Ethereal yet expansive, Galway-formed band NewDad (a moniker they picked from a random name generator) draw musical influence from the likes of The Cure to Pixies. Mixing grungy distortion with incandescent melodies, the tracks are further brought to life by singer Julie Dawson’s ghostly vocals, as presented in today’s offering ‘In My Head’ – their debut on Fair Youth/Atlantic Records.
Marking an exciting new era for the four-piece, ‘In My Head’ presents the band’s widescreen ambition as they level up their iridescent sonic. Written in their Galway rehearsal room, recorded at The Church in London (Paul Epworth’s studio) and mixed by Mike Crossey (MUNA, The 1975, Wolf Alice), the song finds Julie grappling with inner turmoil: “I’m buried under blankets / Descending into madness / And there’s no escape from the thoughts burned in my brain”.
Formed in Galway, Ireland in 2020 before the world came to a standstill – the group officially came together for a musical practical at school as part of a final year music project – NewDad have released two EP’s previously: Waves (2021) and Banshee (2022) – both produced by long-time collaborator Chris W Ryan, with the latter mixed by John Congleton (St Vincent, Phoebe Bridgers). Part of the Ireland’s fruitful music scene (one that’s generated Fontaine’s D.C, CMAT and Just Mustard over recent years), NewDad are here to remind us of the restlessness, anxieties, and relationship hang-ups that we’ve all come to face over our lives. Straddling the autobiographical with the fantastical, the band also draw influence modern-day cinema and TV to the serene coastal environment of Galway that backdropped their formative years.
NewDad, who are currently recording their debut album at the legendary Rockfield Studios (Black Sabbath, Oasis), have previously opened for Paolo Nutini at Alexandra Palace (and are set to support him again on his Irish tour in June alongside Julia Jacklin), Fontaines DC at Custom House Square and Inhaler at Fairview Park.
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