Following opening for Wunderhorse, Been Stellar and bdrmm, rising Irish post-punk-rockers Basht. return with the powerful new single, ‘Vain’ (March 19th). The single serves as the first taste of their eagerly anticipated upcoming EP, ‘Bitter & Twisted’, produced by Richard McNamara (Embrace).

A studio duo but live quartet, Basht. have already built a feverish fanbase which has seen them tour across Ireland and the UK. Building a reputation for their electrifying live performances and raw, emotive songwriting, ‘Vain’ continues to showcase the rich post-punk infused alt-rock which has seen them gain widespread acclaim.

Bringing sprawling distorted guitars, punching drums and grounding bass, the track is brought to life by the gritty, commanding, urgent spoken word vocal. Pulling the track forward with a sense of purpose through its boxy, distorted production and pointed lyricism, the vocals burst into life in the chantable chorus as the intense guitar lines reverberate around the soundscape, swelling with energy and urgency.

Talking about the track, the band explain: “Vain is a character study of a charming but monstrous figure, someone who hides their true nature behind a pretty face. It explores the danger of charisma, how easily people can be manipulated when they let their guard down. The lyric “He’d cut out her heart, to tattoo his name” is a twisted take on devotion, a dark satire on obsession and control disguised as romance.

At its core, this song is also introspective. It’s not just about an external figure, it’s about my own struggles with morality, self-perception, and jealousy. The most dangerous people aren’t always obvious villains; sometimes, they’re the ones who make us feel special, the ones we admire. Vain is both a warning and a confession, reflecting on how easily we can fall under someone’s spell, or become that person ourselves.”

Having already built a feverish hype around their live presence, Basht. are already earmarked as one of the most exciting new Irish bands. With the release of the new EP on the horizon, the band are set to take things to another level as they prepare to head out on tour across the UK and Europe.

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Upcoming Live Shows:
4th April – Dublin, Whelan’s (Headline)
3rd May – Liverpool, Sound City Festival
4th May – Southampton, Wanderlust Festival
14th May – Manchester, The Deaf Institute (Headline)
16th May – Brighton, The Great Escape Festival
17th May – Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club (Headline)
21st May – Edinburgh, Cabaret Voltaire (Headline)
22nd May – Glasgow, King Tut’s (Headline)
23rd May – London, The Lexington (Headline)
24th May – Bristol, Dot to Dot Festival
25th May – Nottingham, Dot to Dot Festival
29th May – Paris, Supersonic Block Party Festival
30th May – Paris, Supersonic Block Party Festival