The Next New Low – How To Let Go At The Right Time

Space oddity.

Former Idiots singer Brian Mooney is releasing a new song every month on bandcamp under his new moniker The Next New Low.

Last year’s EP ‘And as for Loss…‘ was one of the best records of 2020 and these new tunes are just as compelling in their exploration of love and grief.

Brian writes:

“Recorded at home March 2021. Flugelhorn and trumpet added by Conor O’Brien. Mastered and tinkled by Sean Coleman. Video made on iPhone with additions by Delphine Velut.”

Nick says: The final frontier.

The Next New Low

HAVVK – Automatic

Calling fans of ’90s grunge – alt.rock ensemble HAVVK evoke happy memories of Nirvana and Hole with their new single, taken from their album Levelling, due September 17.

Props to Adam Cleaver and James Byrne too for the expertly shot cinematic video starring Hannah Collins.

Singer and bassist Julie Hough (top) says:

“Automatic is about cherishing childhood friendships and the way that they evolve. It’s about snapshots that will always be imprinted in our minds – for me it’s hours talking on the landline, swapping clothes, burning CDs, mitching school or going to gigs for the first time.

“It’s about the fuzzy feeling of nostalgia when you slip back into a conversation with an old friend as if you saw each other yesterday. But it’s also about being afraid to lose that feeling; being anxious that those memories might burn away and having to be open to growing together even as your paths change.”

Nick says: Automatic: for the people.

HAVVK

Brí – If I Wasn’t Scared

Love in a cold climate.

Offaly singer/songwriter Brí (top) enchants with the latest single from her album Hide, due in October.

The dramatic video is directed by Gerard Walsh and stars Patrick Loftus and Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz.

Brí says:

“‘If I Wasn’t Scared’ assumes a man’s perspective of a relationship as he struggles to balance his feelings with a ‘tough guy’ image, particularly among ‘the boys’. It is a toxic masculinity tale that strips back cold layers of indifference and questions the fear that it uncovers.

“The vocals on this track were recorded remotely from my home while my bandmate Aidan Mulloy’s electric guitar melodies carry the song and my producer Asta Kalapa surrounds it with his magic. The gifted Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz who is also in my band, plays cello on this track and elevates it to another level. Every song that Kaitlin (of alt folk duo KC VIK) and Aidan play on, is a song I fall deeply in love with.”

Nick says:A man’s world?

Brí

Francie Conway – Staycation

Holiday in the sun*.

Kerry stalwart Francie Conway (top) is back with a summer song bestolling the virtues of the Emerald Isle as a great place to spend the holiers.

In fairness, who wouldn’t want to be on that beach right now?

The band comprise: Vivienne Boucherat & Chris White (Vocals); Dom Torche (Hammond Organ); Peter Miklos Erdai (Bass); Matt Kelleghan (Drums & Percussion); Rory Conway (Vocals and shaker).

Francie’s latest album Hidden Gems is out now.

Nick says: It would be so nice.

Francie Conway

 *Terms and conditions apply

Ra Gerra – Indecisive

Let’s go for a drive.

Ra Gerra is a collaboration between electronica musician and producer Kobina (aka Sean Arthur) and hip-hop artist MuRli (aka Mawuli Boevi).

Indecisive is the third single from their new album New Vessels, out on July 16.

Kobina says:

“New Vessels is all about pushing one another to dig deeper within ourselves and to look for new ways of communicating with and navigating our relationships with ourselves and the world around us.”

MuRli says:

“There were no rules. I was just laying down whatever came naturally to me wherever I’d find myself writing. There was no specific direction I wanted to go into with this project. I was exploring new ways of writing and performing and this is the result.”

The video was directed by POB (Peter O’Brien) of Motherland productions and stars Kwaku Fortune as a man on a journey to an unknown destination, picking up passengers along the way.

Nick says: This wheel’s on fire.

Ra Gerra

Maria Kelly – Good Enough

Special K.

Delicate and poised, with a raw confessional quality, Maria Kelly (top) has released the latest single from her forthcoming album.

Maria writes:

“I’ve been going to therapy on and off for years, and ‘good enough’ is a track that came from a lot of learning. For me, the song is a turning point – a moment of looking at the painful parts of my life and giving myself permission to feel them – not ignore, or escape, or distract, but to really feel them.

“The main emotion is anger; anger for what was handed to me, frustration for the way that I’m wired – but there’s an undercurrent of understanding too. If I now know where these things came from, and how much they truly weigh, it’s up to me whether or not I want to continue to carry them with me for the rest of my life.”

Nick says: Well said.

Maria Kelly

Afterbliss – Remnants

Lost and found.

The new video by anthemic synth-rock ensemble Afterbliss is a rousing floor-filler with an intriguing video by Kim Farrelly.

The band are: Evan Cassidy – Lead Vocals; Alex Burcea – Lead Guitar, Synths, Backing Vocals; Ally Pender – Drums, Percussion; James O’ Gorman – Rhythm Guitar; and Shane Waldron – Bass Guitar.

Nick says: Evan help us.

Afterbliss

SJ Talbot – Easy For Me

Anyone for tennis?

Relationships are a racket for soulful Dublin electro pop newcomer SJ Talbot (top) as she serves an ace in her new video directed by Fionnoughla Madden and Robert Montgomery.

The 23-year-old Clontarf singer is a graduate of the Dublin BIMM college.

Nick says: Net prophet.

SJ Talbot

Brendan Tallon – The First Time I Saw You

The Brendan voyage.

Erstwhile Revelino frontman Brendan Tallon (top) makes us swoon with the joyous new single from his debut solo album Love In These Times, out today on Mercenary Records.

The video was shot in Brendan’s home studio and edited by Rory McDonald.

Nick says: That wild mercury Revelino sound.

Brendan Tallon

The Next New Low – How To Make Nothing

“And everybody wants to help
But no one can.”

Once the lead singer with cult ’90s indie rockers The Idiots, Brian Mooney (top) returned with the masterpiece that was last year’s EP ‘And As For Loss‘.

Now he’s continuing his creative resurgence with How To Make Nothing, which has echoes of John Lennon or Pink Floyd in its plaintive melancholia.

Brian writes:

“Audio recorded on my phone with additions in Logic 2020. James Smith added funky bass and keys. Video recorded in the kitchen on my phone with additions by Delphine Velut.”

Nick says: A tale told by an Idiot.

The Next New Low