Audio File: Eight Irish artists to add to your St. Patrick’s Day playlist

Written by Anna Porter. Graphic by Anna Porter.

In the words of Sinead O’Connor, “OK, I want to talk about Ireland.” If you’re prepping for St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah, chances are you need some songs to add to your playlist, whether it be for a parade pre-game or sitting in your apartment eating a bowl of Lucky Charms. Lucky for you (pun intended,) I am your local Irish music expert. In this article, I’ve compiled a set of my favorite Irish musicians and bands from an eclectic mix of genres, including post-punk, indie pop, and funk.

Fontaines D.C. 

Fontaines D.C. is undoubtedly the best post-punk band out of Dublin right now. Led by frontman Grian Chatten, the five-member band has been releasing music since 2018, and together they have established a very bold sound that is hard to come by. It’s easy to become immersed in the vivid guitar, dark bass lines and catchy lyrical hooks. Much of the instrumentals are played repetitively under Chatten’s strongly-accented vocals. In typical punk style, the lyrics are deeply thought-provoking, as the band questions the current state of the country, and the pitfalls of giving your life to the music industry. Fontaines D.C. are lyrical masterminds– some of their best work comes through in the song “A Hero’s Death” with inspiring lines of how one can live their life to the fullest.

Check out: “Boys In the Better Land,” “Jackie Down The Line,” “I Love You”

Inhaler

Inhaler is one of my favorite bands, fronted by none other than Ireland’s favorite nepo-baby, Bono from U2’s son Elijah Hewson. Hewson is joined by his childhood friends, Robert Keating, Ryan McMahon and Josh Jenkinson to form an alternative rock band that is starting to gain traction in the indie rock community. The band released their sophomore album “Cuts and Bruises” last spring, which solidified their sound, referencing lush 80s sounds reminiscent of The Stone Roses and Echo and the Bunnymen with a modern alt twist. Inhaler’s songs are overly catchy and fun, and they deserve all of the limelight as they continue to tour and work on their third album.

Check out: “Dublin In Ecstacy,” “My Honest Face,” “These Are The Days”

Banshee

Time for a deep cut! I just discovered this band called Banshee, which currently only has 200 monthly listeners and two songs out on Spotify — basically a four-leaf clover. One of the songs is called “Good Life” and the sound immediately drew me in. It seems to be a mix of soul, funk and rock, with a bluesy guitar cutting through the song. The lead singer has a strong, raspy voice, with other band members coming through in whisper tracks and an amazing electric guitar solo near the end. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Belfast band has to offer next (hopefully soon!)

Check out: “Good Life”

Whipping Boy

I discovered Whipping Boy because of a cover that Fontaines D.C. recently released of their song “Twinkle.” Whipping Boy is a rock band that released their discography throughout the mid-90s, and their album “Heartworm” is a must-listen. Sonically, the band’s music is driven by pounding drums and powerful guitar. Many of the songs on this album vividly reminisce about youth and tell stories about specific characters. The production is unique, occasionally using a variety of strings and flutes, and great chord changes and heavier sections.

Check out: “Twinkle,” “Users,” “Personality”

Nell Mescal

None other than actor Paul Mescal’s younger sister, Nell Mescal is the next big thing in indie music. Her singer-songwriter style pairs with bright, upbeat instruments. She’s great at writing catchy lyrics that are relatable to her young audience, like, “I’m a little bit homesick, and I haven’t made any friends yet.” Her musical sound is already very mature for how early she is in her career — Nell is definitely not one to pass up!

Check out: “Killing Time,” “Homesick,” “Missing You”

The Clockworks

Next up in the post-punk world is Galway’s “The Clockworks.” The band just released a new album at the end of 2023 called “Exit Strategy.” The band’s driven sound is similar to that of Fontaines D.C., with heavy drums and lyrics that are borderline yelling in an Irish accent, with lyrics like, “These fingers were made for pointing.”

Check out: “Enough is Never Enough,” “Mayday Mayday”

milk.

milk. is an indie pop band based in Dublin that has emerged in recent years. The groovy synth and slightly distorted vocals of the band sound strangely similar to The 1975’s music, and their songs are equally as catchy. The lighthearted lyrics carry throughout the band’s trio of EPs, and they even have a few beautiful instrumental tracks mixed in. 

Check out: “You’re So,” “In LA,” “A Little More”

Dea Matrona

Dea Matrona is a best friend duo that has recently been growing in the rock world. The band is composed of Mollie McGinn and Orlaith Forsythe, both singer-songwriters and guitar players. Many of Dea Matrona’s songs pair Celtic-sounding guitar melody lines with traditional rock instrumentals. One of my favorite songs of theirs is “Siren Song,” which has a haunting melody and catchy lyrics. The pair have announced their debut album, “For Your Sins,” coming out on May 3rd, which I am excited to hear!

Check out: “Siren Song,” “Glory Glory (I Am Free)”

Ireland has to be setting some kind of world record for amazing artist-to-population ratio. Each of these artists has immensely skilled discographies, and I hope this article has introduced you to some new songs!