NewDad

Alternately fuzzy, shimmery, and rumbling, NewDad put a weary, intimate spin on 1980s and ’90s alt rock inspirations. Led by the airy, tepid vocals of Julie Dawson, the group released their debut EP, Waves, in 2021 to much acclaim in their native Ireland. As their popularity grew, they followed their second EP, 2022’s Banshee, with their full-length debut MADRA in 2024. It maintained their distinctive balance of muscular and gentle sounds. Founded in Galway in 2018, NewDad’s original lineup consisted of secondary school classmates Julie Dawson (vocals/guitar), Áindle O’Beirn (bass), and Fiachra Parslow (drums). Sean O’Dowd, who was studying music technology elsewhere at the time, began recording the band, and he eventually became their full-time lead guitarist. Their first single, “How,” appeared in March 2020 and was followed by several more songs by the time NewDad accepted an invitation to record a live session for BBC 6 Music in November of that year. Singles like the viral “Blue” and “I Don’t Recognise You” were included on their melancholy debut EP Waves. Recorded in Belfast with engineer Chris W. Ryan, it appeared in March of 2021. NewDad were soon in rotation on BBC Radio 1 and playing out in the U.K. They returned to the studio with Ryan to record their second EP, Banshee. Featuring mixing by John Congleton (Death Cab for Cutie, Suuns), it followed in February 2022. That year, the band toured in support of Dope Lemon, opened shows for Paolo Nutini, and sold out a U.K. headlining tour, in addition to appearances at festivals including Paris’ Rock en Seine. Newly signed to Fair Youth/Atlantic Records, the group welcomed Cara Joshi to the lineup on bass, replacing O’Beirn. Their label debut and first recording with Joshi was May 2023′s “In My Head,” which found them branching out with producers Riley Macintyre (Royal Blood, the Kills) and Jacob Manson (the Vamps, Paloma Faith). Nevertheless, they rejoined Ryan in the studio for their full-length debut, January 2024′s MADRA (Irish for “dog”). It was mixed by studio veteran Alan Moulder (the Jesus and Mary Chain, Nine Inch Nails, Beach House). ~ Marcy Donelson