Irish trio Kingfishr have already racked up the kind of stats most new bands would kill for – a Platinum-certified breakout hit with Killeagh, 100 million streams in the bank, and not one but two sold-out headline shows at Dublin’s 3Arena.
But if you thought they were peaking early, think again. Their debut album Halcyon lands on August 22nd, and judging by what we’ve heard so far, it’s going to be big.
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New single Diamonds & Roses is out now and it’s exactly the sort of soaring, emotional indie-folk that’s quickly become their signature.
Frontman Eddie Keogh’s baritone cuts through like it always does, backed by the rich, sweeping textures courtesy of Eoghan McGrath and Eoin Fitzgibbon. There’s real weight behind the track – lyrically and musically – and it’s the kind of song that only makes more sense the more you listen.
“Diamonds & Roses is about how much things change. It’s about the death of the status quo and the price we all pay for that,” says Eddie. “It’s about the terror of existence, but in spite of that it’s about the good that shines through.” No shortage of ambition there, but Kingfishr pull it off with grace.
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As for Halcyon itself, the album plays like a greatest hits collection – even though it’s their first.
Fans will find early favourites like Flowers-Fire and Eyes Don’t Lie sitting alongside new cuts like Gloria, Man on the Moon, and of course Killeagh. There’s plenty of unreleased material too, with tracks like 21, Someday and Schooldays giving a deeper glimpse into the band’s roots and range. The CD and digital versions also come with two bonus tracks: Ways To Change and Shadow.
Speaking about the record, the band explained: “Halcyon is the culmination of three years’ work, though most of the time it hasn’t felt like it.” Formed on a dairy farm in Tipperary, their songs were born in a kitchen steeped in Irish tradition. “The name ‘Halcyon’ is a nod to the landscape and heritage that has moulded our music, even though the songs don’t all come from a happy or peaceful place.”
They’ve also announced a UK and European headline tour to support the release, with a big night booked at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town to cap things off.
