Berlin-based, Cork-raised singer-songwriter Neil O'Shea (The Nation Mourns) has released his sophomore single, 'While It Lasts'.

Hot Press are delighted to premiere the dark folk, Americana track; which is set on the vast Great Plains of the Texas-Mexico border. 'While It Lasts' tells the tale of a man on the move, trying to answer an age old question while coming to terms with enjoying the here and now. O'Shea's gift for storytelling is clear to see on the sentimental song, with the musician using his imagination to forge a path for his subject.

The track is driven along by a pulsating, uptempo rhythm section that holds the fort for the intricate, yet sparse, finger style acoustic guitar. Topped with delicate harmonies, slide guitar and a faux pedal steel sound; 'While It lasts' leaves the listener nostalgic for a time gone by.

Currently recording his debut album at The Famous Gold Watch Records in Berlin, O'Shea grew up with a wide range of blues and rock influences which have paved the way for his current, captivating sound. The haunting timbre of artists such as Tom Waits, Nick Drake, and Jackson C Frank drew him to songwriting initially, leading him to pen songs which breathe life into landscapes and homelands. Subtle, melancholic melodies draw the listener ever further into The Nation Mourns' endlessly emotive music.

O'Shea's debut single 'Ogre' utilises a stream of consciousness mode of storytelling. Derived from a tipsy saunter home one winter night in the quiet suburban streets of Cork City in 2018, 'Ogre' speaks of the self depreciating nature of modern society. Our strive for human connection in the technological abyss we can sometimes find ourselves in is explored in the folk rock down-tempo gem.

Listen to 'While It Lasts', premiered exclusively by Hot Press, below:

Image credit: Victoria Byt