Ireland’s thriving alternative folk scene finds a softer sound in newcomer Ellie O’Neill, who adds her voice to the chorus of talent thrumming across the country with the release of ‘Bohemia’. With two songs floating around on Bandcamp for a while now, one has finally wound its way into the wider world as her first official release via St. Itch.
There’s a kind of poetry etched into the fabric of the song, like lay lines cutting through a landscape. Gossamer vocals hold a quiet power and propel the song forward, running in parallel to the gentle guitar lines. Brief gasps of percussion punctuate the track like the crack of a whip, where its introspective qualities slowly open out; something simmers beneath a deceptively calm surface.
The release follows buzz generated off the back of lauded performances at The Great Escape, Green Man, and End of the Road. ‘Bohemia’ positions Ellie O’Neill on the precipice of a fertile artistic landscape to cultivate. Let’s see what grows in 2026.
Photo by Sam Khoury
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