Irish alt-rock band NewDad on their debut album, falling out, and curses: ‘It’s no wonder bands don’t always last’
When NewDad signed to Atlantic Records last year, it wasn’t the champagne-popping moment they imagined. The Galway four-piece had been in the process of making their debut album, Madra, in the same studio where Oasis recorded Morning Glory and Queen immortalised “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Finishing the project was the only thing on their minds. “We signed with Atlantic over Zoom and we were like, ‘Alright… cool!’ Crack open a bottle of wine and head straight back into recording,” says drummer Fiachra Parslow, his mullet shrugging in unison with his shoulders.
Lead singer-guitarist Julie Dawson, guitarist Sean O’Dowd, former bassist Áindle O’Beirn, and Parslow formed and released in 2021 and 2022 respectively – both records establishing NewDad’s distinctive, shoegaze-inspired alt-rock sound: a haunting amalgam of crackling guitar notes, whimsical crescendos and Dawson’s innocent, ghostly vocals.
