One of Ireland’s most hotly-tipped electro-pop artists, Dashoda, releases his debut EP Never Enough today Wednesday 15th March, 2023.
The focus track for the EP, the shimmering sophistipop single ‘Fooling Around Again’, is also being released today along with an official video by Dashoda’s regular visual collaborator, Ror Conaty.
Dashoda says: “Much of the EP is inspired by self-sabotage in my personal life. The video is a literal yet absurd interpretation of these themes and experiences, which can often make for sombre reflection.
“We wanted to play with colour and setting for aesthetic reasons, and the idea of the fragmented self. We lived in this 70s-styled house for 4 days and made three videos so it felt like a complete escape from reality for a while. There is a playful, juvenile quality to the imagery and I think this is a refection of the absurdity of self-sabotage.
“I also feel the video is a nod to artists like Connan Mockasin and Donny Benét, both of whom were important to me during the making of the EP for their use of humour in exploring the forbidden.”
WATCH ‘FOOLING AROUND AGAIN’ VIDEO
Already, Dashoda, real name Gavin MacDermott, has been catching the ears of radio playlisters across Ireland with first single ‘Looking For You’ racking up over a million impacts since release last November. February saw the release of ‘Sultan (feat. Jackie Beverly)’, which was noted as one of the best releases of the month by tastemakers across Ireland such as Nialler9, Chordblossom, Hot Press, The Last Mixed Tape, Golden Plec and more. In their March issue, Totally Dublin reviewed the EP, writing that “Dashoda’s new EP is a slick, radio-play-guaranteed piece of electropop.”
Dashoda says: “Never Enough is inspired by the experience of avoidance and self-sabotage. It’s from a place where you believe you are not enough for someone else, or for yourself. It is woven from the various games you play with yourself and others, consciously or unconsciously, to reconcile false beliefs and avoid truth. It’s about testing relationships and flouting opportunities before they can grow out of fear.”
Dashoda takes sonic inspiration from The Blue Nile, Blood Orange, Roxy Music, Japan, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Prefab Sprout.
He recorded Never Enough at home and in several studios across Dublin, Wexford and London with friends both old and new. Much of this happened over lockdown, providing a window of hope for Dashoda: “The process of making it was an escape from confined circumstances, and that’s probably what I loved about making this EP the most.”
The glossy yet intimate EP was co-produced by Dashoda and Ross Fortune (Ellie Goulding, King Krule, Ed Sheeran). ‘Fooling Around Again’ as well as ‘Roy Orbison’ were co-written with Jake Curran, the current music director for Niall Horan. Irish producer Richey McCourt (Aimée, Laoise) co-wrote the dancefloor-ready ‘Looking For You’. Hot off the release of her 2022 EP Temporary State, Jackie Beverly co-wrote ‘Sultan’ with Dashoda, and their distinct styles blend together to create a sound that’s soft and sweet, yet stirring.
Tonight, Dashoda celebrates the launch of his EP at The Workman’s Cellar, Dublin. Having built up quite a reputation as a live performer when he supported buzzy Irish dance pop duo 49th & Main on their Irish tour, Dashoda is looking like one of the hottest live acts to catch this year.
With hints of jangle pop as well as his signature retro, synth-flecked sound, Never Enough is an early harbinger of summer.
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