Our weekly fix of the best new music as Julia Mason (aka The Decibel Decoder) brings us her new music review with singles from Monday's Child Problem Girl and Somebody's Child Irish Goodbye
Artist: Monday's Child
Track: Problem Girl
Monday’s Child, the all-female alternative rock outfit based in Belfast, have released new single Problem Girl. It's the first track from the band’s debut EP, due to be released in May this year.
It's a grungy alt-rock track, heavy with bass and dominated by the strong, emotive vocal of lead singer Jen McKay. The internal frustrations of self-doubt are replicated in Problem Girl as the track continues, growing in force and power. It builds to reflect the unease which grows as we question our thoughts, ruminating over and over. The guitars create a wall of sound which dominate towards the end accompanied by crashing drums.
Lead singer and guitarist Jen describes the new track as: “a thrashing manifestation of one’s inner turmoil, pulling between the parts of you that want to blame the world around you and the insecure parts that pick apart your every thought and movement. To realise that neither one is better than the other and that the two contradicting personalities are what keep us in equilibrium. But the journey to this realisation can sometimes lead everything to come crashing down around you.”
After recently supporting Pillow Queens in Belfast, Monday’s Child will be supporting TRAMP at The Empire Music Hall in Belfast, on 20 March.
On the evidence of Problem Girl it is obvious why Monday’s Child were included in Hot Press magazines "Hot for 2025" list, as one of the Irish artists "primed to make a major impact over the next 12 months".
* * *
Artist: Somebody's Child
Track: Irish Goodbye
Somebody's Child's have shared Irish Goodbye, the third single from their forthcoming second album When Youth Fades Away set for release on 28 March via Frenchkiss Records.
Irish Goodbye follows the singles Time Of My Life and Last Night I Held Your Hand and is inspired by the idea of slipping away from a social event without being noticed. Presented from the perspective of an adult talking to their younger self, regretting taking their youth for granted, never taking the chance to say goodbye to their childhood, and moving into adulthood without a second look.
Speaking on the single, vocalist and songwriter Cian Godfrey said: "Irish Goodbye is a breath of fresh air within the album itself and exemplifies the tone and theme of the album best, in my opinion, from a lyrical standpoint. It highlights the transient nature of time, and on some level, it perhaps describes the parting of youth, without notice, at some point, unbeknownst to us."
Irish Goodbye has a lightness which belies its themes. The vocals of Cian Godfrey lead the way, crystal clear and full of emotive expression. The subject matter is heartfelt, and knowing it is a message to their younger self increases its poignancy. The band reveal that Irish Goodbye could be considered the mission statement for When Youth Fades Away. With Somebody's Child playing a run of UK in-store performances in its support of the album, there is an opportunity to hear it in intimate spaces. Not to be missed.
Instore tour
28th March - Rough Trade East - London, UK [SOLD OUT]
29th March - Rough Trade Nottingham - Nottingham, UK
30th March - Jumbo Records - Leeds, UK
31st March - Reflex - Newcastle, UK
1st April - Assai Records, Glasgow, UK
2nd April - Jacaranda Records - Liverpool, UK
3rd April - Spindizzy Records - Dublin, IE
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and never miss out on gig info and our latest deals
Comments