As the cold weather kicks in, it’s time to heat up our winter playlists with some of the hottest music releases! And where better to start than with some local talent? Below, discover a range of brand new queer songs, EPs and albums from some of the best Irish artists around.

‘Atalia’ – Eve Belle
Born in Donegal but based in Belfast, Eve Belle recently released a new single, ‘Atalia’. It comes as part of her new three-track EP, Sad City, Baby!, which is available to listen to now.

‘Locked Away’ – Tasker & McGrath
One for the musical lovers! Tasker & McGrath is the writing partnership of Amy Clare Tasker and Tom James McGrath, the latter being a queer composer from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Together, they are releasing a cast recording album of The Queen is Mad musical on October 25, and in anticipation, they have dropped the lead single, ‘Locked Away’.

‘Cuckoo’ – Dose
Dose is Dublin’s newest queer band. Having recently made their festival debut at We’ve Only Just Begun, they’ve now dropped their debut single, ‘Cuckoo’.

End of Summer – Chapel Lizard
This October, Chapel Lizard is set to release a confessional shoegaze/post-punk EP about OCD, entitled End of Summer. To build anticipation, the artist has dropped three singles, including ‘Summer Sun’, ‘Doomsday Clock’ and ‘Ghost’.

‘Discreet Boys’ – Mz Red Dear
‘Discreet Boys’ is the newest release from Dublin singer/songwriter Mz Red Dear. Set in a new wave electro soundscape, it offers a word of advice for other trans-femme people navigating the complicated territory of dating apps.

‘Wherever’ – Day Magee
Irish artist Day Magee is back with a brand new track called ‘Wherever’. The melody came to them on the third anniversary of their father’s passing, and the song explores themes of grief, death and queer love.

‘Down’ – TAYNE
From industrial noise pop trio TAYNE, ‘Down’ focuses on the idea that love is conflict. It’s in part inspired by the story of frontman Matthew Sutton’s father, who was married with kids when he came out as gay.

‘TAKE THE MON€Y & RUN’ – JD Kelleher
JD Kelleher returns with a brand new single, ‘TAKE THE MON€Y & RUN’. The track offers upbeat, positive, pop groove vibes, and the accompanying music video sees the Irish singer/songwriter flying the Pride flag loud and proud in the form of a dickie-bow.

‘Whole’ – Naoise & Aisling Dennis
‘Whole’ is the newest release from Waterford-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Naoise, alongside their long-time collaborator and partner Aisling Dennis. It explores the value of real and deep connections and reassures listeners that being universally liked is not a necessity for feeling fulfilled.

‘Hex So Heavy’ – Bambie Thug
From non-binary superstar Bambie Thug, ‘Hex So Heavy’ serves as a stern warning to anyone who dares to cross them. On top of a heavy bassline and razor-sharp soundscapes, Bambie delivers sharp-tongued lyrics and fierce vocals, casting a powerful hex on those who have betrayed them.

‘Right Now’ – Romeo Keane
Romeo Keane is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter and dancer from Dublin. At the end of summer, he released a gorgeous music video for his track ‘Right Now’, which was followed up by his second single, ‘On Your Love’.

‘Free Fall’ – UMUT
‘Free Fall’ is an EDM pop anthem about breaking free from societal and familiar constraints. From emerging queer artist UMUT, it explores the struggles of overcoming pressures and insults that seek to stifle creativity and individuality.

Pink Breath – Daughter Of A Drum
Pink Breath is the debut album from Daughter Of A Drum, the musical persona of genderqueer artist Aoife McAtamney. The project offers a profound exploration of feminity, reclamation and self-actualisation written over several years and inspired by pivotal social movements such as Marriage Equality and The Repeal campaign.

‘Strange Relationship’ – Marie-Thérèse
A passionate devotee of the legend that is Prince, it’s no wonder that Marie-Thérèse’s newest release is a cover of one of his tracks. The Dublin artist takes the funky ’80s original and revamps it into a clubland gem.

‘Dixon Avenue’ – Martina and the Moons
‘Dixon Avenue’ is the third single from Martina and the Moons. The all-female Dublin-based band’s sound draws inspiration from ’90s rock and Brit-pop, mixed with elements of punk.

‘Why You Sacrifice Me Now’ – Final Thirteen
Final Thirteen is a new metal/indie/alt-rock group from Northern Ireland, with a proud LGBTQ+ musician as their lead vocalist. The band’s debut song ‘Why You Sacrifice Me Now’ dropped in the summer, and makes the perfect addition to any Irish queer playlist.

‘Skin’ – HANNAHBELLA
Another summer release, ‘Skin’ is the vibrant, multifaceted single from Cork experimental electronic-pop artist HANNAHBELLA. The track is a haunting love song that is hot and sharp, showcasing the musician’s genre-bending originality.

Pulverise – Tim Chadwick
Dubbed the “Irish prince of queer alt-pop”, Tim Chadwick released his debut album Pulverise during the summer. On the surface, the 10-track project is a break-up record, but there is plenty of joy to be found within the sadness.

‘Thriller’ – Miss Mary Jane
From Derry drag artist Miss Mary Jane, this rendition of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ is releasing just in time for Halloween! Stream it on all popular platforms from October 11.

 

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‘NAKED’ – The X Collective, DeCarteret, Senita & Qbanaa
Clare soul singer DeCarteret, Dublin-based multi-disciplinary artist Senita, and Cuban-Irish singer-songwriter Qbanaa, all of The X Collective, have teamed up to release a sultry new single ‘NAKED’. The accompanying music video is a celebration of love, including queer love.

That concludes our list of new queer Irish songs to add to your winter playlist. This is just a small selection of the many great tracks out there at the moment, and if you think we’ve missed one, get in touch at [email protected].