D. Cullen – Radio

Don’t touch that dial.

With Irish pop and rock-loving DJs an increasingly rare species on the airwaves these days, we really hope that this lush, perfectly crafted tune gets the airplay it deserves.

Radio is taken from Darragh (top) aka D. Cullen’s forthcoming debut album, Sing My Story, Tell My Song, which is in the middle of a crowdfunding campaign on IndieGogo. The album will be released in Autumn 2022.

D Cullen writes:

“The lyrics to Radio speak to the huge distress I felt in 2021. As with most of us, I was locked down, isolated from friends and family, and without any outlets or release from all of the world’s stress.

“The one thing that kept me going was being able to dive into my record collection, dive into great music, and dive into the radio. Music is the most invaluable method of escape, and this song is a tribute to that.”

Nick says: FMmmm bop.

D Cullen

The City And Us – Save Me

Religion is the smile on a dog.

The pooch-tastic new video by Irish pop/rock four-piece The City And Us (top) is sure to tug on your heartstrings and give you paws for thought. Directed by Jinesh Kunj, it’s a love letter to a four-legged friend.

The band – Elva Trill, Mark Hogan, Stephen Youster and Stephen Reilly – kept busy writing and recording during the lockdown and look set for a very productive 2022.

Nick says: The bark of the beast.

The City And Us

Tara Nome Doyle – Caterpillar

Got the metamorphosis blues.

Berlin-based Irish-Norwegian singer/songwriter Tara Nome Doyle (top) channels her inner butterfly on the atmospheric new single from her forthcoming second album Værmin.

It comes with a cinematic video directed by Oliver Mohr and starring Helena Frost, Luna Schaller and Ilona Schulz.

Director Mohr writes:

“It is the warm voice of seduction that tries to gently pull us into the abyss in Tara’s ‘Caterpillar’. All songs on the album are named after insects and deal with topics that are often neglected in society. In public as well as in private. The Caterpillar video tells of three characters in dangerous social addictions.

“Off-screen hands give things to the characters. Presumed gifts, which only reinforce the characters in their dependency. While we observe them in their situations, the space around the characters narrows in the course of the story to a gentle cocoon of loneliness. Together they dream of breaking free from their fate and flying away.”

Nick says: On the wings of love.

Tara Nome Doyle

Niall Brennan – The Other End Of Your Dreams

The blue Niall.

Former Prescriptions frontman Niall Brennan (top) lays down a lovely groove on this humdinger from his new EP Something Glorious.

The Dubliner had been working with producer Gavin Ralston but after Gavin’s untimely passing Brendan Tallon stepped in to complete the project.

The legendary Steve Wickham also features on violin alongside Frank McGing, Aonghus Ralston and John Boyle.

Nick says: In beautiful dreams.

Niall Brennan

Saibh Skelly featuring Jacob Koopman – Is Your Bedroom Ceiling Bored

“I stay up late and talk to the moon.”

Dublin teenage newcomer Saibh Skelly (top) makes a remarkable first impression on this duet from her 5-song covers EP Undercover Heartbreak, due on April 8 on the Rubyworks label.

The original is by Sody featuring Cavetown. Saibh is joined here by Jacob Koopman.

Nick says: Lunar tunes.

Saibh Skelly

Moncrieff – Warm

We could drive forever.

London-based Irish singer/songwriter Moncrieff (top) celebrates his new deal with the German record label Energie Music with this single from his forthcoming EP.

Already hitting 20,000 streams, Warm is a big-hearted love song with a tremendous video directed by Antoine Poulard and co-starring Moncrieff and Sarah Teare.

Moncrieff writes:

“Nobody’s perfect. This song is about being that person, and that rare moment in life when you find that person that truly sees you for you, your imperfections, flaws and scars as well as your good traits and loves you for them. It’s a really comforting and happy feeling to just know that all you have to do is be yourself.”

Nick says: Two hearts in a can.

Moncrieff

Eileen Gogan with Sean O’Hagan – Walking Lanes

Walkin’ down Walkinstown.

I’m getting Carole King vibes from this fruitful collaboration between Dublin songsmith Eileen Gogan (The Would Be’s, The Revenants, The Drays) and Sean O’Hagan (Microdisney, The High Llamas).

The 4-song EP Another Golden Day is released by Dimple Discs.

Eileen writes:

“Cathal Coughlan got in touch in 2018 to ask if I would sing with Microdisney on their reunion gigs and that is how I met Sean. Sean then got in touch a few months after the gig as he was interested in doing some shows around Ireland. He asked if I knew any good venues. He then suggested that I might support him, so Sean, Brian O’Neill (from Dimple Discs) and I went on the road in a rented car and played some gigs around Ireland. It was the best fun ever!

“Sean and I stayed in touch, and then he helped out on my solo album. Later I think he was between projects and looking for something to do and he asked me to send him some songs. He liked some of them and he thought it might be fun to release an EP. I am completely blown away by what he has done. Whenever I listen to them I’m mesmerised by the amazing breath and ethereal life he has injected into the songs.”

Nick says: May all your days be gold.

Eileen Gogan

Fia Moon – By Now

How high the Moon?

Rising all the time. Irish pop princess Fia Moon (top) delivers an intense and emotionally vulnerable performance on her new single.

Co-written with DAY_S and produced by Philip Magee, By Now is an answer to the question: what becomes of the broken hearted?

Fia writes:

“The inspiration came from some deep-rooted feelings that I thought I had already processed. When a relationship ends, you can lose touch with the other person, so when you discover they’ve moved on to a new relationship it can come as a surprise – and it can sting! This song was about me figuring out some of those feelings.”

Nick says: Lunar tunes.

Fia Moon

And So I Watch You From Afar – III Lung

And breathe.

Belfast post-rock nebulizers And So I Watch You From Afar (top) return with a new album Jettison on February 18 on Velocity/Equal Vision Records.

III Lung offers a tantalising glimpse of what to expect.

The band write:

“Nothing in our repertoire comes close to the ambition of this latest project—the multimedia piece Jettison. The album is a memorable experience that transports the listener away from the tumultuous times and into a blissful musical utopia.”

Nick says: The North’s awake.

And So I Watch You From Afar

Kate Nicholson featuring Cormac Neeson – Wrong Side Of Town

An Americana dream.

Northern Irish singer/songwriter Kate Nicholson  (top left) teams up with Cormac Neeson (top right) for an atmospheric blues duet that can be found on her new album Fallen From Grace, due February 18.

Nick says: North by Deep South.

Kate Nicholson

Cormac Neeson