Author: Danny Carroll

Hot off the heels of an impressive year that included over 100 shows across the U.S. — with multiple headline sell-outs and festival appearances — Irish alt-country stalwart Podge Lane has announced the release of his fourth album, Less Of Me, arriving October 17 via Teip Records. Alongside the announcement, Lane has shared the record’s third single, “Honesty”.

Following the release of the summertime roots rocker “Heatwave” and the intimate breakup ballad “Let Me Ask You,”“Honesty” is a heartbreakingly bare country song that explores the struggle of self-help and the difficulty of being truly transparent in the face of change. From the opening drumbeat that chugs beneath an infectious guitar riff, the song lulls you into a false sense of comfort — before stopping you in your tracks with its brutal opening refrain:

“Honesty taught me how to lie. Honesty made me cry.
Honesty lost me in the end, honesty is foe and friend.”

Written early in the album’s process — during a spontaneous fit of creativity in a park in Georgia — the track maintains a raw, minimal arrangement that reflects its humble origins.

“It’s a song that doesn’t need flash — no solo, no horns,” Lane explains. “It tells you how I feel about honesty: the good, the bad, the contradictions, and the brutal facts, all in less than three minutes.”

The nine-track album, recorded in New York over a two-week period during the summer, is a deeply personal reflection on Lane’s six-month journey across the U.S. — the people he met, the stories he heard, and the self-actualisation he experienced along the way.

“After I finished my last album, Multiple Dead Ends, I just felt burnt out,” Lane recalls. “It was such a daunting task to write a whole record about my own insecurities and fears, that by the time I was done, I wanted to create something as far away from that narrative as possible.
So I moved to the U.S. and played every show imaginable — dive bars, outdoor venues, festival tents, opening slots — to rediscover why I loved music. What came out of it was this album: a snapshot of my travels, and everything I learned about others and myself along the way.”

Lane continues his U.S. journey with multiple upcoming dates in New York as part of the “Gecko Tour,” with Irish and U.K. shows set to follow in early 2026.

Zimbabwean-Irish rapper God Knows is set to release his highly anticipated debut solo album A Future of the Past, coming 26th September 2025 via narolane records. Following the momentum of previous singles The Art of Alienation, The Observer, and Misplaced Empathy, the album is “like the first chapter of a new book, by God Knows.”

Sitting on a bank of over 50 tracks, God Knows says selecting the final track list was “a bittersweet endeavour,” shaped by a desire to tell a coherent story. Blending almost every style of music he loves, God Knows describes the album as containing “albums within this album.” Throughout, the MO remains the same: “collaborating, experimenting, learning new tricks and most importantly growing.” Though born from pain, the project was ultimately made in freedom and love.

Lead single It’s Been A While is a family affair, where eldest sibling God Knows is joined by brother Godswill “Dreddy” Jonas on the hook, while youngest brother Godwin produced the track. God Knows little sister “Omgjojo” features elsewhere on the album on the track 18 Inch War & Eternal.

Speaking on the lead single, Godwin says “I remember having a conversation with God Knows and my cousin Darryl about the title after I made the beat and that’s when the title came to me – “It’s Been A While”. For me, it’d been a while since G had done a solo track and a Grime/Drill tune where he proves to the Irish Scene and the world why he is where he is today. It’d been a while since we did a track together.”

Dreddy adds “we’ve been making music a long time, back when there was two people and the bartender at the shows. From churches, pubs, industrial estate buildings, parties and in between. So for this one we wanted to have fun and give the energy that we get from the shows right back into music, turn up and have a mosh pit in the sound systems!”

The album is labour of love shaped by influences and contributions from Zimbabwe, New York, Dublin, Shannon, West Africa, and beyond – capturing the artist’s expansive creative vision. MuRli, executive producer of the album says the project meant “giving God Knows a canvas wide enough to paint the truth as only he can.”

He continues “Over time, as I lived with these songs, the work became about building a world around his story; guiding the listener through entrances, exits, and even the hidden passageways between them. Every crack and every filling was shaped by his vision; my role was simply to frame it so that his voice could echo fully. As the author, he draws from his own inspirations; for me, as the producer, the inspiration was always him. So I listened, I observed, I studied, and I applied.”

Carving a bold and deeply personal path, A Future of the Past will be released Friday, 26th September, via narolane records, and is set to be one of the year’s most compelling and essential records.

Stream A Future of the Past now:

ABOUT GOD KNOWS

Known for his vividly honest lyricism and electrifying energy wherever he sets foot, God Knows has elevated Irish hip-hop to exponential levels.

In 2020, God Knows’ debut solo EPs ‘Who’s Asking? Vol. I’ and ‘Who’s Asking? Vol. II’ saw him bring together the country’s most exciting, influential and progressive artists for a project that saw one of Ireland’s foremost music journalist Nialler9 commenting, “The ‘Who’s Asking Remix’ is one of the best things to come out of Ireland’s music scene in years. The heat of it is undeniable.” Elsewhere, The Quietus wrote that God Knows “stands proudly at the helm” of Irish hip-hop.

As part of Rusangano Family, God Knows was the recipient of the Choice Music Prize for 2016’s ‘Let The Dead Bury The Dead’ – the first ever hip-hop record to win the prestigious ‘Album of the Year’ award.

Although God Knows leaned into his mentorship role fully, it was only a matter of time before he was ready to truly step into the spotlight he engineered. As one of the two founders of narolane records, God Knows is getting ready for the most prolific period of creativity of his life.

In 2022 God Knows made his narolane debut with the release of ‘Glory’, featuring Irish singer Senita. As a collective, narolane’s creative output conveys their ethos with surety, authenticity and unapologetic ambition. That ethos is to be true to what is right, what is excellent and what is unexpected.

This commitment to excellence has caught the attention of the world’s most revered cultural commentators and music media, with the NME, NPR, France 24, The Irish Times, The BBC, The Guardian, RTÉ, The Fader, Vice and The New York Times all turning their attention to this revolutionary collective.

Follow God Knows:

Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music

Mr Billy Fitzgerald is a Dublin based solo artist writing lush indie-pop songs that simultaneously bathe in the faded light of heartbreak while pulling you on to the dancefloor. Formerly of Dublin alt-popsters The Dead Flags, when that band came to an end Billy made the conscious decision to take a step away from music. After his self-imposed exile and following a long journey back, Billy gathered his array of drum machines, synths, a half-broken Micro Korg along with his acoustic guitar and an assortment of pedals and amps. This became the sonic palette he would use to begin crafting his new indie-pop sound, leaning into 80’s inspired sounds that rubbed shoulders with hip-hop tempos while juxtaposing the pain of heartbreak against sweet pop-centric vocal melodies.

Following on from the release of his lauded debut ‘A Grand Romantic Gesture’, which came out February 2025, and caught the sharpened ears of XSNoize, Hot Press, Turn Up The Volume, Ragged Cast, Rock N Load, The Beat.ie, Daily Earworm and RTE2XM. Billy returns with the last single to be taken from the record, ‘You Had Your Chance’.

One of the first songs intentionally written for the album ‘You Had Your Chance’ acts as a sister-song to previous single ‘Gimme Love’, Billy tackles the same facet of enduring a vicious break up, wading through the emotional carnage that accompanies it and coming out the other side. Throughout the album there are swathes of RnB and soul, and on ‘You Had Your Chance’ Billy fully leans into it. Moving from the raw emotion ala Marvin Gaye in the beginning into a Curtis Mayfield groove and percussion in the second half. Despite the seriousness of the track Billy can’t help quoting Tim Burton’s Batman in the track. Another little easter egg for the listener.

Billy’s album ‘A Grand Romantic Gesture’ achieves so much over its 10 tracks. The album offers emotional depth, reflection, acceptance and at times denial. Billy’s willingness to be vulnerable and to mine personal experience gives the album a lot of heart, nothing feels vacuous, hollow or for show. I can’t imagine some of these songs are easy to sing live. This emotional exorcism while lyrically direct is often set against a backdrop of an 80’s drum machine, rain splatter synth, raw acoustic guitar and let’s not forget, the tuba.

Billy is solely responsible for the writing, performance and recording of all songs across the record. The focus and drive to write, record, play, produce and mix and entire album yourself is something to hail in and of itself. This singular vision and delivery have given us one of Ireland’s most exciting voices and one that doesn’t blend in against whatever wave is popular. Instead, we hear belief, and confidence in his voice and his sound, which is the only real currency true artists have to offer.

Following the release of her debut EP Allora, Cork-based artist Jean Pack has unveiled a stunning new music video for “Birthday,” solidifying her status as one of Ireland’s most exciting emerging voices. The video, a surreal, glamour-infused dream, brings to life the lo-fi world of Allora, blending vintage aesthetics with raw emotion in a way that feels uniquely her own.

The concept for “Birthday” originated from Jean Pack’s idea of a girl who isn’t invited to a birthday party, culminating in a cake being destroyed. Director Nicole DeLarge, inspired by the tea party scene from Alice in Wonderland, created a whimsical, fantastical world where nothing is linear. As DeLarge explains, “Every project needs a clear theme, but it’s important to improvise and let the piece match Jean Pack’s world.”

Known for her blend of melancholia and mischief, Jean Pack draws inspiration from artists such as The Shangri-Las and The Velvet Underground. The “Birthday” video captures this energy – emotional, raw, and perfectly paired with her sonically sharp storytelling.

To celebrate the release of Allora, Jean Pack will embark on a short but unmissable tour across Ireland this October. She will be joined by fellow songwriter Caoilian Sherlock, who produced Allora and released his debut album Teenage Jesus in 2023. Together, they will perform with their bands, The Big Children and The Slay Babies, on the following dates:

9th October – The Record Room, Limerick: TICKETS
12th October – Coughlan’s, Cork: TICKETS
18th October – Anseo, Dublin: TICKETS

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Jean Pack’s magnetic stage presence live. In the meantime, watch the new video for “Birthday” to see why she is being hailed as one of Ireland’s most thrilling new artists.

Video Credits: Directed by Nicole DeLarge; Director of Photography, Shane Joyce; Art Director, Jean Pack; Editors, Nicole DeLarge and Shane Joyce; Colorist, Shane Joyce; Print/Design, Nathan Grunwell and Nicole DeLarge. Cast: Tara Hayes, Seán Damery, Amy Connelly, Cara McMullan, Sonny McDonagh, Marta Partearroyo García, and Jean Pack.

Connect with Jean Pack

Instagram | Spotify

Ireland’s connection to shoegaze traces back to one of the genres pioneers, My Bloody Valentine. Continuing to fly the flag for the genre in 2025 are a whole host of Irish shoegaze bands. Formed in Cork in 2019, Halcyon Low bring their own take on the genre, marring considerable heft and weight with more ethereal and dreamy textures. Following the successful release of their 2023 self-titled EP, which saw their song ‘Simple Boy’ feature in the award winning film ‘The Hurler: A Champion’ Tale’, the band now return with a new single ‘Clover’. A track which fully embraces both ends of the spectrum at which Halcyon Low operate, the result is a shifting track that moves from crushingly heavy to delicate and heavenly. Giving us something that feels quintessentially Halcyon Low.

Halcyon Low is Paul Whelan (vocals/guitar), Tomás O’Shea (guitar), James Coady (bass), and Mark O’Gorman (drums). Formed in Cork in 2019, the band found their path to the live stage blocked by the pandemic. Undeterred they existed simply as a studio project during this time, sending tracks back and forth and allowing their sound to grow through file sharing. As restrictions lifted the band wasted no time in gathering in their practice space and bringing the respective members hammers to the anvil as they slowly shaped their songs and sound. New single ‘Clover’ is a further expansion of this sound.

‘Clover’ is a track that naturally moves, shifts and expands upon itself as we make our way through its runtime. Shifting from crushingly heavy parts characterized by thick walls of wooly fuzz, pummeling drums to being lulled into dreamy, delicate verses that drip in watery chorus pedals and sweet textural reverbs. The entire song feels like a dream, like you can almost reach out and touch it but forever outside of your grasp. Guitars swirl around each other, with a plethora of sound being pulled from their respective pedal boards, bass keeps the song anchored, a focus point while the guitars peel off into ethereal bliss. Lyrically ‘Clover’ looks back on a carefree reckless time, finding joy in going against the grain and somehow making it out the other side. It’s draped in a sense of nostalgia and escapism that has become a recurring theme for Halcyon Low.

The track was recorded, mixed and mastered by Ben Wanders at Wanderland Recording Studios in Limerick with vocals recorded at Pauls’ home studio before being handed over to Ben. The video for the track takes inspiration from old school skate videos as the band hoped to capture the feeling of being carefree and reckless. Reflecting the nostalgic feeling the music evokes and to capture that snapshot of a moment you felt you a part of.

After a whirlwind few months including performances in LA and London, signing an international publishing deal and announcing details of his signing to influential UK label SO Recordings, Shobsy announces the Fri 26th Sept release of the third track ‘Own The Night’ from his forthcoming debut EP of the same name which isset for release on Oct 24th.

“I wrote ‘Own The Night’ quite a few years ago. It’s a song about sexual self discovery and exploration. The song was writtten about a particular person, but in hindsight I feel I was writing about an ideal individual, about a person who I’m yet to meet. The song describes the struggle as a male to live up to being attractively assertive, or rather learning that you may have the desire not to be. I feel this is a side of our lives that is always developing, ‘Own The Night’ is my backdrop song to that feeling.”

Shobsy also recently announced an industry invite show at the Green Room at London’s Devonshire on Thurs Oct 23rd and his biggest headline show at Dublin’s Grand Social on Saturday November 22nd . He has now added an additional string of UK dates opening for MY BABY.

‘Dance Or Cry’ (the first release from the ‘Own The Night’ EP) reached Number 4 on the Irish Radio Breakers Chart and achieved significant airplay on Ireland’s most listened to station RTE Radio 1 and was ‘Track of the Week’ on RTE 2fm as well as being playlisted on stations such as Sydney Radio in Australia and on Radio Excalibur In Greece. 

Apart from performing as special guest at the recent International Music Industry Awards Gala Dinner in Los Angeles,  Shobsy has performed numerous sold out shows at prestigious Irish venues over the past year including at The Workman’s Club, The National Concert Hall , Whelan’s, The Academy and also recently signed a worldwide music publishing deal with Pangea International Music Publishing (which is partnered with Sony Music Publishing).
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Shobsy’s previous releases including ‘Vanity’, ‘ENTERTAINMENT’ & Champagne’ were received exceptionally well with support given both at home in Ireland and overseas from amongst others EARMILK, PopMatters, Nialler9, Hot Press, Today FM and Record Of The Day. Two of his singles were supported as ‘Track of the Week’ on RTE  2fm.  Recently he was one of a handful of Irish acts (alongside Dermot Kennedy & Gavin James) invited to perform at a special Irish Music Industry showcase event hosted by the President of Ireland at the President’s residence in Dublin.

A performance on Ireland’s Biggest TV show ‘The Late Late Show’ would lead to far reaching additional attention for this Dublin based singer- songwriter and live performer.  Shobsy performed a special acoustic re-working of the Jimmy Somerville classic, ‘Smalltown Boy’ on the show; vocals with piano accompaniment. It was sublime in its sentiment and delivery and went viral online clocking up over 100k views in 12 hours. 

Shobsy has performed numerous times with the RTE Concert Orchestra performing songs from David Bowie, Phil Lynott at sold out shows at the 3 Arena, National Concert Hall and at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Fans of George Michael, David Bowie & The Weeknd are in for a treat as Shobsy’s new tracks embody each of them through the recordings genre-hopping rhythm, crossing the boundaries of synth pop into R&B. This Dubliner’s natural vocal ability, showmanship yet grounded charismatic personable character has already gained him a legion of fans and we are so excited not just for you to hear his debut EP but also for us all to watch where this superb artist takes us next.

Irish alt-RnB artist Daire Patel returns with his evocative new single ‘Last Night, A Decade Ago’, offering a soulful meditation on the changing texture of summer and memory from his upcoming debut album. The track draws inspiration from that end-of-season feeling when, as Patel reflects, “summer seems to get further and further away from how it felt as a kid—freedom replaced with monotony, dreams replaced with memories.”

Channeling nostalgia and reflection, Patel’s lyrics are both intimate and abstract, inviting listeners to project personal meaning onto the verses. The line “stains from the mud never came off” conjures the innocence of childhood summers spent running with friends, while the overall mood resonates with bittersweet recollection and longing.

Inspired by the raw honesty of artists like Dijon, ‘Last Night, A Decade Ago’ blends lush R&B production and lo-fi warmth with Patel’s signature lyrical vulnerability. The result is a track that captures the push-pull between past and present, weaving together melancholy and hope.

As anticipation builds for his debut album, Patel continues to carve out a singular place in Irish music—gracefully exploring the complex emotions of growing older and letting go, while offering songs that invite both reflection and comfort.

“Perfect for those hazy, alternative playlists and spins on Future Pop at Radio 1 and 6 Music…” Record Of The Day

“A knack for introspective lyrics that are drenched in vulnerability….” 1883 Magazine

“Promises to enchant with its relatability and, let’s face it, irresistible tone….” Wonderland Magazine

Dublin-based electronic duo Barbagianni continue to thrive with their third single ‘Queen Of Verona’ set for release on September 26th 2025. They continue to push their music in new directions opting for an indie/psychedelic approach resulting in a gleaming synthpop track that sets it apart from their previous releases.

The band – comprised of Karl McCrone (producer/guitar) and Matthew Keating (producer/bass) – are no strangers to the scene, having toured with standout Irish talents including Lydia Ford, Lucy McWilliams, and Theo Fitzgibbon.

With their debut EP slated for release later this year, Barbagianni continue to carve out a unique niche in Ireland’s electronic scene—melding heartfelt songwriting with production built for both introspection and the dancefloor.

Amy Naessens has been gaining recognition both at home and across the water since the release of her debut single ‘To Be The One You Choose‘ followed by multiple releases played across Irish and UK radio. Naessens music is a blend of pop, soul and R&B mixing powerhouse vocals and fiery production with delicate songwriting. Gigging across the country with multiple performances from her including her most recent sold out headline show in Whelans, Electric Picnic, Sofar Sounds and the renowned Ruby Sessions.

Speaking about the release Barbagianni said “Our third single ‘Queen Of Verona’ brings us back to our roots, using funky basslines and sparkly guitars to lay down an electro-infused disco groove.

Working with Amy Naessens, writer of our last single ‘Out Of My Head’, we chose the setting of Verona, Romeo and Juliet’s fateful meeting place, as an opportunity to write our first duet. We brought in long-time friend of the band and our mixing engineer Gary O’Reilly, to offer up a darker take on Amy’s lyrics and explore the challenges young lovers face. The result is an upbeat yet melancholic dance track that echoes Robyn’s Dancing On My Own and Metronomy’s Summer ‘08.“

Rising Irish star KYLA BELLE unleashes her most powerful track yet with “Elevens Again” a pop/rock anthem packed with soaring vocals, raw emotion, and arena-ready energy. Inspired by the way numbers control every aspect of our lives, the song captures something universal and turns it into a bold, unforgettable sound. With driving guitars, dynamic production, and a hook that lingers long after the first listen, “Elevens Again” cements KYLA BELLE as one of Ireland’s most exciting new voices.

Kyla Belle is an Irish singer/songwriter from Dublin. She kicked off both 2024 & 2025 as part of the “Whelan’s Ones To Watch” lineup & also named as Today FM’s “Irish Artists To Watch” for 2025.

She started releasing her own pop music in late 2023 and has got phenomenal radio support especially as an independent artist as she has been “Artist of the month” twice on FM104, Q102 , 98FM and has had four “Track Of The Week” on RTE 2FM along with many other radio stations.

Two of her singles were in the Top 4 of the Irish Breakers Radio Charts along with her latest release hitting #7 with DJ Marty Guilfoyle.
KYLA BELLE has been collaborating with several artists on the new 95 Records Dance Label set up by Rubyworks in collaboration with DJ Dec Pierce. Her powerful pop vocals have been added to releases with Marty Guilfoyle and Bryan Kearney.

Little Known are a Cork-based alternative indie shoegaze quartet renowned for their emotive, guitar-driven sound. Blending heavy, atmospheric rock with dynamic vocals and rich instrumentation, they craft a sonic experience that is both powerful and immersive.

The band have been chosen to showcase at Ireland Music Week on 1st-3rd Oct ahead of the release of their new ‘Billy EP on Oct 10th. 

Previous singles ‘Headwreck’ ,’Listen’ and ‘Slow Daze’ caught the attention of 2FM’s Dan Hegarty being chosen as his ‘Track Of The Week’, helping to establish their profile in the Irish music scene.
With a growing fanbase and a sound that continues to evolve, Little Known are carving out their place as one of Ireland’s most exciting emerging bands.

New single ‘It Should Be Easy’ is a soaring alt-rock track that blends raw indie energy with hopeful lyricism. Driving guitars and a powerful rhythm section rise into a cascading chorus’