Rapidly rising Irish artist Susan O’Neill has remained a secret treasure since her rise in the Irish music scene a couple years ago, though she’s climbing her way now into new territory.

‘Truth Can Be Kind,’ the second single from the singer-songwriter’s forthcoming solo project is available today via Star House Collective. The Irish folk artist’s EP Now You See It arrives on September 14, with the first single from the record released earlier this year.

The new track is a duet with O’Neill’s co-writer and folk partner in crime, Mick Flannery. With six studio albums, a double-platinum record and more than a few awards to his name, it’s clear why Flannery has been deemed the voice of a generation.

Together on ‘Truth Can Be Kind,’ the pair create something raw, soulful and entirely unexpected. But this comes as no shock to those who were around for the buzz surrounding their 2021 collaborative album, In The Game (we were, check out interview here).

Mick Flannery and Susan O'Neill. Photo credit: Mic Conlon

A concept album sung from the perspective of two lovers, In The Game received nominations for Choice Music Prize Album of the Year, RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards’ Album of the Year and won Best Original Folk Track for its single, ‘Chain Reaction.’ By the end of 2021, the collaborative album soared to the top as the biggest selling Irish independent record of the year.

Speaking about O’Neill’s newest single, Flannery shares, “This song might well have fit the In The Game storyline but we didn’t have it ready in time. Very glad it’s being released on Susan’s EP.”

“This was another co-write and duet with Mick Flannery. I guess the theme is in a similar vein to our duet album. The protagonist struggles to deal with some harsh realities of an adulterous lover. They piece some of the story together, but request in the song to not hear the truth said out loud,” O’Neill says, adding insight into the meaning of the track.

As shown through their recordings and conjoined live shows, the duo’s songwriting focuses on relatable human narratives: love and its faults, heartbreak and the twofold nature of reality. As artists, they aren’t afraid to shy away from the unspoken.

Susan O'Neill. Photo credit: Myriam Riand

O’Neill just returned from her North American tour, which consisted of performances with Flannery as well as playing The Calgary and Folk Festivals in Canada. Earlier this summer, the talented multi-instrumentalist opened for Phoebe Bridgers in Glasgow and Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens.

Moving forward, O’Neill is prepped to head out on her own Irish headline tour promoting her forthcoming EP. She’s scheduled to perform at Electric Picnic this weekend before heading out to Clonakilty Guitar Festival, Image Arts Festival, Vantastival and Sligo Live Fest. O'Neill plays Whelans in Dublin on October 6, following her EP release.

Plus, the duo will hit Cork and Limerick for highly anticipated live shows celebrating the one year anniversary of In The Game.

Listen to ‘Truth Can Be Kind,’ the newest single from Susan O’Neill featuring Mick Flannery, below. Pre-order the forthcoming EP Now You See It here, due for release September 14.