California-based indie electro-pop act Margot Polo has released his new single ‘Can You Hear Me?’.This vibrant bop is bursting from the seams with Margot Polo’s lush, intricate and dynamic musicianship. Margot Polo is becoming known for passionate, irresistible melodies and ‘Can You Hear Me?’ is a triumphant example of this. Glittery disco elements blend into a pool of shimmering synths while jaunty guitars ripple throughout, adding a dash of zest and edge into the track’s sonic soundscape. With a stomping beat slicing between the sun-kissed psychedelic tones and lush pop sensibilities, Polo creates a refreshing tune laced in hearty melodies and rich production. ‘Can You Hear Me?’ is a catchy upbeat tune that is destined for repeat plays.

Stream ‘Can You Hear Me?’ below 


Author: Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Seán Finn ‘Summer Is Over’

Seán Finn has released his new single ‘Summer Is Over’. Originating from rural Ireland, Seán Finn is a multi-instrumental songwriter, grounded in pop and jazz. With a few years of songwriting under his belt, Seán’s homespun style provides a warm and inviting soundscape for his listeners. Seán is currently working together with sound engineer Jack Roulston on a project titled ‘Pencil In Regret’. The project consists of 10 songs that were written before and during the pandemic and ‘Summer Is Over’ is the final single to be released from this upcoming project.

Seán Finn blends retro tones with warm jazz hues, and subtle psychedelia in ‘Summer Is Over’ to create a sweet tune that boasts his vibrant songwriting. The song is lavishly arranged to provide a mellow and bright listening experience as warm guitars weave between rich rhythms and elastic bass grooves. The guitar adds a playful character to the song. It cheerily meanders between melancholy and peppy joy before unfolding into a more distorted psychedelic tone for the trippy crescendo. Finn’s soothing vocals carry the hopeful lyrics “ I know she likes me too” with a cheery and charming quality as the song effortlessly glides into the ears with a mellow and nostalgic tone. ‘Summer Is Over’ is a joy to listen to.

About the track Finn said:  “I would describe ‘Summer Is Over’ as my first sincere attempt at writing a single. The production feels like it’s a big step in the right direction for me, it all sounds very clean and proper, yet it still sounds like me. It’s definitely my best song to date. It captures that melancholy feeling when the summer is drawing to a close, and your summer romance didn’t pan out the way you had hoped. Instead of facing the rejection at hand, you decide to focus on the positives. That kind of behaviour will catch up with you eventually, but in the moment it provides a little comfort. It might be naïve, but it’s nice.”

Stream ‘Summer Is Over’ below 


Author: Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Patrick Stefan ‘Anna’

Patrick Stef

Patrick Stefan (formerly Paj) has released his new single ‘Anna’.Irish-born, half Dutch singer-songwriter Patrick Stefan would describe himself as a bit of a musical polyglot, having lived and performed in America, Brazil and West Africa, and played with some of Ireland’s leading musicians (including Loah, Fehdah, Uly, and rising R&B star Aby Coulibaly). He even has performance credits alongside Eurovision winner Luisa Sobral, and Irish fiddler Martin Hayes, as part of the award-winning band Ensemble Ériu. After completing his Masters in Global Music & Pedagogy at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Berklee College of Music graduate began releasing the bulk of his solo material under his former moniker, Paj. Stefan’s folk/jazz group, Leafzang, also released their eponymous album in 2011. ‘Anna’ is the first single Stefan is releasing under his real name and was written about his fateful meeting with the Airbnb host. The song heralds the announcement of his forthcoming album, slated for 2022 release.

‘Anna’ ebbs and flows with Patrick Stefan’s emotive and lush musicianship. He creates an ethereal laid back tune through refreshing instrumentation and airy soundscapes. The track has a mellow and passionate tone, enhanced by a supple guitar intro, wispy electronics and earthy marimba. Stefan blends smoky melodies and warm jazz keys with hypnotic rhythms and intricate arrangements to create a unique and mesmerising tune for listeners to enjoy. The lyrical tenderness is soothing to the ears “you don’t know how precious you are,” as Stefan’s velvety vocals caress the dreamy melody to create a pacifying and comforting listening experience. Doused in lo-fi tones, R&B elements, and silken melodies, ‘Anna’ is simply a delight to the ears.

Stream ‘Anna’ below


Author: Danu

Alt Rock, Indie, New Music, Shoegaze

Dalton ‘This Way’

Singer-songwriter Nate Harar, also known as Dalton, has released his new single ‘This Way’ lifted from his upcoming album, ’To the Woods’, due out October 22nd via AWAL. Dalton released his self-titled debut album on the indie label Fierce Panda Records in 2015. The album was well-received (London In Stereo, NME, The Line of Best Fit, Clash, Drowned In Sound). He then followed that up with a five-song EP released in 2017, along with a second full-length, ‘Take Shelter’, in 2019.

Driving on a swarm of fuzzy guitars, ‘This Way’ is an invigorating new single from Dalton. Filled with lush harmonies, buoyant rhythms and a breezy melody Dalton creates a sweet nostalgic gem laced in euphoric instrumentation – the track packs one hefty shoegaze punch as the blitz of sharp guitars bluster around a dreamy melody and sun-kissed 90’s soundscapes. ‘This Way’ is well crafted and layered to perfection to create a richly textured tune that boasts Dalton’s refined and exhilarating musicianship.

Stream ‘This Way’ below


Author: Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Nory-J ‘Tough Cookie’

Photo Credit: Nory- J

Nory-J has released his new single ‘Tough Cookie’. Nory-J is the indie-pop pseudonym of former Bath phenomenon Jack Spooner. Telling the story of a self-destructive love interest, the song is a quintessentially British journey close to Jack’s heart reflecting his own self-destructive tendencies in a one-way conversation about remaining resilient through tough times. Performed on the biggest stage in Bath, and at a virtual TEDxBSU talk, the song is a hit among live music fanatics and Nory-J fans.

‘Tough Cookie’ is a delicately crafted gem that surges with the sweet and emotive songwriting of Nory-J. The track drifts along warm guitar and an uplifting drum foundation while Nory-J’s smooth vocals caress the tender melody with ease. The track is minimalist in its approach allowing the artists’ narrative to move to the fore as Nory-J croons comforting lyrics over the cinematic sing-along chorus and foot-tapping rhythm, “Don’t be that way, You beat yourself up on a Monday”. ‘Tough Cookie’ is a delight to listen to and highlights Nory-J’s effortless sound and wholesome musicianship. Press play and enjoy.

Stream ‘Tough Cookie’ below 


Author: Danu

Alt Rock, Indie, Indie Punk, indie rock, New Music

THUMPER ‘Ad Nauseum’

THUMPER have released a remix of their blistering single ‘Ad Nauseum’. When the original single version of ‘Ad Nauseam’ dropped in early 2020 THUMPER embarked on an extensive UK and EU tour in support of the song. As it began to get extensive playlisting on Spotify, Apple Music, Kerrang, and BBC6, this was to be followed up by months of festival appearances and shows in Iceland, North America, and more. Two weeks in, and this breakneck schedule was cut short by Covid, and all plans, touring and otherwise, were axed. Once the PAUSE button was well and truly pressed on the year they were about to have, THUMPER began channelling their energy into a different type of year. Behind the scenes, their debut album started to take shape, with the band holed up in their home studio for months on end. Now THUMPER is taking up where they left off with a raft of shows including festival slots at Iceland Airwaves, Reeperbahn, a huge UK tour, and ‘Ad Nauseum (2021 mix)’  released today.

‘Ad Nauseum (2021 mix)’ is a refined remix of the explosive original single as THUMPER put a more focused lens on their abrasive sound to create a sharper and more whiplashing rendition of this exhilarating tune. ‘Ad Nauseum’ is one of THUMPER’s most epic releases to date and the sheer tension, scuzzy bombardment and adrenaline surging through this song is awe-inspiring. This retouched, remixed, and remastered version will have you frothing at the mouth ready for the mania of their live shows to follow.

THUMPER are a band not to miss. In a live setting, this band’s talent truly shines. Catch them live at the dates below, and trust me you won’t be disappointed.

 TOUR DATES: 

  • Thursday/Friday 23/24 September -Reeperbahn, Hamburg 
  • Wednesday October 6th – Jimmy’s Liverpool
  • Friday October 8th – Focus Wales
  • Saturday October 9th – Bootleg Social, Blackpool
  • Sunday October 10th – Yes, Manchester
  • Tuesday October 12th – Sneaky Petes, Edinburgh
  • Wednesday October 13th – The Hug & Pink, Glasgow
  • Friday October 15th – Head of Steam, Newcastle
  • Saturday October 16th – Live at Leeds Festival
  • Tuesday October 19th – Fulford Arms, York
  • Wednesday October 20th – The Adelphi, Hull
  • Thursday October 21st – Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield
  • Friday October 22nd – Firebug, Leicester
  • Saturday October 23rd – The Crofters Rights, Bristol
  • Sunday October 24th – The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
  • Wednesday October 27th – The Prince Albert, Brighton
  • Thursday October 28th – The Windmill, London
  • Friday October 29th – Voodoo Daddys, Norwich
  • Saturday October 30th – The Crauford Arms, Milton Keynes

Stream ‘Ad Nauseum (2021 mix)’ below 


Author: Danu

Indie, New Music

Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets ‘everything will be ok’

Photo Credit: Jamie Moore

Limerick City five-piece, Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets are back with their new single, ‘everything will be ok’. This is the Alt-Rock groups fourth single of 2021, and is part of their ‘crazy, how we live like this’ collection. As always, this song comes recorded and produced by the band themselves and is set to come out on Limerick-based collective, BitDepth.So far in 2021, the band have gained nearly 25k streams on Spotify. They have also been played across major Irish stations such as Today FM, RTE 2XM and Spin SW. The band supported The Frank and Walters at Féile Forever on the 4th of September and are set to play a headline show Upstairs in Dolans on the 15th of October. The band have one more single to be released before they release their full ‘crazy, how we live like this’ collection.

‘everything will be ok’ superbly displays the heartfelt and soul-satisfying sound of Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets. From the warm guitars and pulsing rush of drums to the nostalgic sweet melody and soothing vocals, the track is an absolute gem to the ears. The band layer and craft this song wonderfully to create a charming anthem that oozes a lush, irresistible backdrop filled with soft twinkling keys, powerful choruses, strong rhythms and chiming guitars. ‘everything will be ok’ is a fantastic tune sure to brighten any dull day and a delightful example of Dylan Flynn and The Dead Poets’ refined, and evocative musicianship.

Stream ‘everything will be ok’ below 


Author: Danu