Formed in 2019, NewDad consists of members Julie Dawson (vocals and guitar), Eoin O'Neill (bass), Sean O’Connor (guitar), and Adam Reddington (drums). Often compared to the likes of Wolf Alice, Alvvays, and Beach House, NewDad offer a more distinctive sound, with Dawson's angelic vocals juxtaposed to sharp basslines and harsh yet relatable lyrics of longing and yearning. NewDad, through their debut EP and album Madra, consistently capture the intensely relatable feeling of longing and yearning, and the inability to let go, which seems to gain attention from listeners, as it is universally familiar.
After their well-received EPs Waves and Banshee, NewDad came back in 2024 with their debut album Madra, which was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The album captures their ability to shift from dark, intense, and sharp sounds, with tracks like ‘Let Go’, ‘Nightmares’, and 'Angel,', to ethereal, dreamy shoegaze, with ‘Nosebleed’, ‘Change my Mind’, and ‘Dream of Me’. Lyrically, NewDad navigate through the complexities of loss of love, particularly with rejection and letting go. Despite being notoriously an ‘easy listen,’ there is intense vulnerability in confronting their hurt and rejection, making it truly relatable to almost all listeners who have experienced that kind of pain. Recorded at the infamous Rockfield Studios in Wales, Madra received attention for all the right reasons, with even a 4-star review from NME.
The future is bright for this Irish quartet, with already playing big festivals such as Green Man, Pitchfork, and YNOT, with many to come. As they grow and develop further into the alternative scene, they are definitely one to watch.