FIVE FAVOURITES: Holly Munro

Intricately blending electronic elements with folk-pop sensibilities, Irish songwriter Holly Munro crafts tender, deeply intuitive music. Her debut EP, Up Against Your Nature, is a gentle exploration of the power of self-love and the healing and guiding qualities of nature; themes which she explores further on her recent single ‘Dead Ends’.

“I wrote this song after finishing a meditation that involved seeing my footprints in the sand from above,'” Holly comments about the track. “It got me thinking about my life as one big journey with all these powerful detours along the way – some paths you start on but never continue, just as some parts of yourself remain unexplored. It’s about questioning the choices you make and reflecting on how they shape your future in ways you can’t always predict or control.”

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with Holly to ask about her “Five Favourites” – and she picked five Irish artists who have inspired her songwriting techniques. Check out her choices below and scroll down to watch the video for Holly’s latest single ‘Dead Ends‘ at the end of this post…

 

1. Rachel Lavelle – ‘Eat Clean’
‘Eat Clean’ stands out as my favorite track from Rachel Lavelle’s debut album, Big Dreams. Witnessing her perform live is an experience like no other – her stage presence is hypnotic. She has a real talent for world-building, and I’m excited to see her artistic journey unfold.

2. Maria Somerville – ‘This Way’
Maria Somerville’s album, All My People, is one I go back to. I first listened to this when I moved back to Ireland after studying abroad, I remember being so impressed it was an Irish person haha (I was not in touch with the music scene here then). I just love the record, it really takes you somewhere else. She’s someone I really wanna see play live!

3. EFÉ – ‘Truth Truth’
This is a new find for me that came up on my TikTok for you page. All I can say is I’m in x

4. Coolgirl – ‘Gaussian Blur’
Coolgirl aka Lizzie Fitzpatrick is an amazing musician and person. I’ve had the honour of playing with her in the past. She has so many musical projects on the go. She was in Bitch Falcon, now Coolgirl, 7of9 and a new band called Dose – it’s all so good – follow her!

5. Saint Sister – ‘Irish Hour’
I loved the Saint Sister record, Where Should I End, released in 2021, it’s a beautiful listen. I’ve also had the pleasure of hearing some of Morgana’s solo music recently, and can’t wait for that to be released!

Thanks to Holly for sharing her favourites with us.

Watch the video for her latest single ‘Dead Ends’ below.

Follow Holly Munro on bandcamp, Spotify, X, Instagram, TikTok & Facebook

Photo Credit: Kate Lawlor

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Me and The Moon – ‘Strangers’

Having supporting the likes of Marika Hackman and Flyte on tour, and with acclaim from the likes of Radio X’s John Kennedy, indie-alt connoisseurs Me and The Moon return with a sparkling sing-along tune with their latest release. In a free-flowing melodic affair, ‘Strangers‘ drapes a veil of hazey guitar tones over the song and steers Me and The Moon to a dynamic, multi-faceted platform that doesn’t neglect the band’s original folk undertones. With its ear-worm melodies and luscious sparkling vocals, the track flows with a dreamy, optimistic tone, despite its melancholic lyrics.

While reflecting upon the turmoil of bad timing, ‘Stranger’ exudes the acceptance of time as a challenging and complicated element in our lives; although it may be painful to witness someone enter and exit our path, there is a beauty to be found in the temporary which Me and The Moon does a captivating job of encapsulating. ‘Stranger” never remains stagnant.

Me and The Moon is both exploratory and humble in ‘Stranger’ as they coast off of a new, refreshed sound. With a poppy catchiness in an indie casing, it exudes the energy of the likes of Middle Kids or TOPS. ‘Stranger’ is an anthem for stepping outside of comfort zones whilst always remembering the way home.

Mastered by Pete Maher (The Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, U2), ‘Strangers’ is out now.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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Track Of The Day: The Northern Belle – ‘Kaleidoscope Dream’

Ahead of the release of their collaborative mini-album, The Northern Belle’s uplifting single ‘Kaleidoscope Dream’ brings an exciting sense of adventure and togetherness as we navigate turbulent times.

Led by singer-songwriter Stine Andreassen, The Northern Belle spent the pandemic collaborating with other musicians, including Siv Jakobsen and Mallin Petersen, creating a musical community of Nordicana (Americana-influenced music from Norway). The result, much like a kaleidoscope, is beautiful when all of these fragments come together. 

Fans of Fleetwood Mac will love The Northern Belle. Andreassen’s sweet vocals bring to mind folk and country greats. A wash of luscious harmonies ebb and flow, building a warm and fuzzy sound. The sparkling Americana-style guitar lines weave seamlessly into the vocal textures. Andreassen explains: 

“When I sat down to write ‘Kaleidoscope Dream’, I just felt a sudden urge to flee and run away from all of this madness.  On one hand we are travelling less and are actually taking care of our planet (if we want to or not) – I love that and I wonder if we will take more care of each other and this beautiful planet from now on. Then there is a little devil on my shoulder that wants to fly away from all of our problems and do all the things that you can imagine. Move through space and time and don’t care about any of the consequences of our actions. I needed to feel alive. All of these emotions got poured into these songs and I love the explosive chorus and the whole conversation with myself.” 

Though the ‘Kaleidoscope Dream’ was creating during the pandemic, there is a wonderful lightness and ease to the song – it’s as crisp as a bright summer morning. The production is natural and spacious, highlighting the easy-going feel of the song. It’s easy to get swept up in its immersive charm as it transports you into a deliciously dreamy soundscape.

The Norwegian septet’s mini-album The Women In Me is set for release this Friday, 17th September. Pre-order here.

Jaz Kelly
@surfjaz

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