Donegal singer songwriter George Houston started his music career in September 2020 with his debut single Boo Fucking Hoo. The track had instant local success pushing him to record his debut album Cold Toast followed by his second studio album Undesired the following year cementing his distinctive sound with brooding vocals, airy harmonies and candid lyrics. The artist has since seen traction and a steady growth of listeners across the country and beyond.
George has received much praise for his music, having been played on radio and playlists nationwide that has gained a strong following for the artist with over 85k streams on Spotify. Cold Toast was set as Ocean FMs Album of the week and both albums have been played across Ireland on stations such as RTÉ Radio One, RTÉ 2XM, Today FM, iRadio, Dublin South FM, Red FM, Dublin digital radio, Dundalk FM, Highland radio, Drive 105, Radio Nova and Shannonside FM to name a few, making the young artist one to watch.
Since the release of his Debut album, the eclectic pop artist has had the opportunity to play at Body and Soul, Whelan’s ones to watch, The Regional Cultural Centre, An Grianán Theatre, Buncrana Music Festival, Dunfanaghy Festival, The Earagail Arts Festival, BlackBox Belfast, and the famous Stendhal Festival with the legendary Sister Sledge and Hayseed Dixies headlining.
Other acts he’s had the pleasure of supporting include Duke Special, John Doherty, In Their Thousands, Tramp and the award-winning Ciaran Lavery who co-wrote George’s first single of 2022 in an exciting collaboration titled ‘Painted Faces’.
The artist has also had the honour of supporting the amazing Hothouse Flowers at their sold-out show in Derry December 2022.
The singer has developed a strong live reputation with an ability to make even the largest of venues feel intimate; whether doing an acoustic set or playing with his full band including Steamy McCay(TRAMP) on drums, singer Ciara Doherty on Guitar, Malcolm Boyd (Happy Out) on Bass and his sister Kate Houston on backing vocals and keys.
George’s live sets are known to wow audiences with his ageless voice and nostalgic sound, ensuring an experience not to be missed as seen on his debut national tour, ‘The Undesired Tour’ this April with sold out shows in Derry and Belfast.
George delivered his most recent release the ‘PAIN’ EP in September which saw the Donegal native land much coverage with RTE 2FM’s Beta Da Silva’s show, RTE Radio 1, Dublin South FM, Nialler9, HotPress, Golden Plec, Corks 96FM, Corks Red FM, 8Radio and many more building a solid foundation ahead of the young artists third studio album. He also released the music video for his single ‘In Aeternum Vive’ which received over 10k views within its first week of release and is now over 20k views!
George Houston now continues to build his momentum even further as he sets out to release his third studio album ‘Vehicular Suicide’ on Friday, October 13th, strap yourselves in for a thrilling ride as the emerging artist is set to close off his exciting 2023 with a bang and an album that is set to leave a lasting impression amongst music fans. George has created a true unique listening experience with his upcoming spooky record and this is certainly one that is not to be missed.
George Houston invites us to a world of darkness and horror in his third studio album Vehicular Suicide.
The album moves in the form of a classic horror film with the title track introducing the Donegal artist’s morbid eclectic pop-rock songs sprinkled with his timeless vintage flare, almost like a theme tune.
As the album progresses the listener is encouraged to embrace the dark narrative, often comparing the decay of the mind through trauma and pain to the decaying body, enduring indescribable suffering as seen in ‘In Aeternum Vive’ and ‘Bleed Me Dry’.
Vehicular suicide explores the torment experienced through grief and heartbreak whilst transporting us to a dark world of horror; with vampires, cannibals and parasites to the soul being the topic of discussion, a Doors like organ texture and chilling vocal performance paints the tracks blood red as seen in ‘Blenderland’ and ‘White Fang’.
As the title track describes, Houston’s Halloween album is one to be listened to whilst driving, windows down in the dark on an endless highway, with dramatic guitar solos cutting through the 70s like pop-rock bangers.
Artists like Fleetwood Mac, The Doors and First Aid Kit being a strong influence on the sound of the album, George shows his range and versatility of songwriting through a plethora of genres, crafting a collage of sound perfect for the eclectic listener with a love for the macabre.
As every classic horror film should end on a cliffhanger, Houston brings us back to the first single he released in 2023 titled ‘Blenderland’, with an intention to unsettle on the final track of the nine track album, following what seemed to be a happy ending in a joyous track of growth and nostalgia in ‘Roots Grow Out’. As the artist plays with timeless horror tropes, Vehicular Suicide offers a cinematic experience in George Houston’s latest off kilter, spooky season album.
George Houston explores the twisted relationship civilization and the media have with the idolised club of celebrity serial killers in the perpetual cycle of romanticised murder.
Inspired by the famous final scene of Thelma and Louise, Houston sings with wit in objection to the common adoration of infamous killers like Ted Bundy, Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer, claiming the current romanticising of such monsters makes him “ready to commit vehicular suicide, read me a story like Bonnie and Clyde”.
Whilst taking inspiration from punk rock and classic pop, Houston’s uninspired performance is unlike any other with whirring erratic vocals moving in unison, mimicking the revving engine of a racecar in a mad dash to escape the madness of modern depictions of infamous murderers.
Being the first track of the artist’s third studio album, Vehicular Suicide acts as an opening theme tune to the Spooky LP with a narrative likened to that of a classic hammer horror.
White Fang, the sixth song in George Houston’s third album, is a plea for cruelty from a beloved monster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cadB01kRSik
The artist begs his love, likened to Count Dracula, to be “cruel to be kind” as he struggles with his obsession. Inspired by popular tales of vampires like Dracula, Nosfaratu and Twilight, White Fang narrates the difficulty of unwanted love towards ‘blood sucking’ characters that crave the love of those enchanted by their magic.
With sweeping 80s synths and haunting organ solos, George’s influence from Kate Bush and The Doors is clearly heard as the dark pop rock ballad begs for mercy; “if you want my blood, if you want my soul, you better take my heart too, better take it all.”, a recurring theme throughout the album as the artist wishes to be spared of the pain of love and heartbreak.
Connect with George Houston
