Editorial TeamWith so much great music constantly slipping through the cracks, we’re trying something new. Alongside our usual reviews and features, we’ll now be curating regular playlists — released with key drops or gathered monthly — to shine a light on artists and bands we think are worth your time, even when we can’t give them a full write-up. As a small team, we can only cover so much, but there’s simply too much exciting music out there to ignore. These playlists are our way of widening the lens, acknowledging the depth of what’s happening right now, and bringing a few more names to your attention.
Today’s playlist reflects the range of music we’re excited about right now, moving freely between scenes, styles, and stages of career. From emerging Irish voices and local word-of-mouth favourites to seasoned songwriters and international artists pushing their sound further, this selection brings together folk, indie pop, shoegaze, jazz, psych and soul-rooted songwriting. Some of these artists are on the brink of bigger releases, others are quietly building momentum, and a few have been honing their craft for decades — but all of them share a sense of intent and individuality that caught our ear. Consider this a guided wander through music we couldn’t ignore, even if we couldn’t cover it all in depth.
“Emancipation”, by Honeycomb
Honeycomb, comprised of two best friends since childhood, originates from a small town, Mitchelstown, Ireland. Their diverse tastes, coupled with an almost telepathic understanding of each other, allow them to craft raw and relatable music. This latest release showcases the duo’s warm harmonies and reflective songwriting as they explore themes of personal freedom and emotional release. The track highlights the band’s roots-infused sound and has already earned growing support on the local music scene.
“Shadow Fade”, by First Class Rebel
First Class Rebel is the solo project by Ian Burke, a Cork man living in Tipp. Burke’s sound is an excellent mix of atmospheric shoegaze with some psychedelic rock textures. He draws inspiration from The Jesus And Mary Chain, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or Stone Roses with hints of Oasis. He released his first single “Shadow Fade” in november 2025. After such a strong debut single, better keep an eye on him.
“Bring it Back To Life”, by Ben Reel
Ben Reel started his career in 1989 when he was 17 years old in Crossmalgen, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Music was his way out. His first band, Promised Land, later renamed Trim The Velvet. The band gained a strong reputation across Ireland for their energetic live performances before disbanding in 1997. Ben Reel then started his solo career in 1999. Since then, he has produced no less than eleven albums and has worked with many legends such as Jools Holland or The Cranberries.
He is now about to release his twelfth album Spirit’s not Broken on January 23rd 2026. He released the single “Bring it Back To Life” back in November 2025. The track features a promising mix of folk, rock and blues with strong hints of soul or americana.
“Wor Jackie”, by The Knats
Hailing from Newcastle, The Knats are leading voices of the city’s homegrown “Geordie jazz” sound—a muscular, groove-driven take on modern jazz shaped by working-class grit and improvisational freedom. Over the past year, they’ve built a formidable word-of-mouth reputation on the road, touring relentlessly across the UK and Europe and serving as the live band for both Greep and Eddie Chacon. The result is a band defined by feel and trust: tight, exploratory, and powered by collective momentum as much as by a strong sense of place.
Their latest single, “Wor Jackie”, was released on January 9 ahead of their new album A Great Day In Newcastle planned for release on March 6 2026. The single pays tribute to local football legend Jackie Milburn, and introduces storytelling into their music.
“Galactic Tides”, by Seán Feeny
Seán Feeny made his mark with “1969” and “Western Roads”, two singles that secured strong radio rotation, press coverage, and growing international attention. He now follows them with “Galactic Tides”, out Thursday 15 January. The new single goes deeper by tackling emigration, a sense of displacement, and the search for belonging. This time Feeny collaborated with with fellow Donegal artist Ruairí Friel (Silver Winged They Fly), and Sarah Cullen (The Reflection Box). It result in magical folk pop tale bringing us on a journey through atmospheric soundscape with soaring melodies. “Galactic Tides” also announces Feeny’s debut album of the same name, set for release on February 6.
“Song Of A Stranger”, by Book of Churches
After a breakout year with his band Divorce, and quite a busy and successful year, Felix Mackenzie-Barrow turns inward for his first solo project. Released under the Book of Churches moniker, lead single “Song By A Stranger“ is out now, introducing a stark, stripped-back sound shaped by a deliberately raw, DIY writing process. Written and recorded in isolation, the songs trace lost love, grief, dread, and distance, channelling a quiet, timeless folk tradition rooted in emotional immediacy. The single is only the first step before the release of Book of Churches, his debut solo album, on 6 March.
“Chasin’ Luv”, by GUV
Long-running guitar-pop project GUV sees Ben Cook enter a new phase with “Chasin’ Luv”, a sharp, immediate slice of indie pop that opens the year in confident fashion. Out now, the track reintroduces the jangle and C86 snap that have long defined GUV, while locking into the danceable, breakbeat-driven energy that runs through Cook’s upcoming album Warmer Than Gold. Written and recorded in under an hour with a close-knit group of collaborators, “Chasin’ Luv” captures the project at its most instinctive and unfiltered. The single previews Warmer Than Gold, to be released on January 30. The album will pull together Britpop, baggy, shoegaze and classic indie pop into what Cook describes as the strongest GUV release to date.
“Alone In The Sky”, by The Fin.
Japanese indie outfit The fin., led by singer-songwriter and producer Yuto Uchino, have steadily built a global following with their dreamy, synth-touched blend of indie and psych-pop. In 2025 they return with their latest album Somewhere Between, marking the band’s evolving sound and emotional depth. From it comes “Alone in the Sky”, a standout track that floats on lush textures and introspective lyricism, offering a vivid snapshot of the album’s themes of wandering, connection, and quiet reflection.
“Sun Rah Om Inferno“, by The Pink Elephants
Psychedelic shoegaze project The Pink Elephants, led by Ottawa-based musician Peter McNestry, operate in a wide, borderless musical space where drone, distortion and cosmic imagery collide. Their latest album Mothers Of The Sun opens with “Sun Rah Om Inferno”, a slow-burning invocation that sets the tone for the record’s expansive, ritualistic atmosphere: all swirling guitars, molten textures and hypnotic momentum. The album is shaped by key collaborations. Isaiah Mitchell of California psych heavyweights Earthless takes part on three tracks. And Cristin Heck (Elsinore) lends here voice for “Mother Sun Rises“, grounding McNestry’s vision in a broader, international psych continuum.
