Mend, is an upbeat song with a heartfelt message that was written for an independent film on the topic of Men’s Mental Health called, SOCIAL, which premiered in the summer of 2025. Built on guitars, bass, and steady drums that channel the energy of the early 2000’s, this indie pop song offers a hopeful chorus that reassures the listener: even without everything figured out, you’re still on the right path.
“When we first wrote the song, we had been contacted by Ciaran Hemeryck, writer and lead actor of SOCIAL. He wanted an original song for the emotional climax of the film, and shared with us a number of songs he thought would suit the scenes, then asked us to create our own original song using his references. It took us a few tries to get there but after watching some of the more emotional scenes from the film, the idea for Mend kind of just poured out. We wanted the song to convey a message of hope, how even in the darker times, there is a light to be found.”
Produced by Shauna Radford, written by Ciarán Hemeryck and directed by Sam O’Neill, Social explores a deeply vulnerable and often overlooked aspect of mental health – one where the signs may not always be immediately visible. Premiering at Louth International Film Festival, and having been selected for other festivals around the country, SOCIAL has received an incredible reception, as did the the song Mend itself. The team behind SOCIAL also held a charity screening of the film in the Lighthouse Cinema Smithfield and raised over €800 for Movember.
“The whole experience start to finish was such a privilege. We were so honoured to have been asked to contribute to a project that is built around such an important cause. We are so looking forward to releasing Mend and being able to further communicate that message of hope.”
The single was recorded at home between Donegal and Meath, with Donegal’s own Mark McGirr playing drums on the track. Cara and Mark McGirr had played together in a number of projects in college, and Cara and Ruth were delighted to have such a talented musician lend their craft to the song. The song was then mixed and mastered by the wonderful Beardfire Studios in Dublin. A brilliant studio which has worked with Cara and Ruth on all their previous releases such as Wherever You Go and Close To You.
The Hopeful Kind are set for their busiest year yet. Mend, is only the beginning. The duo plan to release a number of singles this year, exploring both their upbeat full bodied indie pop sound, along with some softer songs that showcase their storytelling and lyricism abilities.
The single is set to be released on Friday, 9th January. And can be streamed everywhere online.