Dublin-based indie pop artist Lex Bucha is set to release his debut EP, Painless Mode, on July 2nd, a vulnerable, genre-blending body of work that lays bare the emotional highs and lows of navigating anxiety, fractured relationships, and the search for peace.
Emerging as a bold new voice in Irish pop, Lex uses Painless Mode to put words and sound to moments he’s previously kept silent; panic attacks, breakdowns, and the emotional fallout of a complicated relationship with a parent. The result is a collection of five tracks that are both deeply personal and sonically diverse, drawing from influences like HONNE, Troye Sivan and Hurts.
“I’ve lived through these things, but I rarely spoke about them,” says Lex. “Painless Mode is me finally putting my fears and pain into words and music. I hope that by sharing my truth, others won’t feel so alone in theirs.”
The EP’s focus track, Back & Forth, releases alongside the project. Produced by Jameson (James Sayer), the song is an upbeat, raw depiction of anxiety attacks – with bright, danceable beats and lyrics that cut straight to the heart. “I love how the song combines uplifting, happy beats with lyrics that reveal the melancholy beneath,” Lex explains. “It’s my way of sharing what anxiety feels like while still keeping the energy hopeful and relatable.”
The production throughout Painless Mode is equally eclectic and intimate, shaped by a team of collaborators including Alex Yardley, Marek Deml, Jameson, Cian O’Donoghue, and whenthebeatisbad (Jessica Richardson). From chilled pop textures to euphoric synths and melancholic grooves, Lex’s debut EP doesn’t settle into one space — instead, it mirrors the emotional unpredictability that inspired it.
Lex Bucha’s music has already earned spins on BBC Introducing, TodayFM, and SPIN, and with Painless Mode, he offers something more – a quiet but powerful statement of identity and resilience.
