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‘Of The Sorrows’ shows a complexity to the concept of home through an artistic electronic track sung in spoken word. The music video begins with a fact – “Shrouds have been used to bury the dead for centuries.” The audience then follows the video through the streets of Ireland with a cloth draped over its buildings and flowing through roads.  

Balfe discusses the increasingly unliveable conditions of living in Ireland against the sense of belonging in one’s home town with lines such as “bankrupt yourself just to stay where you belong”. Then in a chilling and heart-breaking refrain he repeats, “Stay here in Ireland.”  

The song reaches an emotional crescendo as he battles with himself screaming, “I’ll never leave, I have to leave.” with a traditional Irish jig haunting his vocals.

‘Of The Sorrows’ comes four years after his self-titled 2021 album, a deeply personal album on grief. The project was never intended for release, originally kept on BandCamp for friends and family to hear, however they encouraged him to release it after being approached by Ash Houghton at September Records. The album won the RTÉ Choice Music Prize for Album of the Year upon its release.

‘For Those I Love’ gives an intimate experience of grief, as the singer wrote the album for his friend Paul Curran who he lost to suicide. He spoke with The Rolling Stones about the album, sharing “I didn’t know who I was any more without him when the person I was lay in tandem with him for so many years, day in and day out.”

His sound is a distinctive and hypnotic synth expression of heartbreak, particularly in his most listened to track on Spotify ‘I Have A Love (Overmono Remix)’, which currently has over 3m listens.

Many were sceptical about how the singer would follow on from such an emotionally raw album, though it seems fans and Irish-born listeners were struck by the new single and only want more.  

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The artist is keeping quiet about his next moves, though fans are excited for new music to come. Stay tuned on his website.

We’re delighted to be returning with a full-scale Visions on Saturday 23rd July 2022. pic.twitter.com/Wsa3IojpQb

— Visions Festival (@VisionsFestival) March 23, 2022

After topping our list for 2021’s album of the year with For The First Time, and then releasing another album this February, Ants From Up There, (that honestly might be a contender this time around) things were looking up for the band. But, due to a perfectly justifiable combination of reasons regarding mental health, Wood released an intimate statement on the band’s socials explaining his situation. Despite the band’s claims that they would continue to make music and tour as Black Country, New Road, many fans were left worried about their future. Especially when you keep the cancelled tour in mind. Now, however, some of that tension may have been lightened as they seem to be keeping to their word and getting back on the scene. As of yet, it is unclear as to whether they will be touring as a 6-piece, or try and find a new member to fill the gaps; but by the looks of things, a 6-piece will be the way for a while.

We have some news to share concerning the future of the band. Please read on for information on upcoming shows, but it seems right to pass on this message from Isaac first pic.twitter.com/3HHmSwBDQj

— BlackCountry,NewRoad (@BCNRband) January 31, 2022

As well as BC,NR the line-up seems perfect for those after a day of counter-culture. Niger based songwriter Mdou Moctar will also be heading to Hackney to perform his own interpretations of Tuareg guitar music. French DJ Oklou brings her special blend of ambience and harsh French house. And Dublin newcomer For Those I Love, whose debut album received significant critical acclaim last year will also join the line-up. This is also, only the first wave of artists to be announced for the festival, so watch this space for more updates on line-up news.

While this is only a 1-day festival, the festival has also announced a “special pre-party on 22nd July at Round Chapel, co-headlined by Yumi Zouma and Far Caspian, plus more special guests to be announced”.  It’s an interesting idea to announce a single day festival… that is in conjunction with another unrelated party the day before the festival… at one of the festival’s venues… then still call it a 1-day festival. But who am I to judge, more music for us.

Posting on Instagram, he wrote: “My first show! October 1st. Olympia Theatre. Dublin, Ireland… Performing on Jools and Other Voices gave me a taste of what playing live could do for me, a temporary escape, a chance to bellow loud from my lungs, a way to let some of that pain out for good. I’m happy to be able to take this step now, surrounded by family and friends in Dublin.”

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Also known as David Balfe, For Those I Love wrote on the subject of his album: “I’m going into this process with a lot of mixed feelings. There is stress, irrational guilt, and still a great deal of pain around the record. “

“I find it hard to say I’m happy that it’s coming out, but I do feel a great deal of pride, and beyond that, I feel very loved. I wrote and recorded this album in my Ma’s shed in Donaghmede, quietly at night and alone. To see it come to life at this scale is overwhelming and I can’t thank you all enough.”

For Those I Love appeared on Later… With Jools Holland at the end of 2020, and featured on NME’s Essential Emerging Artists for 2021 list. A remix of his single Birthday / The Pain by Finn of 2 B REAL was released earlier this month. The artist was recently on the cover of Spotify’s RADAR First Listen playlist, and appeared on Irish TV music series Other Voices.

For Those I Love posted on his Instagram page: “I was six when I first encountered the fallout of a violent death. It’s such a haunting burden at that age, and still is. Birthday recalls that moment and the desperation of trying to make sense of it as a child, and what it’d mean for me growing up against that backdrop… All of these experiences swirl together and can push ya to the devil and oblivion, but Birthday grounds itself in the moments of relief from all of that, in the comfort of the love of friends.”

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The Dublin-based songwriter and musician, also known as David Balfe, released two singles from the upcoming album in 2020 – I Have A Love and Top Scheme. He tackles the subject of the suicide of close friend Paul Curran on the upcoming album.  

Writing on the subject, Balfe says: “I’m going into this process with a lot of mixed feelings. There is stress, irrational guilt, and still a great deal of pain around the record.  I find it hard to say I’m happy that it’s coming out, but I do feel a great deal of pride, and beyond that, I feel very loved. I wrote and recorded this album in my Ma’s shed in Donaghmede, quietly at night and alone. To see it come to life at this scale is overwhelming and I can’t thank you all enough.” 

For Those I Love appeared on Later… With Jools Holland at the end of 2020, and featured on NME’s Essential Emerging Artists for 2021 list, which wrote: “Turning the loss of his best friend Paul Curran into a powerful living eulogy, For Those I Love offers a startlingly beautiful encapsulation of friendship, austerity and personal reckoning in the gritty vein of This Is England or Trainspotting, heightened by the subversive use of euphoric ‘90s rave samplesand biting political commentary.”