Fresh off the release of his widely acclaimed EP ‘Transcendence’, Robert O’Connor presents his new single,’ Save You’.The track was produced by Gareth Shortland, who was recently recruited to remix hits for Steps and Will Young.
’Save You’ is an effervescent 90’s-infused dance anthem. Saturated in fizzing electronics, buoyant beats and chiming keys, the track swirls with infectious dance soundscapes while showcasing O’Connor’s impressive melodic prowess. A sweet melody glimmers through the shimmering backdrop while reverb vocals chime through the kinetic soundscape. ‘Save You’ is an upbeat bop that exudes an instant charm as O’Connor blends crisp production with catchy grooves to create an exciting dance floor filler. Press play and enjoy.
Born out of the existential crisis that has been Covid, and a general feeling of global turmoil, ‘Not Today’ is the massive debut album to come from UK rock band Giant Sky. Finding themselves ready to record in March 2020, the pandemic restrictions meant that they were stopped in their tracks. Still desperate to focus on their music, the band put together crude demos, which soon turned into an EP. Gradually finding their style changing and seeing that there was no end to restrictions in sight, Giant Sky headed to a studio to record this full-length album, wearing masks and testing daily to get the album completed. Formed of Olivia Bond, Toby Mcfee, Jay Amesbury and Jon Hatch, Giant Sky was born after meeting Olivia in 2019. Having been in bands together since their teens, the boys have played music together for years, with Olivia’s vocals and lyricism completing the picture.
‘Not Today’ is a powerful alternative rock album surging with Giant Sky’s sonic onslaught of heavy riffs, crashing drums and dark melodies. The band create tense tunes that brood with moody grunge verses and anthemic choruses. From the cinematic and robust ‘Rust’ to the triumphant raw smack of ‘Elephant, the band take a resounding foundation of roaring bass and pummeling drums and scatter coarse guitar embellishments into the mix to create a lean, mean and musically tantalizing wall of sound. The songs travel at a brisk neck-snapping pace as Giant Sky layer acute instrumentation atop a jagged rhythmic pulse within tracks such as ‘Change’ to create a manic mosh ready soundscape for listeners to immerse themselves in. The blazing instrumental backdrops within the album creates an exhilarating contrast to the melodies’ hazy effect, which, teamed with Olivia Bond’s delicate coos, adds a softer element to the songs. We see this particularly within ‘Heroin’. The coarse sawing bass and sharp guitar refrains lacerate with aggressive force, which Bond cushions with her soothing vocal delivery.
‘Not Today’ is a fine display of the band’s musical prowess, ‘Wolf’ and ‘Elephant’ in particular are prime examples of Giant Sky’s endless talent where we see the band sprinkle moments of guitar delight throughout. However, it’s the bittersweet ‘Home’ that sits as the pinnacle moment within the album. Boasting ethereal guitar, a bright atmosphere and Bond’s pristine vocals the song builds to a hair raising cinematic crescendo filled with expressive drums, lush backing vocals and soft keys. The track is a captivating gem and a wonderful assault on the senses.
Giant Sky have poured themselves into this fantastic album to create a mature, refined and thrilling collection of tracks ready for repeat plays.
Pa Sheehy frontman of the Irish chart-conquering band Walking On Cars, has released his debut solo single ‘I Saw You At A Funeral’.
‘I Saw You At A Funeral’ is a beautifully arranged tune wrapped in delicate instrumentation and poignant songwriting. This emotional track drifts through icy keys, soft backing vocals and delicately building soundscapes as Sheehy’s vocals express the song’s emotional lyrics. “Oh you know I still remember the day you chose to go. Mom was in the kitchen, saying, “now we’re on our own”. Sheehy takes a minimalist approach which heightens the song’s stirring message. ‘I Saw You At A Funeral’ is a thought-provoking, time-stopping piece of music and an utterly compelling debut solo single from Pa Sheehy.
Speaking about the new single ‘I Saw You At A Funeral’ Pa Sheehy said: “This is a song I find easier to sing than talk about. I didn’t want to give this part of my life too much attention because I was doing my best to focus on the good things in my life. But every time I sat down to write a song, it was always the first thing that jumped out of me. So I knew I had to get it out of my system. After it was written, it was all about not over doing it with the production. With such a blunt song it didn’t need any bells and whistles. A little keyboard arpeggio and some atmospheric sounds was enough to glide it home. My siblings listened to it once but won’t listen to it anymore. I take that as a compliment.”
Gang Of Youths have released their new single ‘the angel of 8th ave.’ The track represents their first new music since 2017’s ‘Go Farther In Lightness’ album. Entirely self-produced, the track was recorded in their own studio in Hackney, a place which provides them with unlimited creative freedom. It was subsequently mixed by the Grammy-winning Craig Silvey (Arcade Fire, The National). Since forming in Sydney, Australia in 2011, Gang Of Youths have made a big impression with their two albums to date, ‘The Positions’ (2015) and ‘Go Farther In Lightness’ (2017), the latter of which won four prestigious ARIA Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Group. London shows have included four sold-out nights at the Islington Assembly Hall, and a show as part of BRITs Week 2020 in support of War Child. Meanwhile, international festival dates have spanned everywhere from Splendour In The Grass to Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, Rock Werchter and Mad Cool.
‘the angel of 8th ave’ is an expressive rush of indie rock that showcases the dynamic musicianship of Gang Of Youths. The song ignites with a catchy rhythmic intro before Dave Le’aupepe’s deep vocals express the lyrics as a rapid progression of thought,“So we got straight to the heart, And I was a coward and worse to my shame, I fell hard upon the weightless weeks, But wasted every day”. The earnest lyrics move through a jogging backdrop of bass rumbles and resounding sprints on guitars as the band create an intense and hyper wall of sound for listeners to indulge in.
The band layer and craft the song superbly to create an invigorating listening experience. The song builds becoming more vibrant with each flourishing musical element as the dynamic chorus elevates the track with soaring sharp guitar embellishments and a driving bounce on drums. Everything pivots around the snappy rhythm within this song as warm injections on acoustic guitar, haunting reverb pines on synths and lofty guitar refrains ricochet off the snapping percussion and drum beat.
Gang Of Youths present a marvellous new tune that effortlessly displays their passion and musical prowess. With a tune this impressive, powerful and ambitious, I’m excited to hear what the band has to offer next.
Dublin alternative indie rock four-piece Fruitz are back with a new single, ‘Be Like This’. The song follows their popular previous release ‘Daydream’ in 2020, a sold-out headline show at Whelan’s, and support for Louis Berry. ‘Be Like This’ was recorded in Dublin’s famous Windmill Lane Recording Studios. Fruitz teamed up with producer Cian Synott and mastering engineer Fergal Davis on this song as well as Gareth Halliday ( Noel Gallagher) for the artwork.
Doused in sharp riffs and driving rhythms, ‘Be Like This’ is an impressive track from Fruitz that balances 90’s alternative rock with indie undertones. The tune is an emotive and confident display of passion-filled musicianship that showcases the band’s mature and dynamic sound in all its glory. Brooding verses simmer with rumbling basslines, jangly guitars and tense drums to provide the perfect pressure cooker to perk the ears and tantalise the senses before erupting into the mighty chorus. Boasting expressive vocals, an exhilarating melody and majestic guitar display, ‘Be Like This’ is a hair-raising anthem that marks Fruitz as ones to watch.
Dublin Producer, Songwriter & Multi-Instrumentalist, Cabin has released his debut single ‘The Parasocialite’.Cabin (aka Adam McCabe) began crafting his songwriting and production skills as part of post-punk outfit Brass Phantoms, and has had his music featured on the likes of BBC Radio 6 with Steve Lamacq and Spotify’s Hot New Bands and more, along with production credits for the likes of Fangclub.
Cabin announces his solo debut magnificently. ‘The Parasocialite’ is an extraordinarily detailed opus that boasts the velvety, dense sound of Cabin. This tune ripples with light glimmers on synths, jangly guitars and steady beats as Cabin creates a lucid psychedelic soundscape for listeners to immerse themselves in. It’s easy to get lost in the many luxuriant layers within the song as the sound ventures effortlessly from silken psychedelia to 70’s -esque chicness. The production is magical and a joy to listen to, right down to Cabin’s smooth vocal delivery which caresses the dreamy melody with a laid back soul-infused croon. ‘The Parasocialite’ is an impressive experience of musical mastery. Keep an eye on Cabin.
About the song, Cabin says: “At its core, it’s a track about infatuation, the throws that it puts you in, and how much of a whirlwind that can be. It’s intense, short-lived and constantly changing”
Dublin based multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Jack Joyce has released his new single ‘At The End of The Day’.Joyce has been composing his own songs from a young age and released his debut demo EP, Get Down, in October 2018. Joyce spent the beginning of the summer of 2019 busking and backpacking around Europe, seeking new inspirations and sounds for further music releases. Following his return, he sold out The Vintage Room in the Workman’s Club. He followed this by opening for Cassia upstairs in Whelan’s and playing a slot at the New Year’s Festival in Dublin.
‘At The End of The Day’ sees Jack Joyce flexing his songwriting and musical muscles with a confidence that sets him apart from his peers. This brooding, eerie number shifts from the buoyant indie rock of previous releases and slips into a sound that exudes a dark undertone we haven’t seen before from Joyce as a songwriter. Draped in a quirky organ refrain, the tune shrouds itself in a muggy atmosphere with only the buoyant drum beat and perky guitar to lift the tone. Joyce creates a sense of longing through lush “la la la“ backing vocals and steamy guitar pines while his ruggedly deep croon wallows in shadowy glum lyrics “we’re just bones at the end of the day”. Filled with eloquent, poetic lyrics and well-paced instrumentation, Jack Joyce is creating a name for himself as a singer-songwriter to keep an eye on.
Dublin multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Shaun Finn is set to release his new single ‘Fallen Flowers’ on the 25th of June. Finn peaked at number 1 on the singer-songwriter charts and 13th in the overall Irish charts with his debut single ‘Live My Life’. He has performed in a wide variety of contexts over the years – working both in front of the camera, behind the lens, backstage and everywhere in-between.
‘Fallen Flowers’ is a jaunty indie tune that boasts the catchy musicianship of Shaun Finn. Riding on a jangly guitar melody and foot-tapping beat, the song has a wholesome and upbeat soundscape filled with subtle embellishments that reveal themselves on each subsequent listen. Finn spreads a wistful melody over the vibrant instrumentation to create a bright yet bittersweet contrast as he croons, “I don’t know if you’d ever want to see me as a friend”. Coated in a vibrant indie-rock soundscape and earnest lyrics that add a warm, relatable charm, Finn wears his heart on his sleeve within ‘Fallen Flowers’.
Big Sleep have released their new single ‘Tattoos’. Big Sleep are a Dublin based indie-alternative band who spent the last two years playing to packed out rooms of a steady-growing and dedicated fan base until the lockdowns came along. The four-piece formed when frontman, Rónán, entered a Battle of the Bands as a singer-songwriter. He reconnected with some old bandmates and was introduced to some new ones to form the current lineup: Matteo Poli on percussion, Evin O’Connor on lead guitar, Rónán Connolly on vocals and rhythm guitar and Dougie Sealy on bass. Right up until COVID restrictions, the band was flat out with multiple gigs a week in venues across the city, including Workman’s, Sound House, WigWam, Grand Social, the Sugar Club and a sold-out headline show in Whelan’s Upstairs in January.
Filled with mellow arrangements and sun-kissed atmospheres ‘Tattoos’ is a beautiful tune from Big Sleep. The track flows upon a foundation of laid back rhythms and lush guitar refrains to create a euphoric, nostalgic sound that is utterly irresistible. The soundscape ebbs and flows gloriously – layered guitars ripple between elastic bass grooves and Rónán Connolly’s soothing vocal delivery to create a dreamy backdrop for listeners to indulge in. As the song builds into its dynamic crescendo the instrumentation becomes more heavy and features a wonderful shredding guitar solo. Big Sleep have crafted a mesmerising tune perfect for hazy summer days. The track is a joy to listen to and ready for repeat plays.
Brisbane indie-pop band LHD are back with their new single ‘Growing Up’. This shimmering indie-pop gem showcases LHD’s eargasmic, nostalgic sound in all its glory. The band injects intricate percussion and buoyant beats into a radiant synth backdrop to create a bubbling, ethereal atmosphere filled with lush harmonies and balmy guitar riffs. Intense brooding verses give way to dreamy melodies and humid soundscapes while velvety vocals frankly express the tracks motivational theme “raise the figurative middle finger to those people who judge you”. LHD have meticulously crafted this tune. Their skilful use of pacing, glorious melodies, and surging instrumentation makes LHD a band to keep an eye on. Boasting an uplifting chorus with passion bursting from every note, ‘Growing Up’ is a fresh guzzle of indie-pop that leaves you craving for more.
About the track the band said “Growing Up” raises the figurative middle finger to those people in your life that always seem to have an opinion about what you are or aren’t doing, and love to criticise others. Although this is the case, the song is ultimately motivational, and listeners will find it brings a message of hope and a confidence in staying true to yourself, despite what others think.”
Stream ‘Growing Up’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
