Tag Archives: Alternative

A Chat With, Alt Rock, Interviews, New Music

A Chat With :Jack McLeod of The Rah’s

Scottish band, The Rah’s, have released a new double single ‘Our Design’ / ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know). This comes hot off the heels of the band’s fantastic debut album ‘When Does It Become Real?’. The Rah’s create intoxicating tunes bursting from the seams with alternative rock bravado. Blood, sweat, and tears go into every song to make the powerful sound we have come to love from the band and watching them blossom over the years up to the release of their fantastic debut album has been a joy.

I caught up with singer Jack McLeod to talk about the new release, touring and how Jordan McIntrye’s incredible guitar playing elevates the band’s songs.

“It was always our intention to release ‘Our Design’ as one of the final singles from that album but PR thought we’d be a bit cheeky and release a double A-side. The benefit of a double A-side is basically, if a radio station doesn’t fancy side A then they can go to side A two. So, it’s a cheeky way we can get either or played. If they don’t like the heavier one then they could go for the more majestic and melodic one, that’s the thought behind that, so hopefully, it pays off.”

The Rah’s have become known for their arena-sized rock and these new singles pack a serious punch. Not only can the five-piece provide sleek melodious tunes that pivot around a gritty alternative rock sound the tracks also boast lyrical depth and have an emotional aspect to them aswell.

“I think it is probably just who we were influenced by. We’ve got quite a wide variety of influences and genres that we listen to collectively as a band. We’ve all got personal tastes, I can be listening to disco one day and then pop the next day it’s just sporadic really, and it’s the same for everybody in the band. But the majority of the songs that we listen to are all from rock, alternative rock, indie that kind of bands. It’s just been created over a number of years. Started off way back playing covers of Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes. So we’ve always had that channel to go down and that’s the music we like playing. That’s the main reason, it’s because we enjoy playing it.”

The instrumentation within The Rah’s tracks is breathtaking. ‘Our Design’ in particular is a fine example of this. The soundscape boasts shredding guitars and a punchy rhythmic backbone, it is an impressive display of musicianship. The band teamed with the sublime talent of James Darkin to help craft the impactful sound the band had envisioned for the song.

“The swagger is listening to too much Oasis. The song was one of the last created for the record. It was in the last batch of songs, and when our guitarist Jordan [McIntrye], was playing the riff in the band room, just a kind of acoustic intro riff, instantly we thought there is something there. So we worked away on it. As I say it was one of the last songs written, so I thought it’d be a good idea to write the song, based on our journey throughout the time being in the band – the ups and downs of being a band, basically, it’s a song for the band lyrically. As soon as we heard Jordan playing it, we knew there was something there. Then we took it into the studio with James Darkin and he just took it to a whole different level. He’s got an outside point of view which really helps. Once you take it into the studio and actually get it into audio form and listen back to it, you realise what kind of track it is. That’s pretty much the process of the creation of that track. I think it finished off at the tail end of 2019. So yeah, it’s been a long time coming.”

One reliable aspect of The Rah’s sound is the awe-inspiring guitar solos. They are proper air guitar worthy moments created through the genius that is Jordan McIntrye.

“Jordan was brought up with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and stuff playing, and he’s played guitar since he was about seven years old. When we first started the band we used to dare him to play like a full Red Hot Chili Peppers song behind his neck. So he’d have the guitar behind his head and that like, no word of a lie that’s how good he is on guitar. So with the inspiration of Jimi Hendrix, John Frusciante and people like that, that’s exactly what brings it out in him. It’s phenomenal. The solo in ‘Our Design’, he [Jordan] was tinkering about a bit and we all knew in the studio that there was more that he could offer and then there’s this pedal, it’s like a fat fuzz pedal. You can hear it in the track, it’s absolutely incredible and as soon as he hit that, it’s like he unleashes a new beast in him.It was music to our ears when he was playing it. Instantly again we’re just like that is definitely the take, he didn’t actually like the last part yet, but we were all just standing in awe listening to him bend these strings on the neck of the guitar so yeah it worked really well.”

‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know)’ is my favourite track on the album. The buzzing intensity and euphoric melodies within the track are just spectacular. I was excited to see it as part of this double single and McLeod told me how the band crafted the song.

‘That’s one of the older songs on the album, we actually released an early version of that in like 2015 so that song has been about for a while. Once again, it was picking it to bits after all those years of playing it and when the album came around to recording sessions we had that track already prepared, but taking it into the studio with James Darkin again just took it to another level. Originally, I was listening to a lot of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at the time and they covered a song by The Call, ‘Let The Day Begin’ which is an incredible song and it was inspired by that song because I was listening to a lot of that at the time. The original version [of ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know)’] was actually played a couple of notes slower. So, again, us bringing it back matured and taking it up two notes just gave it a whole new lease of life, it was quite hard on my vocals but we worked it out.”

Seen as ‘When Does It Become Real?’ is The Rah’s debut album. I wondered if the band had been refining the songs for a long time and if there were multiple versions of each track.

“Yeah there are versions that I’ll probably never want to listen to again. There’s really early versions, ‘The Time Is Now’ is the oldest song that was written, probably in 2012/ 2013. That’s incredible to say that it has been that long. We’ve been playing that song first or last in the set ever since. But again that track has just got a whole new lease of life, every single time we have revisited it, and honestly, we’d never thought that it gained enough traction, the first time of the release. Then the second time and then the third time was, within the first, like 48, hours, of it being released into the PR world which just shows you don’t give up hope. If you believe in the track, which we did, you need the right people behind you to get the track where it needs to be. We were lucky that we’re in that position last year when we released it and it got instant Radio 1 [BBC] plays and Radio X plays”

The Rah’s highly anticipated debut album has been a long-time coming. It’s already racked up tens of thousands of plays and the band have received heavy support from Huw Stephens, Gemma Bradley, Gordon Smart and Jack Saunders. 

“Yeah because of the hard work that you’ve put in, like the names that you have just said there, even to hear them say The Rah’s from Prestonpans is just surreal. We’re just boys from a wee town in Scotland, we never ever thought of being played on Radio 1. But yeah, amazing, absolutely incredible and Jack Saunders, rather than just play the song, mention the band, say good song, next track – he actually got his producer to extend the outro of the track, and kept on talking over it. Honestly it was so surreal. It was an amazing experience”.

Their debut album ‘When Does It Become Real?’ was released this year. I’m sure the conditions they expected for the debut album never included a pandemic and McLeod told me how the pandemic helped them plan for a successful release.

“I guess it took our foot off the gas a little bit. We did benefit but at the same time, we had these tracks prepared for, some of them have been prepared for years. The final, ‘The Time Is Now’ recording was actually recorded in 2017, so that’s how long that audio has been ready. Obviously, we mastered it and did chops and changes but that’s how long that track has been there…. to be fair the pandemic in a weird way probably helped us get the album released in the way that we wanted to, because we’ve done our Kickstarter campaign, that was in October and it ran to December and we managed to get the 5000-pound rewards within two weeks of the final day. So yeah that was really good and the reason we wanted to do that was to release it on vinyl. That was our main aim when we first ever talked about an album. So, yeah, thank God for the fans for that one.

“We made ours extra special as well for all the people that pledged to our campaign, basically in a pre-order form. We put their name on the back of the LP as well. So everybody that bought the album or CD or bought a t-shirt album deal, and it was like over 20 pound, I think , then you got your name on the back of the record which was amazing so everybody was like jumping on that.”

Although the band’s sound is high energy rock they manage to pack in some potent lyrical content within their songs. Lines such as “We proceed to kill ourselves.. To become divine” in Our design is a striking opening line and very impactful. 

“That’s in relation to all the hard slogs that we’ve done up in the country, just to literally get some money together, well not even that just to get some fans. Literally years and years of doing that “

The Rah’s have a tour lined up in October, including a sold-out show at Sneaky Petes. It’s an exciting time but the nerves are high for what to expect from a show and what the limits are.

“Yes, actually we are doing a session tomorrow. It’s our first session out of our homes or our rehearsal room, so that’s exciting. It’s like being let free again. It’ll be a bit surreal to be around people with an instrument, I’ll probably get all shy and forget all my words. So, I’m looking forward to that but yeah live events need to happen, ASAP we are desperate to play this album live for the fans”

“I hope everybody feels relaxed and stuff. I hope there is no tension in the crowd and obviously, the virus is a thing but I hope that we can actually engage with people without having to think about all blah blah blah, he’s touched or whatever. I hope there comes a time in the next hopefully couple of months where there is some sense of freedom, and I hate to say a cliche but some sense of normality – that’s the thing I’m actually most nervous about. Obviously forgetting my lyrics is part of it but I just hope that everybody enjoys it and to be fair, everybody’s been starved so long, of live events and basic socialising, so I think everybody will be like greyhounds at the tracks”.

The Rah’s have been building their sound and reputation as a dynamic and powerful live band not to be missed. I wondered if McLeod had any advice for anyone thinking of starting a band

“If you’re looking for money, go elsewhere. No I’m kidding, it’s the best experience of your life, the enemies you make will last a lifetime, some that you’ll never really speak to again but that’s fine. They’ll stay in your memory forever. Honestly,  one thing I will say is, if you believe in it, just crack at it. One day it will shine,100%, yeah, that’s pretty much it “

With the release of ‘Our Design’ / ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know)’ and the upcoming tour The Rah’s have an exciting few months ahead.

“There are a few things lined up for the summer that will hopefully go ahead, We’ve got the October tour as we said. We’ve got an alternate version of ‘Our Design’, sitting there that we kind of forgot about in planning the single release, but I think we’re gonna go chuck that on an EP so there’s more content.  We’ll probably see a lot more live sessions and get the behind the scenes footage in rehearsal rooms and that, now that we’ve got a bit of time on our hands, now the album is out. It’s been a bit chaotic. I think we’ve done about 100 deliveries within three or four days so you can imagine the chaos that was on the run up to the album. But yeah, we’ve managed to get hold of some new equipment and stuff, treated ourselves to some new equipment in the band room, so yeah, there’ll be a lot more live footage from the practice studios. Maybe talk about album two soon or maybe we’ll just chill out and enjoy album one. But looking forward to what lies ahead. I think there’s a decent wave of guitar bands coming through, a lot of great upcoming artists out there so everybody should be listening to upcoming music rather than mainstream radio in my honest opinion.”

The Rah’s alternative rock tunes blister with earnest emotion and the shredding instrumentation the band have been crafting throughout the years. They pour every fibre of their beings into their riveting grooves, majestic guitar solos and fiery melodies to create songs that ooze passion and rock-infused swagger. The new double single ‘Our Design’ / ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know) displays this perfectly. This band has immense talent and are locked and loaded ready to rock our socks off in the live setting. 

Stream ‘Our Design’ / ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know)’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Late Night Pharmacy ‘Slacktivist (Normalise This)’

Dublin-based alternative rock band Late Night Pharmacy are set to release their new single, ‘Slacktivist (Normalise This)’ on June 11th. It is the band’s second single of 2021, following April’s ‘Too Late for the Rickshaws’. Recording the single was only possible due to the generous financial support of the Department of Culture, who last year announced the creation of a Music Industry Stimulus Package (MISP), intended to help keep the Irish commercial music sector afloat during Covid-19. In November 2020, Late Night Pharmacy were awarded funding under the MISP, and hired Aidan Cunningham (Wheatus, The Scratch, Nealo, Overhead the Albatross) to produce and mix three singles.

Riding on a jagged riff and machine-gun rhythmic jabs ‘Slacktivist (Normalise This)’ is a heavy alternative rock tune that packs one heck of a punch. The song is a fantastic, intense, and thrilling sonic assault on the senses filled with crashing guitars and pounding drums that create a dense and mind bombarding soundscape that is simply a joy to listen to. An eerie undertone rumbles underneath the track’s kinetic soundscape and is greatly enhanced by the use of synths, jolting time signature changes and tempo shifts. This choppy effect within the track’s sound is an intriguing display of musical prowess and complements the lyrical theme wonderfully.‘Slacktivist (Normalise This)’ is an excellent display of deft songwriting and impressive musicianship from Late Night Pharmacy.

About the track the band said: “In Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language”, he described how journalists use clichéd, shopworn phrases to write sentences almost unconsciously (“They will construct your sentences for you – even think your thoughts for you”), hence psychologically protecting them from considering the full implications of their opinions. 1984 features a character who speaks so orthodoxically as to resemble an automaton: “It was not the man’s brain that was speaking, it was his larynx.” Today, most communication originates not in the brain, but in the thumbs: social media discourse is an endless deluge of the same handful of clichéd expressions repeated ad nauseum, and conveying no real sentiment other than smug condescension. In this environment, even the crudest artificial intelligence could pass the Turing test with ease. As a commentary on this trend, the lyrics of “Slacktivist (Normalise This)” are entirely made up of overused social media expressions, assembled in no particular order as a series of empty, vapid non sequiturs. “

‘Slacktivist (Normalise This)’ is set for release on the 11th of June for more check out The Late Night Pharmacy on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/latenightpharmacyband/


Alt Rock, Grunge, Indie, Indie Punk, indie rock, New Music

Nerves ‘Leigue’

 Photo Credit: Patryk Gizicki 

Irish avant-punk trio Nerves have returned with their new single ‘Leigue’. Having lit up their homeland with four well-received singles to date, the band began to earn a reputation as a must-see live act prior to lockdown with a series of sweaty DIY basement shows, sold-out headline dates and support slots with the likes of HMLTD, Turnstiles and more. Recorded over lockdown at Sonic Studios with Girl Band’s Daniel Fox, “Leigue” is a perfect snapshot of the band’s intense and borderless sound. 

‘Leigue’ frizzles with the passionate and thrilling sound of Nerves. It’s a hard-hitting tune that displays Nerves at their most intense and emotional to date. The song has an asphyxiating and harrowing atmosphere that is greatly enhanced by a muggy panic-stricken soundscape filled with pounding drums, rampant bass wriggles and contorting wails on guitar. ‘Leigue’ is an immersive listening experience – the track broods and simmers with angst throughout as Nerves venture from light shoegaze moments to post-punk anarchy within a few brisk instrumental lacerations. The shoegaze, post-punk, krautrock blend of sounds is an exhilarating assault on the senses as Kyle Thornton’s reverb vocals speak about the dangers of trying to ignore grief and allowing unhealthy coping mechanisms to begin to rule one’s life. As the song reaches its crescendo, the guitars spiral and crash into the aggressive drums, creating an explosive and exhilarating moment for listeners to enjoy. 

Nerves are meticulously crafting their powerful sound, and ‘Leigue’ is an exciting example of this band’s impressive musicianship. 

Speaking about the single, Kyle Thornton says, “We feel as though Leigue was a bit of a turning point for us as a band, towards something more mature and cathartic. It’s paved the way for how our sound and attitude has changed over the course of the last year. It’s still intense and still fun to play, but it means more to us now than I think it ever has.”

Stream ‘Leigue’ below


Author : Danu

EP Review, Indie, indie rock, New Music

The Zen Arcade ‘High Fidelity’ EP

Photo Credit: Paula Trjoner 

Formed in late 2019 following the dissolution of The Strypes – Cavan, Ireland’s The Zen Arcade have adopted an independent approach that extends far beyond their musical output. Today Friday 4th June via their own Dental Records they release the new EP ‘High Fidelity’; including the brand new single ‘High Fidelity’ alongside last year’s debut single ‘Don’t Say A Word’, and an exclusive episode of their own podcast – ‘Higher Fidelity’.  The band’s debut single ‘Don’t Say A Word’ released in October 2020 saw The Zen Arcade pick up extensive airplay in Ireland and the US, peaking at no.1 on the Irish iTunes singles chart and ranking at no.12 on the Irish National HomeGrown Chart by end of trading on release day. Having started life as the intro to their ‘Higher Fidelity’ podcast, the band’s second single, ‘High Fidelity’ will be released on 12″ bubblegum pink vinyl as part of ‘High Fidelity EP’

‘High Fidelity’ is a musically striking and cleverly thought out EP that provides a keyhole glimpse into the boundless talent The Zen Arcade have to offer. The jingle, single and title track ‘High Fidelity’ kick starts the EP. Bright and drenched in sweet, catchy melodies with tight harmonies and infectious clap along feature, the band pull out all the stops to ensure this tune stays in your head all day. Driven by a punchy drum progression and raw bass grooves, the song surges with adrenaline. The Zen Arcade’s deft musical prowess is on full display in this charming gem. However, it is the well-coined phrases within the lyrics that steal the show “My heart will always pound in 5.1 surround sound” – love it!

The band’s debut single ‘Don’t Say A Word’ swiftly follows. A favourite here at Indie Buddie, this brisk slice of musical mastery is sure to get even the most timid person up and dancing. Boasting sharp, resounding guitars and frantic bass lines, this tune is a thrilling burst of alternative rock with glorious pop sensibilities that will leave you craving for more.

The Zen Arcade also provide a unique experience, an exclusive episode of the band’s ‘Higher Fidelity’ podcast where they discuss the making of ‘High Fidelity’, the magic of vinyl, the lyrics, along with their Sonic Seconds segment. ‘High Fidelity’ is a real treat. The band put a lot into creating The Zen Arcade experience, and the result is insightful, intelligent and fun.

The Zen Arcade are honing their sound perfectly. Their artistic approach to music, clever lyrics and wonderful knack with melodies leaves much to be admired.

Speaking about ‘High Fidelity’, The Zen Arcade elaborate: “High Fidelity has gone from jingle to single and theme song to hit song. This piece of music originally heralded the start of an episode of Higher Fidelity but now heralds the start of an episode of success. The track was written indoors, recorded in vain and released in case. It details the relationship between a cinephile with a lot of boxsets and their partner with a lot to catch up on.”

Stream ‘High Fidelity’ below


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Emily 7 ‘Somebody’

Emily 7 have announced their new single ‘Somebody’ will be released on all digital streaming platforms on Friday, June 4th. Hot off the heels of a feature in RTE One’s My Tribe, the Dublin Four-piece are delighted to release a fan favourite from live sets as a single.

‘Somebody’ announces itself in a swarm of indie rock glory as Emily 7 drench their hook-laden sound in gritty instrumentation and oodles of swagger. This stomping anthem swirls into a backdrop of scorching guitars and rampant bass grooves while a pounding bloodthirsty drum foundation creates an infectious beat throughout. Warm rasped vocals anchor the listener within the song’s thrilling soundscape while expressing feelings of angst and longing “everybody’s got somebody I need someone… someone like you gonna take my blues away”. The song drifts between punk, blues flirtations and confident rock embellishments with ease as the band display their deft musical prowess and immersive musicianship. Boasting catchy lyrics, riveting instrumentation and Emily 7’s sharp lyrical content, ‘Somebody’ is a blistering new single sure to be stuck in your head for days.

‘Somebody’ is set for release on Friday, June 4th for more you can follow Emily 7 on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/officialemily7


Author : Danu

Indie Punk, New Music, Post Punk

Enola Gay ‘Sofa Surfing’

Following their anti-racism debut hit ‘The Birth of a Nation’ and performances at the well-established and highly regarded showcases, Ireland Music Week, Eurosonic and SXSW, Belfast mob Enola Gay make their highly anticipated return with the first track they wrote, ‘Sofa Surfing’. 


Riding in on a rampant bassline ‘Sofa Surfing’ is a manic post-punk triumph and a fantastic example of Enola Gay’s exhilarating sound. The song curdles with angst as it ferments within a dark reverb-filled soundscape while sharp guitars lacerate through the deft drum assault. The striking vocals spit venomous lyrics that reveal a deeply personal insight into the fallout of a turbulent chapter in the band’s teens. They discuss how subsequent substance abuse followed an eviction from their home. The swarming instrumentation and abrasive guitar highlights the destruction within the band’s lives at that time as the tune spirals into a psychedelic crescendo of turmoil. Enola Gay are not a band to pull punches. Their first-rate musicianship is laced in raw emotion, passionate songwriting and remarkable musical prowess. ‘Sofa Surfing’ is a spectacular example of this bands blossoming and exciting sound.


Stream ‘Sofa Surfing’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, New Music

CHANG ‘Tinderella’

Not a band known for holding back, CHANG are back with their new single, ‘Tinderella.’ Already a massive attack on their listeners’ eardrums, CHANG have previously garnered attention from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music and Radio X, and this next single promises to do the same. With lyricism that tackles feelings of doom and self-loathing, ‘Tinderella’ epitomises the band’s balls-out energy and trademark unpredictability, to paint a picture of romance, debauchery and crisis. Formed back in 2017 by Punk & Gin enthusiasts Alexandra “Geez” Amargianitakis & Arron “Frankie” Lewis, CHANG have since gone on to become a foursome, enlisting the thunderous low-end handy work of Rafael Martins and the tasty drum bashing skills of Jeff “The Jingle” Ingle. They have brought their fierce sounds to audio-based establishments across the UK and Europe, and have most recently rallied together to create the quartet’s forthcoming second album

‘Tinderella’ displays CHANG’s raw and unruly music in all its glory as the band create a raucous wall of sound filled with gritty guitar riffs, coarse bass rumbles and a thunderous assault on drums. A jogging rhythmic foundation commands manic mosh-ready frenzy while a punk slapped melody bellows throughout. With dynamic vocals exclaiming through the frenzied alternative rock instrumental backdrop, CHANG present a tight and fury infested new tune that tantalizes to the core. This consuming track takes no prisoners and is one for blasting through the speakers.‘TInderella’ is a thrilling ride that marks CHANG as a band to keep an eye on.

Stream ‘Tinderella’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, EP Review, New Music

The Pastel Waves ‘The Influencers’ EP

Inspired by Brexit, loss of family members, bullying, and celebrity ‘wannabe’ culture, Kent based alternative rock band, The Pastel Waves have released their new EP ‘The Influencers’.

‘The Influencers’ is laced in catchy melodies as The Pastel Waves flesh out their driving alternative rock sound. The band create a punchy collection of tracks that surge with 90’s rock bravado and blistering instrumentation. With bright guitar refrains glimmering between a tight, energetic bass and drum interplay, ‘Starts Right Here’ superbly sets the EP in motion. There is an instant charm, and nostalgic atmosphere about the EP as the band take sweet buoyant melodies and smooth vocals to create a laid back contrast to the vigorous melodic backdrop. The Pastel Waves keep the glorious tunes flowing throughout the EP with the brisk pace of ‘I Wasn’t Convinced’ jogging through indie moments and ‘Freak Show’ oozing eerie dark musicianship and thrilling rooted bass lines. Each track warrants its place on the EP and showcases the refined and well-crafted sound of The Pastel Waves, with final track ‘Late September’ providing a finale that leaves you craving to hear more. ‘The Influencers’ is a thoroughly enjoyable EP as The Pastel Waves pepper their punchy expressive tunes with soft emotion and wonderfully tight instrumentation to provide a satisfying listening experience. 

Stream ‘The Influencers’ below 


Author: Danu

Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Dürtbürd ‘gRimjob’

Dürtbürd have just released a brand new live single/video called ‘gRimjob’. Dürtbürd are a four piece ‘dürtrock’ band based in Leixlip. The band have released six live singles to date along with live videos for each which have together amassed over 200k views on facebook.

‘gRimjob’ is a stirring display of alternative rock. The track has a sleek sound that fluidly flows upon a driving bass and scorching guitar lines that venture between rampant strides and gritty riffs while allowing the punchy drums form the brawny foundation. In true Dürtbürd manner, the song ebbs and flows with genre-bending progressions. From raw metal assaults to moody grunge verses and ballsy rock crescendos ‘gRimjob’ is a thrilling roller coaster ride. These guys present a sound that holds an air of musical majesty while providing that lean mean soundscape that evokes manic moshing. Dürtbürd show their growing talent through this infectious raw new single.

Stream ‘gRimjob’ below


Author: Danu

Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Under Starling ‘Icarus’

After playing main stage of BARE In the Woods in 2018, supporting Fangclub, and performing sell-out shows in venues such as The Loft & Roisin Dubh in Galway, Waterford based alternative rock group Under Starling have release the first single ‘Icarus’ from their upcoming self-titled album on May 7th, 2021. Under Starling, originating from Dungarvan (Waterford), consists of brothers Danny and Tommy Dunford as well as Colin Drummey and Alex Pollock. 

‘Icarus’ is a fine example of the dynamic and passionate musicianship of Under Starling. The band take a heartfelt melody and drizzle it over a bubbling alternative backdrop to create a heart skipping, intense soundscape filled with potent lyrics and immersive musicianship. As the song veers from it’s brooding verses into the anthemic chorus the band flesh out their expressive instrumentation – twinkling guitars expand into the songs ethereal atmosphere becoming more raw while the tight rhythmic foundation raises in magnitude allowing the drums pound through the soundscape with a harsh and vehement force. Under Starling deliver tunes that speak from the heart while exuding cinematic undertones and ‘ICARUS’ follows this trend superbly. The track is masterfully crafted and an exhilarating ear worm to indulge in.

About the track Danny Dunford explains : “The narrative of the song goes back and forth between 2 characters, an optimist wading through life’s oncoming choices, and a pessimist attempting to “clip their wings”, however in the end the optimist would rather crash and burn trying, than to never try at all.”

Stream ‘Icarus below 


Author : Danu