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· Conor Welsch
When you hear Irish music, your mind might jump to trad sessions, fiddles in a pub corner, ballads passed down through generations, songs that feel more timeless than trendy. Rarely do you think of something that can compete in the mainstream, shoulder to shoulder with global folk-pop acts. Halcyon changes that.
Kingfishr put it all together: the storytelling bones of Irish folk, the emotional sweep of arena ready anthems, and the modern polish that makes a record travel beyond its borders. Just as Hozier once carried Irish soul into the world, Kingfishr are poised for their moment. Halcyon is the proof.
Kingfishr’s story is as humble as it is unlikely. Three engineering students writing songs during lockdown turned into pub shows, then festival sets, and finally sold-out arenas. “Killeagh,” a tune sparked by a bet and amplified by TikTok, became a cultural moment. The kind of underdog anthem my own family back home in Ireland would’ve called a “pub story made real.”
Halcyon feels like the record that ties those beginnings to a future much bigger than they imagined. It’s a debut that balances grounded roots with global ambition.
The 16 tracks on Halcyon stretch wide but stay centered on emotional clarity.
“Shadow” a standout, dives deeper. It grapples with the idea of suppressed selves: those unacknowledged parts that shape who we are. It’s introspective, rugged, and quietly powerful.
“I Cried, I Wept” and “Gloria” wrestle with ambition and sacrifice, pulling the personal into the universal.
“Diamonds & Roses” marries bright strings with darker themes, fame, exposure, the weight of eyes on you.
“Killeagh” anchors the record, folk grit and viral energy tied up in one unforgettable hook.
Where Noah Kahan leans inward into solitude and memory, Kingfishr lean outward, inviting the crowd in. These are songs meant to be sung back at them, pint glasses in hand.
Like any record worth pressing, Halcyon has its “needle drop” moments:
At 1:12 of “Flowers-Fire”, the banjo locks into the vocal, a texture that blooms under vinyl warmth.
“Next to Me” pivots at 2:03 with harmonica so raw it feels handwritten.
“Shot in the Dark” could’ve been lifted from a farmhouse kitchen at midnight, voices rising with laughter and memory.
These aren’t studio tricks. They’re moments born from lived experience, the kind that connect whether you’re in Cork or Chicago.
Halcyon takes Irish folk roots and lifts them skyward, without losing the ground beneath. For me, it’s more than just an impressive debut. It’s a reminder of what Irish music can be when it carries its heritage into the mainstream without compromise.
Kingfishr may still be climbing, but with Halcyon they’ve made their case: the next Irish breakout is here.
Best Spins: “Man on the Moon,” “Diamonds & Roses,” “Shadow” “Killeagh”
For Fans Of: Noah Kahan, Hozier, Villagers, Joshua Burnside
If You’re Into This, Try:
Caamp (By and By)
Grian Chatten (Chaos for the Fly)
The Frames (For the Birds)
Wild Pink (ILYSM)