Blue Slate – Plastic Soul: Kildare, Ireland based quartet Blue Slate return with the new single ‘Plastic Soul’ (September 10th). Following opening for Big Special among others, Blue Slate (John Harney- vocals & guitar, Pierce Devine – guitar, Isabelle Murphy – bass, Tim Tora – drums) have been building a feverish hype, bringing thoughtful songwriting whilst capturing a raw intensity and an infectious sense of energy.

Treading the ground between shoegaze, alt-rock and indie, the new single ‘Plastic Soul’ brings a warming guitar based soundscape which is contrasted against the rough, raspy lead vocals to bring moments of explosive angst and others of melodic bliss. ‘Plastic Soul’ opens with a distant, reverb drenched guitar before unfurling into a wall of strummed guitar, driving drums and howling lead lines that bring a sense of urgency under the expressive, gritty and instantly recognisable lead vocals.

Moving through moments of indie intensity and beautifully constructed riffs which lean into a blend of brit-pop and shoegaze, the track eventually ends with a stunning, slowly building climax of overlapping guitars.

Talking about the single, the band explain: “The song is about trying to find your way in life. But when you start to reflect you realise that there is baggage that you have. The song is about the realisation of that”

Blue Slate founders Harney and Devine met as kids, bonding over matching Brian Jones-style haircuts and hours spent digging through Harney’s older siblings’ CD collection—everything from KISS to Nirvana, metal to classic rock. Their music reflects those wide-ranging influences: from elements of The Velvet Underground, Sparklehorse, and Grandaddy, with others which are closer to modern grunge and post-punk.

Blue Slate’s mesmerising live shows and impressive singles earned them a spot on the Hot Press “Hot for 2024” list. Since then, they have gone on to earn coverage across tastemaker press and radio including the likes of Radio X, RTE 2fm, Dork, Notion, Clash, LadBible, Nialler9, Golden Plec, Earmilk and The Thin Air, landing multiple slots in the Irish Radio Breakers Chart.

The genre-defying rockers have played across Europe, including in London, Paris and at Rotterdam’s Left of the Dial festival as well as selling out multiple headline shows including The Workman’s Club and opening for Big Special among others.