Inhaler, ‘Your House’

Inhaler have returned with anthemic tune ‘Your House’, deviating from their usual sound and successfully crafting a new one. Beginning work on their third album early this year, the band were encouraged to challenge themselves and step out of their comfort zone. Their new track, featuring backing vocals from the House Gospel Choir, marks a giant leap forward for the group, with its '70s rock-inspired feel.

Speaking about the single, frontman Elijah Hewson says “We’re an ambitious band that wants to create anthemic music, particularly when things feel so destructive, “Your House’ is about belonging to someone or something that’s bad for you. The verse is blasé but the chorus feels spiritual. I love that contrast.”

Ria Rua, ‘You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead’

Alt-rock Irish artist and producer Ria Rua unveils her latest single ‘You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead’, commenting on the decline of serious journalism, taking aim at the patriarchy, peddling lyrics of unfiltered sexual expression and the significance of truly being yourself. Co-produced by Ria Rua and Just Chris, and mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Ruadhri Cushnan, the single blends thunderous drums and heavy guitar riffs, culminating in a raw and unapologetic anthem that cuts to the heart of fame’s twisted realities.

Speaking of the track, Ria Rua says: “‘You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead’ took years to write. It’s a song about cynicism, but don’t be fooled; it’s not cynical. That would be too easy. What sparked the actual writing of the song though was the reaction to the death of Sinead O’Connor. People mocked her, tore her apart for her beliefs, her mental health struggles, and her search for something profound in this chaotic existence.

“But then she died, and wouldn’t you know it? Suddenly, she became a saint. Revered. Celebrated for the very things they once ridiculed her for. The transformation was nothing short of a sharp, brutal irony.”

ANOMALyS, ‘Runaways’

Indie band born in Queen’s University in 2022, ANOMALyS are a mixed-bag group, formed by vocalist and keyboardist Stephen Moreland and lead guitarist Louis Orr, and rounded out by bassist Padraig Manning and drummer Luka Maxwell. Their new single, ‘Runaways’ is a dynamic, groovy track which shows the band leaning into a spirited alt-pop sound, one year on from the release of their debut self-titled EP.

Speaking about their new track, the band said: “We could claim the song has some deeper meaning, but it doesn't. It's just a party song. Made possible by the outrageous synth collection of Rocky O'Reilly at Start Together Studios”.

Eve Clague, 'You'd Wanna Get Over It'

Ahead of the release of her debut album in the coming weeks, West Cork artist Eve Clague has released a charming single, ‘You’d Wanna Get Over It’, with echoes of folk and Joni Mitchell-esque vocals. The singer's distinctive husky voice and acoustic guitar style enrich the tune, creating a deeply satisfying listening experience.

Eve, on the new single, said: “‘You’d Want to Get Over It’ is about facing your fears as you try something new. It’s also about struggling to grow up. I started a new job and found it hard to adapt. I tried to imagine myself in my mother’s shoes, how she grew up and how she threw herself into challenges with so much confidence. The chorus “You’d want to get over it someday” is a message to myself to get over these feelings of anxiety.”

Jen Payne, ‘Believe’

Crowned the first solo female artist in the UK and Ireland to chart a solo tech-house track in the top 10 on Beatport, Kildare artist Jen Payne has dropped stellar new single ‘Believe’ after finishing a summer festival circuit. The new track has an authentic old-school 90s dance vibe, but with a fresh and modern twist. It begs to be danced to, what with its high-energy and anthemic quality.

Sister Ghost, ‘Drain You’

Following the release of her recent singles ‘I Bite Back’ and ‘Dark Matter’, Belfast artist Sister Ghost has released her long-awaited debut album ‘Beyond The Water’, which includes the euphoric track ‘Drain You’

Embracing the bright and euphoric 90s pop-rock aesthetic, ‘Drain You’ fully explores the gusto and grit that Sister Ghost has become synonymous with lately. Rich with guitar riffs and powerful vocals, the song showcases the broad and emotive presence that the artist has been cultivating in crafting the album.

Speaking about her new record, she said, "Writing and recording the demos for Beyond The Water truly kept me grounded and focussed during the most anxiety-inducing stages of the pandemic in 2020; having unrestricted creative time, due to everything else being put on hold for a while, allowed for my ideas to flow into something much bigger, and I am so lucky to be able to say that I have something so positive born out of such a dark time”.

Kathy Long, ‘Glow Gold’

Kilkenny musician Kathy Long delivers a sparklingly ethereal new single, ‘Glow Gold’, full of lyrical symbolism which takes the listener on a journey through captivating, authentic soundscapes. She recently collaborated on the single ‘Hiding’ with Dublin spoken word artist Caoimhe Weakliam, which was released this summer. Her new track is a thought-provoking experience for the senses, the artist explores deep themes through powerful vocals and slowly-building groove.

SWELTR, ‘Psycha’

Opening with shrill shrieks of amp feedback, electric guitar motifs and crashing cymbals, we already know what we are in for, in DIY rock duo SWELTR's new track, ‘Psycha’. The single is the heaviest yet by the Dublin natives, “it deep dives into the chaos and grind of everyday struggles, blending our experiences with raw, unfiltered energy. The track captures the shared mental highs and lows that we all face,” the duo said in a statement. 

SWELTR consists of Noel Dempsey and Tony Keyes, they have released a series of singles since their debut ‘What's it Gonna Be’ was released exactly two years ago yesterday, keeping with a Halloween tradition. 

M(h)aol, ‘Snare’

Irish trio M(h)aol return with their new single ‘Snare’, a cathartic feminist post-punk track set against a backdrop of hard-hitting guitar chords and intricate rhythmic sections, where gritty instrumentation meets rich, almost spoken vocal lines, before reaching its climax on its explosion of a bridge.

“‘Snare’ is about countless conversations I’ve had since my first drum lesson on my ninth birthday about how bizarre it is that I play that instrument, or how I should be doing it differently,” recalls lead vocalist and drummer Constance Keane.

“The idea of society gendering an inanimate object like a drum kit, when it’s something that brings me so much joy and release, has always frustrated me hugely, and I thought it was time to sing about it.”

KY, ‘243 Freestlye’

After a year-long break, Galway rapper KY makes an energetic return with the dynamic ‘243 Freestyle’. Described as the bar spitter’s “most personal releases to date”, the track touches on the challenges he’s faced and his steadfast commitment to rise above them - culminating in a powerful exploration of resilience, ambition, and identity.

“I’ve gone through a lot this past year, and this track is me processing that journey,” KY shared. “It’s a reminder that no matter the setbacks, I’m still here and ready to create.”

KY first garnered widespread attention with earlier tracks, ‘iSpy’ and ‘Foreign’, blending Irish drill stylings with a universal hip-hop sensibility. His past releases have been celebrated for their introspective lyrics and smooth-like-silk flow, cementing the rapper as a unique voice in Ireland’s music scene.

Fionn Regan, ‘O AVALANCHE’ feat. Anna Friel

Bray songwriter Fionn Regan exhibits a rarefied sense of romanticism on the title track of his newly released album O AVALANCHE, with long-time friend Anna Firel providing a helping hand with some beautifully delivered vocals on this ode to companionship. With ethereal acoustic guitars and heavenly vocals littered throughout the LP, Regan wrote his latest opus while in Mallorca.

“There’s a sense of an artistic energy there, where you step back a little from the main drag of bigger cities,” he says. “You’re sat there in the mountains looking towards the cities, rather than the other way. There’s a kind of focus, a feeling that you’re tuned in to something.”

Peer Pleasure, ‘Pedestrian’

Sleaze rockers Peer Pleasure achieve their intentions of making “something that our fathers could identify with, but still hate it like it was a young person’s thing,” on their scorching new single ‘Pedestrian’. Oh Sees meet the Modern Lovers, with a chaotic rock groove and sharp tongued, stream of consciousness lyrics taking aim at a litany of well-known figures, from Gerry Cinnamon to Prince Andrew.

Hailing from Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin, Peer Pleasure consists of Murphy, Cein O’Dowd, Erik Murphy, Eoin O’Faherty, Jack Joyce, Joel Pitcher, Josh Fortune and Joseph O’Gorman. After discovering a mutual interest in art, music and Joe Dolan: the septet punk outfit began as means of killing time during the pandemic. The group started demoing songs and sending them back and forth to each other and thus, Peer Pleasure was born.

The Riptide Movement, ‘The Old Stomping Ground’

Dublin folksters The Riptide Movement are back with their first new song in over five years. Lyrically speaking, it’s all about trad-infused storytelling on ‘The Old Stomping Ground’, which paints a distinctly Irish picture of boxing’s role in a local community. Sonically the tune is a slow burner, with a sparse drone culminating into a jig-like climax across the song’s five minute runtime.

Forming in the capital in 2006, the trio swiftly became a No.1, Gold-selling outfit thanks to their Choice Prize-nominated album Getting Through, as well as hits like 'All Works out', 'Elephant in the Room and 'Changeling'.

 

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Graham O’Hara, ‘You Are’

Dublin songsmith Graham O’Hara offers a thumping and sweet-sounding addition to his steadily growing catalogue of tunes via his latest offering ‘You Are, which boasts soaring Thin Lizzy-evoking dual guitars and a Biffy Clyro-esque rock groove.

“It’s all about goodness, and being in love and just being an absolute gushing loser who can’t contain himself,” O’Hara shared in a video posted to Instagram.

 

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Amble, ‘The Commons’

Ahead of three sold out Olympia shows to close out the year, as well as an album due to arrive in early 2025, fast-rising folk trio Amble provide yet another fine slice of their delicate, sonorous storytelling with The Commons EP. The doo-woppy ‘Thoughts Flood Back To You’, is an unapologetically romantic number, where wistful lyrics pair neatly with nostalgic folk instrumentation.

“Ireland has such a huge culture of storytelling,” the band’s Robbie told Hot Press, discussing the group’s creative inspirations in our latest November issue. “Everyone loves telling stories, everyone loves telling jokes. It’s just an Irish thing and I grew up fascinated by it

Blood Donor, ‘I Can't Lie to You (But Baby I Will Tonight...)’

Lively and irresistibly catchy ‘I Can't Lie to You (But Baby I Will Tonight...)’ is the first single from Blood Donor’s sophomore EP, due for release in early 2025. Bristling with scuzzed-up guitar lines and chunky woodblock, the single offers a glistening and intense first look into an upcoming record that promises to leave an indelible mark on the listener.

Beauty Pageant, ‘Take This Year (And Make It Last Forever)’

Beauty Pageant have put out their hard-hitting new single ‘Take This Year (And Make It Last Forever)’, a bright rock track-forward of heavy bass riffs, gritty electric guitars and exhilarating vocal lines, all wrapped up in a lively music video directed by Faolan Carey, best known for his previous work with Pillow Queens and For Those I Love.

Hybrasil, ‘Sagala’

A deliciously futuristic 8-minute-long techno trip, ‘Sagala’ is the powerful opener to Hybrasil newest compilation The Voyagers – a concept album which takes the listener on a space journey in the year 2145. With distinctive sonic textures of almost dissonant synths, rumbling bass lines and continual, hard-hitting beats, the track offers a hypnotising and immersive first glance at a record that promises to hold up to its unique ambitions.

 

Anna B Savage, ‘Agnes’

Donegal-based English musician Anna B Savage releases the lead single from her upcoming album You & I Are Earth, ‘Agnes’, a whimsical track inspired by the intersection of fantasy, self-reflection and the internet, all wrapped up in glistening acoustic guitars, bouncy bass lines and a rich vocal performance.

Speaking of the track, Savage says: "This song is inspired by Irish folklore, therapy practice, and a tweet. In therapy we had been meditating and visualising, a practice that is in turns frightening and deeply comforting. Concurrently, I was reading about Selkies and Faeries, and it was when I read this tweet here that I felt the folklore melding with my own personal therapeutic experiences. That moment of potential relief followed by a deep terror, and the act of turning your clothes inside out to release your entrapment from the ‘stray sod’.”

Belters Only, ‘AwStopBro’

Irish DJ duo Belters Only return again with yet again another club banger, marking the group’s first release on their own independent label. ‘AwStopBro’ is a bass heavy and infinitely catchy minimalistic tune, layered with melodic synths and a rich vocal performance, wrapped up in Belters Only’s signature dance-inducing beats.

thanks mom, "Teenage Sacrifice”

Kildare four-piece, thanks mom, have found their voice in latest track ‘Teenage Sacrifice’. Echoing pop punk bands of the ‘00s, ‘Teenage Sacrifice” is a playful track, fuelled by teenage angst that could have been pulled straight from the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack. 

“We set out to weave a tale of love, yet found ourselves ensnared in shadows, ultimately giving rise to "Teenage Sacrifice." said the band in a statement. For fans of Car Seat Headrest and Los Campesinos!, thanks mom, are sure to fulfil your need for some indie rock closer to home. The band launched their single in an exclusive release party in The Soundhouse earlier in the week and are set to share a new project in 2025. 

Corner Boy, ‘Long May You Stay’

Upbeat acoustic rock single ‘Long May You Stay’, tells a story of meeting someone who is bound to change your life and how to nurture such meaningful connections. With a powerful backbeat and swing-like rhythms, ‘Long May You Stay’ has characteristics of an Irish Waltz, taking inspiration from the West where the song was written. 

“The second of five songs written at our West of Ireland session, Long May You Stay is a joyous song that celebrates the beauty of chance encounters and the profound impact they can have on us,” says vocalist and guitarist Mick D’Arcy. “We’re excited to share this track as it truly captures the uplifting spirit we’re bringing to our new album.”

Christy Moore, ‘Boy In The Wild’

Christy Moore: was there ever an Irish singer with as much sonic power and influence across a nearly 55 year career? We’d be hard-pressed to find such a peer. With his latest single ‘Boy In The Wild’, Moore only further cements his place among the most legendary Irish artists with his incomparable ability to pen and perform incredible, original material with each new release. He just keeps getting better.

The track was penned with Moore’s longtime collaborator and friend Wally Page, shortly before Wally’s death in January 2023. Of his friend, Moore reflects: “Months before his death he sent me most of this song. I think this is Wally at his very best.

“Apart from his writing he was a beautiful soulful singer who exuded warmth, passion and humour when he sang. Wally’s gigs in The Cobblestone and The Five Lamps were legendary. Many of us miss him here in The Black Lagoon.”

hikii x Wallfella, ‘FAUCET’

hikii and Wallafella team up once again on the tripped-out new track ‘FAUCET’.

The deftly-mastered soundscape is the perfect background to the hip-hop bigwigs’ undeniable artistry. ‘FAUCET’ boasts a sharp-shooting, high-speed flow that entwines with the infectious, undeniably catchy jook and Wallafella’s agile repartee with hikii.

 

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Negro Impacto, ‘1800’

Following on from the majorly successful 'FAN GIRL', Negro Impacto keep her lit with their brand-new single ‘1800’.

Featuring sun-soaked lyrics and surf rock guitar riffs, inspired by the warmth and rhythms of California, the track marks the band's shift toward bringing their indie and rock influences to studio recordings, as seen in their live shows with full band. While still embracing their alternative RnB roots, for this particular track, the Dundalk duo drew inspiration from artists Yves Tumor, Frank Ocean and Lenny Kravitz.

Seán Mulrooney, ‘Ag Múschlaighacht’

Seán Mulrooney today announces his debut album This Is My Prayer with the first single ‘Ag Múschlaighacht’.

The track channels a beauteous soundscape, boasting crystalline guitar flourishes, warbling uilleann pipes and sweeping vocals from Mulrooney.

Created during a period of isolation after a break-up, Mulrooney says, “I retreated to a cabin in Wicklow in January 2024, where I could channel this grief into music.” It certainly did the trick.

April, ‘Going Nowhere’

Indie singer-songwriter April returns with the dazzling new offering ‘Going Nowhere’.

The lo-fi synths and modest percussion aptly accentuate the singer’s bedroom-pop vocals, wrapping them in prismatic and pillowy resplendence.

‘Going Nowhere’ marks the third release from April’s forthcoming wider release, hoping to fabricate a new sonic world that’s bigger and brighter. Perhaps unlike the title, April is certainly going somewhere, embarking on a journey towards new, exciting sounds.

 

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Rory Nellis, ‘Any Given Day’

Belfast singer-songwriter Rory Nellis has unleashed his magnetic new single ‘Any Given Day’.

The track is an immediately joyous one, with shimmering riffage, cathartic vocals and a tightly-wound rhythm section. It’s the kind of song you’d hear at the end of an indie, coming-of-age film as the credits rolled.

‘Any Given Day’ was performed, recorded, and mixed entirely by Rory Nellis while working on the Rosslare-Cherbourg ferry in the summer of 2024. As the artist puts it, the song is all about examining your attitude, being the best you can be and taking things forward one step at a time.

Adrian Crowley, ‘Tangled’

The lauded singer-songwriter Adrian Crowley returns with a vibrant new single on the brand-new label Valley of Eyes Records.

‘Tangled’ is a scintillating offering, replete with silk-smooth woodwinds, Bill Callahan-esque vocals and primal drumming.

"I see this song as a kind of restless wander through a predawn neighbourhood,” Crowley says, “and a dip into the shady realm of a sleepless mind, when nocturnal creatures are still prowling around, and ruminations and febrile thoughts take hold until the morning comes. This song was almost lost. The morning after it was written, the day's distractions led me away from it for a while and it was duly forgotten. But then one night, preparing the new album, I found it again."

Susie Dawson-Howe, ‘Narcissus Pool’

20-year-old songsmith Susan Dawson-Howe has unveiled her incredible debut track ‘Narcissus Pool’.

Despite having written it at sixteen years old, the single is an impressively mature offering, teeming with immediately heart-rending lyrics about the grief that follows the fallout of a friendship.

Here, the Dublin singer-songwriter takes her own experiences and likens them to a teenage boy’s desire to fit in and conform to the myth of Narcissucus.

Jerry Fish x MayKay, ‘Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances’

Irish music legend Jerry Fish, formerly of An Emotional Fish, and MayKay have teamed up on the first single from his forthcoming tribute album to Daniel Johnston, Dreaming of Daniel.

‘Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances’ is a powerful tune, fortifying Johnston’s raw original take with big band, rock cabaret sensibilities.

Of the album, Jerry Fish says: “This is my first vinyl record in thirty-four years and my first LP in fifteen years. A labour of love, five years in the making. I am very proud of it. t’s a record full of amazingly talented musicians, a fourteen-piece orchestra, a three-piece brass section, backing vocals from some of the best vocal talent in Ireland, praising one of the greatest songwriters of all time.”

IMLÉ feat. James Shannon & Róisín Seoighe, ‘MISE’

Irish language collective IMLÉ have released their single ‘Sláinte’ in collaboration with James Shannon and Róisín Seoighe, a modern rap tune which emits a contemporary vibe via its indie instrumentation.  The Irish collective is a group of musicians under the stewardship of Dublin-based musician and producer Cian MacCárthaigh. 

Mac Cárthaigh said he, “wanted to create something new in the Irish language, using different styles of music that hadn’t been particularly used for Irish music before – everything from indie to pop to trip-hop, and hip hop as well.”

The new track does just that, blending the Irish language with chill hip-hop beats. 

 

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Sam Clifford, ‘Forever’

Sam Clifford's new tune ‘Forever’ is a soulful folk-pop song with a message of love, commitment and romantic connection. The song reflects on the impact that a partner can have on one’s life, with a hopeful melody that blends genres effectively.

Clifford has performed as a part of  Hot Press’s young and emerging artists, and opened a show for Keith Urban, who was impressed by Clifford’s busking on the streets of Dublin.
‘Forever’ is a good listen for romantic pop fans.

Rhob Cunningham, ‘Tyrant’

Singer-songwriter Rhob Cunningham has released the second single from his EP Shook Change, set for release on November 22. ‘Tyrant’ has a traditional rhythm inspired by Russian Folk music, and is inspired by Vladimir Nabokov’s short story "Tyrants Destroyed."

The track is a reflection of the subject’s mental health struggles that escalate indefinitely, with strong lyricism and folk rhythm.

Aislinn Logan, ‘Magic In Her Head’

Rhythmic singer Aislinn Logan's released her single ‘Magic in Her Head’ today as a part of her debut album that releases in February. ‘Magic in Her Head’ is shimmer pop that feels emotional and uplifting.

The song has nods to '80s-era George Michael, featuring a hopeful but frustrated refrain “Come on and try for me / Don’t just say goodbye to me”. Strings, a bass groove and syncopated synth lift the vocal, but the metronomic beat cuts a sharp contrast against the unfurling story of Belfast suburbia gone wrong.

Logan says that her new song “sets the scene of the chapter of life it’s talking to.”

Jillelli, ‘Left Me On Read’

Dublin music and video maker Jillelli is set to release her new single 'Left Me on Read' today, a  track infused with her passion for classic hip-hop and R&B, serving as a comforting tune for people working through the confusion of being ignored mid-conversation after sending a text.

Jillelli originally made the song as a way to inject humour into a typically disheartening experience. She chose to complete the track in the studio alongside her longtime collaborator, Irish-Zimbabwean producer Kevin Brennan. The music video for the release is directed by Tigh Bán and follows her playfully exploring Cork.

With a beat as infectious as its message is relatable, ‘Left Me on Read’ provides an experience of self-assurance for anyone who’s been left waiting too long for a response.

Listen to our new Irish Songs To Hear This Week playlist on Spotify below: