- Culture
- 29 Jun 22
Niall McDowell's new single 'Brokeback' focuses on the musician's own queer experiences and begins a new era for their enthralling sound.
A year after releasing singles 'Tennessee' and 'Do You Think I'm Pretty?', Niall McDowell has released a new single in preparation for their upcoming EP. 'Brokeback' will be the lead track on the captivating new project, titled It Was an Honour to Be Nominated.
The Belfast singer-songwriter says, "Brokeback is written from the perspective I had as a child in a cathedral choir, and more specifically an experience where I had a panic attack during a television broadcast of a Mass. I felt like this song poured out of me one night, and using this experience as a metaphor for my own current emotions surrounding grief and knowing what i know now versus what i knew then, was very validating to me. It's my favourite song I've written."
Much like a church itself, there's a quietness to the track which amplifies McDowell's important, confessional form of wordplay brilliantly.
Produced by Chris Ryan (NewDad, Just Mustard) and recorded at home, this track marks a new era for the singer. McDowell's new track is especially raw with a focus on lo-fi lyricism. The crooning serenade speaks of longing, heartache, and the nervousness of love.
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The pair focused heavily on getting an intimate and raw feel to the song, with the soft sounds of strings plucking on a telecaster and the swoons of shifting reverb synths, topped off with McDowell's distinctive crooning.
Listen to 'Brokeback' below.