Off the tail end of their latest EP “Mongrel” Under Starling have released their new single ‘Trick of the Light”. Hailing from the Viking City of Ireland, Under Starling are breathing fresh air into the Irish music scene with their unique brand of alternative rock.“Trick of the Light” is a metaphor for the fantasies of a hopeless romantic. Throughout the song the band tether the line between the dream world and reality. Contrary to the Hollywood trope, the underdog does not get the person of their dreams. The closing message is one of self-growth and learning how to move on.
‘Trick of the Light’ pulses with the enchanting sound of Under Starling. The band take an 80’s pop undertone encased in their signature atmospheric sound to create a compelling tune that is glorious to listen to. With emotive vocals caressing a wonderful melody, the song surges with passion as the band rush flickering synths over reverb tones and propulsive beats to produce suspenseful soundscapes that keep the listener’s heart in a euphoric state. ‘Trick of the Light’ is an utterly time-stopping and beautiful new tune from Under Starling.
Alternative rock band Under Starling have released their new EP ‘Mongrel’.The EP was recorded and produced with Graham Byrne & Christian Best. The band are having a launch party for the EP upstairs in Whelans on July 16th. The band has played support to many famous acts throughout the years such as Walking on Cars, Fangclub, and Bitch Falcon to name a few. Their own tours have seen packed-out shows in the likes of Fred Zeppelins, Dolans, Roisín Dubh, and Whelans.
In true Under Starling manner, ‘Mongrel’ overflows with passionate melodies, sincerity and refined musicianship. The band has a knack for creating compelling, infectious earworms that ooze cinematic arrangements and ‘Mongrel’ is a glorious collection of these powerful soul-igniting tunes. Throughout the EP we see the band showcase their sound in all it’s glory – an eclectic blend of indie and alternative rock with filtrations of R&B and intriguing pop undertones.
Boasting chiming guitars, ethereal synths, big choruses and buoyant beats, ‘Icarus’ and ‘Big Fish’ capture a heart-fluttering rush of emotion through eloquent musicianship. The band craft each song wonderfully, allowing each element to flourish within the track’s expressive soundscape. Whether it is a bubbling beat progressing into a thunderous outburst within ‘Arrows’ or gritty guitars building into mosh-ready riffs in ‘Mongrel’; the band don’t rush the instrumentation. Instead, they carefully craft each component to create a cohesive and thrilling listening experience.
With themes of love, heartbreak, adversity, and perseverance, Under Starling build on natural emotion and past experiences to create a collection of tracks that ooze passion, sadness and love from every note. Each song on the EP discusses the emotions of adolescence and is inspired by life events the band experienced while growing up.
‘Mongrel’ is an exquisite EP from the heart set to intricate, cinematic arrangements and emotive vocals. Under Starling have nurtured their sound and allowed it to blossom into something beautiful.
Under Starling have released their new single, ‘Arrows’. The four-piece are rapidly forming a group of followers through their energetic live shows and popular releases. Their latest singles ‘Icarus’, ‘Purple Heights’ and ‘Mongrel’ were praised by RTE 2XM, WLR FM, IMRO, 8Radio, Raido Na Life, KCLR 96FM. ‘Arrows’ is the final single from the band’s upcoming ‘Mongrel EP ‘which is to be released this July.
Filled with emotive lyrics, vibrant instrumentation and dynamic soundscapes ‘Arrows’ is an invigorating display from Under Starling. Sweet guitar tones twinkle within the track’s ethereal soundscapes creating a vivid and cinematic backdrop. As the song builds the band envelope a comforting melody in biting alternative rock elements – the guitars and drums become more expressive and heavy, beautifully mirroring the poetic lyrics “what if I’m still caught in the roots of your heart”. Under Starling are developing their sound and songwriting wonderfully and the result is a tight, emotive and utterly charming song that is a joy to listen to. Well crafted and showcasing mature songwriting ‘Arrows’ is a sublime new single from Under Starling.
About the track, Danny said: “The take-home message in the song is wherever you are, or whatever you’re doing, family is everything.”
Under Starling have released their new single,’ Purple Heights’ Under Starlingare an alternative rock band originating from Dungarvan, Waterford comprised of brothers Danny (lead vocalist and guitarist) and Tommy Dunford (Drums, Vocals) as well as Colin Drummey (Bass) and Alex Pollock (Keys, guitar and vocals).’Purple Heights’, is a unique release in commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of the end of the Irish War of Independence.
‘Purple Heights’ is an atmospheric cinematic tune that boasts the first-rate instrumental prowess of Under Starling. The band begin the track with auto-tuned vocals and light indie instrumentation filled with bright guitar and buoyant beats before expanding into a more ethereal and tense electronic soundscape. The band build and layer the track superbly, injecting more alternative heavy instrumentation between traditional lilts to create a consuming and unique listening experience. ‘Purple Heights’ is a vivid and musically lush tune that showcases a diverse and sonically intriguing side to Under Starling.
About the track, the band said: “Purple Heights was written in commemoration of the 100-yearanniversary of the end of the Irish War of Independence. Danny, lead singer, was inspired by his great-grand-uncle, Pat Keating, who was killed in an event during the War known as the Burgery Ambush (March 18th-19th, 1921) just outside of our hometown of Dungarvan.”
After playing main stage of BARE In the Woods in 2018, supporting Fangclub, and performing sell-out shows in venues such as The Loft & Roisin Dubh in Galway, Waterford based alternative rock group Under Starling have release the first single ‘Icarus’ from their upcoming self-titled album on May 7th, 2021. Under Starling, originating from Dungarvan (Waterford), consists of brothers Danny and Tommy Dunford as well as Colin Drummey and Alex Pollock.
‘Icarus’ is a fine example of the dynamic and passionate musicianship of Under Starling. The band take a heartfelt melody and drizzle it over a bubbling alternative backdrop to create a heart skipping, intense soundscape filled with potent lyrics and immersive musicianship. As the song veers from it’s brooding verses into the anthemic chorus the band flesh out their expressive instrumentation – twinkling guitars expand into the songs ethereal atmosphere becoming more raw while the tight rhythmic foundation raises in magnitude allowing the drums pound through the soundscape with a harsh and vehement force. Under Starling deliver tunes that speak from the heart while exuding cinematic undertones and ‘ICARUS’ follows this trend superbly. The track is masterfully crafted and an exhilarating ear worm to indulge in.
About the track Danny Dunford explains : “The narrative of the song goes back and forth between 2 characters, an optimist wading through life’s oncoming choices, and a pessimist attempting to “clip their wings”, however in the end the optimist would rather crash and burn trying, than to never try at all.”
Bio : London shoegazers Honey Lung have released their new single ‘Juggle’, the second offering from the band’s ‘Post Modern Motorcade Music’ EP which is out now. The band are hitting their stride, attracting continued praise across the BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music airwaves (Jack Saunders, Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq)
Track: Juggle
Why We Like It: It’s a sun-kissed fuzzy indie number doused in laid back shoegaze tones and sweet indie elements. Warm guitar jingles wrap around a buoyant soundscape as the track maintains the bands dizzying intricacies filled with psychedelic prisms of distortion and twisting emotion throughout. With dynamic vocals and smooth melody atop an edgy backdrop ‘Juggle’ is another sublime track from Honey Lung.
About the track frontman Jamie Batten explained: “Sometimes we can all feel like we’re a juggling act and it’s tiring. We wrote ‘Juggle’ initially as an angry jam that eventually turned into a song. It was one of those songs that would always be in the back of our minds and we always knew we would return to it;it was just a matter of time”
Bio : Formed in 2018 by Michael Smyth and completed by Hayley Norton on vocals, Stevey Henry on bass and Michael Teague on drums. 2019 saw Paper Tigers come out swinging, gigging incessantly and releasing debut single ‘Gucci Smiles’, the single amassed 5000 streams with the video being viewed 2500 times.
Track: Flames
Why We Like It: It’s a fiery sassy number as Paper Tigers steamroll in with resounding bass lines, lacerating guitar riffs and thrashing drums. The relentless energy within this track exudes slick swagger as the band create a frantic assault on the senses with their fierce wall of sound. Its lean mean and sultry all at once as the smoky powerful vocals lure through the manic backdrop. These guy create an invigorating, heavy and raw sound brimming with refined powerful instrumentation.
Bio : Pauric is an independent singer songwriter from Co. Tipperary, based in Dublin. His previous work has garnered over 150K on Spotify alone.He has performed in many top venues around Ireland supporting bands such as Hermitage Green, Hudson Taylor, Billow Wood, Amazing Apples and HAWK. 2019 saw two headline shows in Dublin in The Soundhouse and Workmans Club, as well as an Electric Picnic Festival debut
Track: Wasting Time
Why We Like It: Pauric O’Meara creates an upbeat jangly ditty brimming with passion, soul and oodles of gusto. His velvety vocals coo and flood the track with a warm glow. The track builds superbly beginning as a tender ballad then progressing into a power anthem. The zealous guitar playfully weaves about the punchy beat and vibrant soundscape as the track floods with emotion and uplifting strength. There is a wonderful funk flavour to the song as the rooted wiggling groove struts about creating an infectious buoyancy and swagger to this catchy gem.
Bio : MESSIMER is an indie band from Boise, Idaho which is comprised of friends Luke Messimer, Dalton Mace, and Reggie Mace.The band have released their new single ‘I don’t need you / Yes I do’ which is the third single off their upcoming debut full length album, ‘The Lookalike’.
Track: I don’t need you / Yes I do
Why We Like It: It’s a melodic sweet indie track wrapped in a retro hue of 60s elements. With a melty candied melody drifting on a colourful soundscape the track charms its way into the ears effortlessly. The light ethereal guitar provides a zesty sting between the fluffy atmosphere and dreamy melodies while the steady beat grounds the track. With dynamic vocals adding a touch of rock n’ roll swagger while the lush backing vocals coo, this melancholic toned track oozes character. MESSIMER layer this track superbly, swirling bitter sweet tones and rich textures to create a sun speckled infectious number.
Bio : Manchester quartet Idle Hours formed at university and have received plays on BBC Introducing Manchester, they bagged support shows with Radio 6 favourites The Orielles and Man of Moon, along with appearances at Dot to Dot and Neighbourhood Festival, sandwiched between Avalanche Party and Oscar Lang in the YES Basement. More recently, Idle Hours headlined AATMA to a sell-out audience.
Track: Scream In Stereo
Why We Like It: It’s a refreshing wave of indie as Idle Hours create a biting track submerged in a laid back soundscape. The band smudge a dreamy melody onto a jagged backdrop of sharp guitars and bouncy drums to create a fluctuant groove infested track. The rumble on bass weaves playfully beneath a vibrant guitar riff while the velvety rasp toned vocals caress the hazy melody. Idle Hours have a refined and well blended sound that is quite irresistible and infectious. The track balances a ratio of indie rawness and new wave sweetness superbly to create a satisfying listening experience.
About the track frontman Jack Waldron said : “The song is very much an observation of how social media has become a bare necessity in the lives of today’s youths, myself included. You look around any environment and people are glued to it; I just think we should look up more often”.
Bio : Under Starling are an alternative rock band originating from Dungarvan, Waterford. The band have released a new “Reimagined” version of their track ‘Quasar (3C 273)’
Track: Quasar (Reimagined)
Why We Like It: The band present an ethereal wispy rendition of their previous release, swirling airy soundscapes and delicate keys around the crisp and emotive vocals. This sweet number takes a pristine take on the beautiful track allowing the soft and clean vocals hit hard with emotion and passion. There is a rich depth to the track. The rippling beat pierces the atmosphere with precision as the track delves beneath an ambient pool of elegance. The band have created another wonderful and moving way to listen to this sublime track.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Under Starling
Under Starling are back with their new single ‘Quasar (3C 273)’ Under Starling are an alternative rock band from Waterford formed by brothers Danny and Tommy Dunford, Stephen Keating and Colin Drummey.They released their debut single, Far Be It From Me, in August 2018 which was followed by an independent Irish tour hitting the core Irish music scene and rallying fans across the college demographic.The band have been gigging and releasing music for 5 years under a former title of Cider Wasps – this was changed to Under Starling during summer 2018 as the band entered a new chapter in their lives.The previous project saw 2 EP releases both titled ‘Here’ and ‘Ethereal’ which included singles such as ‘Lunasa’ and ‘Hummingbird’ which were picked up by national radio stations. Their live shows are known to have a popular chaotic energy as they invoke a range of emotions from their fans.
‘Quasar (3C 273)’ is a beautifully crafted emotive display from Under Starling. With grand production and heart gripping tension that builds superbly with every note and expressive progression.The heartfelt vocals are equally powerful and tender. With a chorus destined for arena sing alongs, massive crescendo and utterly gripping space-rock elements Under Starling has created one hair raising rock gem.The swirling ethereal soundscapes rush and flicker between a pulsing beat as the band cultivate this track beautifully with lush harmonies and twinkling guitars.The erupting chorus bursts into a million fragments of scintillation as the rich rhythm, swirling sonics and mesmerising textures create a magical quality that is vibrant, kinetic and so moving you could cry, laugh, sing and dance all at once with this majestic beautiful track.
Under Starling is a new musical project by brothers Danny and Tommy Dunford, along with guitarist Stephen Keating and bassist Colin Drummey. Past experience has left the group with a few notable gigs. A debut festival appearance at Indiependence 2016, support gigs to Walking on Cars, All Tvvins and Fangclub to name a few. They regularly play full house shows in Fred Zeppelins (Cork) and in venues such as Whelans Live (Dublin), Fibber Magees (Dublin) and Roisin Dubh (Galway). The band have now released their debut single ‘Far Be It From Me’.
‘Far Be It From Me’ showcases this bands ability to produce and deliver a deeply rich melodic track brimming with true passion and gusto. The track progresses slowly with perfectly placed spacious moments for maximum heart gripping impact as the brooding and fermenting verses build in intensity for the explosive passionate chorus. The vocals pack oodles of emotion giving you goosebumps while ethereal guitars lament along a punchy mournful drum backbone. It’s a melancholic fiery gem that cuts deep but rests comfortably on your ears as you crave to hear more.Under Starling illustrate all the ingredients for greatness within this number with gripping instrumentation creating a chilling backdrop for the bittersweet melody to swoon over while the heartfelt vocals caress the tender outburst. It’s radio ready and immaculately crafted for an enthralling wholly consuming listening experience.
Stream ‘Far Be It From Me’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
