Soda Blonde, ‘The Queen Of Mercy’

Coming off the heels of their last single ‘People Pleaser’, Dublin band Soda Blonde today return with the electrifying ‘The Queen of Mercy’, an stirring tune of raw emotions, where poignant lyricism meets bouncy bass riffs and breathtaking arrangements, showcasing the group’s thunderous energy and rip-roaring intensity.

Cliffords, ‘Bittersweet’

Cork-based indie-rock band Cliffords delivered a killer new track ‘Bittersweet.’ The group released an accompanying music video on Tuesday, adding electric visuals to the already lively song.

Harry Menton’s intoxicating performance on guitar pairs beautifully with the strength of Iona Lynch’s vocals. The invigorating song touches on themes of vulnerability, youth and tainted love.

“Don’t call it bittersweet,” sang Lynch. “Blame it on my milk stained teeth, sure I was just a girl.”

Snow Patrol, ‘This Is The Silence’

Only two weeks after Snow Patrol’s celebrated return to 3Arena, the legendary Irish-Scottish rock band put out their new single ‘This Is The Silence’, a scintillating and anthemic track, both emotional and lined with gleeful hopefulness, once again proving why the band has been making waves for a quarter of century.

Paddy Hanna, ‘Harry Dean’

Paddy Hanna has released the latest single from his upcoming LP Oylegate.

Born from a descending piano motif inspired by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, the new single ‘Harry Dean’ channels elements of George Michael and Sade, bridging Hanna’s contemporary production with the timeless allure of 80s soul-pop.

“The romantic but bittersweet feel of the music then helped me to find the lyrics,” Hanna says of the track. “I recalled the time I sold my beloved Guild Archtop guitar to make the rent, I thought of how I would cope if I were to lose my family, and everything came together in a pleasantly downbeat fashion. The finished product didn't end up sounding like Ryuichi Sakamoto, but his influence can really be felt in the song and the album’s) production”.

IMLÉ, ‘Órga’

IMLÉ have unveiled their brand-new EP TAOILLE, which fuses genres of rap, dream pop, disco and trip hop.

The EP takes listeners on a unique sonic journey, from the trip-hop lo-fi stylings of Timpeall Arís, the 1990s slow-jam energy of Éasca and the Italian-disco stylings of Sláinte, all while staying true to IMLÉ’s deep-rooted connection to Irish language and culture.

Track 4, ‘Órga’ serves as a focal point for the band’s genre-defying bent. With shimmering guitars, electronic sweeps and scintillating vocals, the track speaks to the pain of closing a chapter in one’s life and the loss that follows it.

Tilly Cripwell, ‘Leave Molly mAlone’

Dublin busker Tilly Cripwell has released her latest single ‘Leave Molly mAlone’.

The track boasts an adaptation of the famed Irish ballad, with two extra verses that interrogate the disrespectful treatment of the Molly Malone statue in Dublin city centre.

‘Leave Molly mAlone’ comes amid Cripwell’s campaign to treat the stature with more respect.

 

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Public Warning, ‘Don’t Forget My Name’

'Don't Forget My Name' is a new track included on Public Warning's first EP since 2018, Over/Under. The Ashbourne-based band show off their rock flair, with biting guitar, driving drums, and tight basswork backing the Alex Turner-esque vocals of singer Adam O'Dea. High-octane and energetic, 'Don't Forget My Name' is a perfect track to get fans excited for Public Warning's tenth anniversary gig in a few weeks' time.

“With Over/Under, we wanted to capture that in-between space—where you're not who you were, but you're not quite who you're becoming yet," says O'Dea. "It's about growing up, learning from mistakes, and figuring out what really matters in relationships and in life.”

Paulie Martin, ‘Mind Games’

Mullingar-based singer-songwriter Paulie Martin explores the intricacies of a dying relationship in his new single, ‘Mind Games.’ The track opens up with a thick bassline and bright, starry guitars. The upbeat instrumentals distract from the melancholic lyrics, creating a dynamic listening experience.

"'Mind Games' captures the essence of navigating a toxic relationship while wrapped in a sound that makes you want to dance," said Martin. "It's got the storytelling, the energy, and a nostalgic groove that I think will really resonate with listeners."

J Ryan, 'Super Hero'

The most recent single from a string of releases, Dublin-based singer-songwriter J Ryan's 'Superhero' is a heartfelt ballad about always being there to support and help loved ones. Featuring skillfully played instrumentals and Ryan's rich vocals, 'Superhero' is his seventh release since August last year.

"I've found some really interesting and talented musicians that made things feel right," he says. "I felt these guys were on the same page as I, regarding my music, its direction, feel, vibe, so here we are, my seventh song release with plenty more to follow."

Dermot Kennedy, ‘Let Me In’

It is no wonder that the artwork for Dermot Kennedy’s latest single, 'Let Me In', shows him standing alone on a jetty, nor is it that the song’s lyric video showcases deep-sea waves, for 'Let Me In' finds the Dublin singer-songwriter sailing through a sea of loneliness while singing with his distinctive, raspy voice.

The track manages to sound like the sea thanks to its compound metre, the acoustic guitars’ tide-like rhythm, or its many subdued elements, which almost sound as if they were underwater, like the piano, the choral backing vocals, or the electronic and synth sounds.

The song’s lyrics revolve around yearning for happiness, and dreading vulnerability for fear our darkness might be too much for someone else. 

"Cause I know there's a room where I'm happy / But I can't find my way to the door / Tell me who wins the war between my heart and my head, / I forgot what I'm sufferin' for," Kennedy sings in the chorus.

ELLYD, ‘Lose The Fear’

Later this year, Dublin songwriter ELLYD will release her debut album, Tomorrow Be Kind. The second single off the project dropped today, delivering a powerful vocal performance and intense vibrancy.

"I rewrote the music for 'Lose the Fear' at least three times,” said ELLYD. "Initially, it was intended to be a piano ballad, but I soon realised the music needed a more intense energy to represent the message.”

The artist experimented with drums and electric guitar, deriving inspiration from 90’s Irish rock.

"At its core, the song reflects the struggle of facing difficulties and the mental battle to stay positive, to be present, and to have faith that things will improve,” she said.

reii, 'chemicals'

reii’s newest track 'chemicals' is a genre-blending electronic track that incorporates elements from tropical house, EDM, and electropop. The song goes from a pervasive synth bassline à la MEDUZA to a house four-on-the-floor beat, and from an instrumental EDM chorus with wavey synth pads to a lo-fi bridge with guitar strums and soft piano notes.

The single's lyrics find the singer-songwriter reflecting on a past relationship. "I put you on a pedestal / Had me feeling the chemicals / I know you are not better, no / So how come I couldn’t let you go," he sings.

Lex Bucha, 'High Altitude'

Dublin-based singer-songwriter Lex Bucha navigates ambition, disillusionment, and self-discovery in his latest single, 'High Altitude.' This atmospheric electropop track is driven by an acoustic guitar, ambient synthesisers, muffled electronic percussion, and tons of reverb.

Written while suffering from altitude sickness in Peru, Bucha says the track "became about something much bigger."

"We spend so much time chasing the next high, believing we’ll find meaning at the top, but sometimes we’re so caught up in the climb that we lose sight of what really matters," he explains. "For me, I realized everything I needed was around me all along."

Picture This, 'Let’s Try Love'

With their new single, 'Let’s Try Love,' Picture This return to the stripped-back sound of their 2017 self-titled debut. An acoustic sound palette lets the storytelling take centre stage in a song that sets out to capture "the raw emotion of finding clarity in love after struggle." 

The single is driven by an infectious acoustic guitar riff reminiscent of a Balkan-folk Beirut single, only with a poppier feel. Pretty soon tambourine and bass and snare drums are joining lead singer Ryan Hennessy’s vocals for a chorus in the fashion of The Lumineers or Of Monsters and Men.

'Let’s Try Love' opens "a new chapter" for the Kildare-based four-piece that will see them "exploring themes of connection, resilience, and the power of love with newfound clarity."

Jo LaRue, 'Never Giving Up'

Dublin-born pop-funk artist Jo LaRue has shared her first release of 2025, 'Never Giving Up,' a reggae-pop track that revolves around not conforming to societal expectations and offering resistance against those that would like to change you.

Different musical influences are blended together in this track to create a unique, retro sound. For instance, the chord-progression is similar to that of Lily Allen’s 'Smile,' while the chorus’ melody sounds like a slowed-down version of Bruno Mars’ 'Uptown Funk' hook. LaRue’s soulful vocals provide the ultimate touch, imbuing 'Never Giving Up' with personality.

 

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Cian Ducrot, ‘Little Dreaming’

Grammy Award-winning artist Cian Ducrot dropped the new pop track ‘Little Dreaming’ today, speaking to the power of individuality.

“I can wear my favourite pearls like all my favouritе girls,” he sang. “If it looks good on them, then I can make it work.”

The dynamic, layered sound shows off Ducrot’s vocal range. A key change near the end of the song keeps listeners engaged and wanting more. With a clear knack for songwriting, fans can catch the artist at Dublin’s 3Arena in December.

BOLD LOVE, 'Talking & Drifting'

BOLD LOVE, formerly Big Love, explore the emotions of a new relationship in their first release since the dream-pop six-piece adopted the new name in November. 'Talking & Drifting' captures the excitement, the vulnerability and the joy of newly-found love through a contrast of gentle vocals and piano with rapid-fire drums and energetic guitar.

“I was trying to give a glimpse into love’s first night—the excitement, nerves, and energy," said vocalist Cian Ó'Maonlaí. "It’s an energy that soars and heals."

"Sometimes there is no need to touch, just talking through the night is enough," he added. "It makes you feel like someone else, someone better.”

Somebody’s Child, ‘Porcelain (Losing All My Patience)’

Somebody’s Child, the project led by Dubliner Cian Godfrey, release their riveting new single ‘Porcelain (Losing All My Patience)’. Blending propulsive electronic elements with their raw, emotive rock foundations, the song contrasts between hypnotic, monotonal verses and a soaring choruses.

Speaking on the single, vocalist and bandleader Cian Godfrey said: "'Porcelain' was the breakthrough track for us determining the shape of the record." He continued, "When it was written, everything else seemed to fall into place around it. It embodies the danceability we were going for throughout, and to me it evokes a necessity to get up and move. I remember somebody once calling it 'rave-rock', which I liked"

Awesimon, ‘One And Only’ feat. Pat Lagoon

Blending deft bars and soothing tunes, Awesimon’s ‘One And Only’, released in collaboration with Pat Lagoon, is a hard-hitting tune of fluid, minimalistic instrumentation and polished, velvety-smooth vocal performances, as chilled out as it is catchy.

New Jackson, ‘Metamorphosis’ feat. Jape

New Jackson (aka David Kitt) collaborates with Jape on the new electronic track ‘Metamorphosis’, an atmospheric and thought provoking tune of deeply distinctive production, mixing half-sung and half-spoken lyrics, bouncy percussion, riveting bass lines and ethereal synths melodies.

KETTAMA, ‘It Gets Better (Forever Mix)’

A breathless and enthralling electronic tune of fast-paced percussion, KETTAMA’s ‘It Gets Better (Forever Mix)' is scattered with high-energy vocals and gripping bass lines, juxtaposed with stirring minor-melodies – it’s an emotionally packed club tune, as danceable as it is reflective.

Muireann Bradley, ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’

Muireann Bradley today covers a stunning rendition of Bob Dylan’s classic ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’, a faithful yet deeply emotional cover of the track showcasing the incredible range of the 18-year-old Irish rising star.

Of the track, Muireann says: “I grew up listening to Bob Dylan, and while I love the stuff from when he turned electric, I really love the early acoustic records - The Free Wheelin’ Bob Dylan is my favourite, I just love the finger picking on that album. ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’ has always been one of my favourite songs, not only does it have that killer finger picking and mouth organ, but it has this really cool natural chord progression and melancholy melody and lyrics.

Florence Road, 'Heavy'

All-female Wicklow quartet Florence Road continue to build on their distinctive style with their new single, 'Heavy'. Lead singer Lily Aron's lilting vocals backed by Emma Brandon's guitar switching between a distorted buzz and clean riffs compliment the track's wave-like sound, while drummer Hannah Kelly and bassist Ailbhe Barry provide a firm anchor to the song.

First building an audience on social media with covers and live performances, 'Heavy' provides an exciting look at what the band are capable of in the studio. With influences like The Cranberries and Wolf Alice, Florence Road establish themselves as ones to watch this coming year.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify: