Kilkenny dance duo 49th & Main have just dropped their long-awaited debut album 'Happy Tears', to wide acclaim and to the delight of their fast-growing base of listeners. With over 200 million streams, 2.2 million monthly Spotify listeners, multiple BBC Radio 1 - backed releases & listed in the NME 100, the pair have become one of the most popular acts in music coming from Ireland and sit at the forefront of indie-electronic music globally. Their high-energy live shows have propelled the...
Jun 15, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Scotland's newest folk hero Jacob Alon sat in on Léim Thart to share their stunning debut album 'In Limerence', released on the 30th May. With captivating otherworldly lyrics, and a voice that in the words of Annie Mac can crack the most cynical of hearts wide open, Jacob has been winning over audiences everywhere since first releasing music last autumn. Having recently finished a tour with Olly Alexander (Years & Years), they're now touring Europe with the album, arriving in The Workmans Cl...
May 27, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Bringing lush neo-soul to us is Lizzie Berchie as she shares her brand-new EP 'Night Shift', which comes out on the 23rd May. The 7-track project is filled with stunning vocals, tight harmonies, and the relatable story of an artist who balances full-time work with the music career. I loved having her on to learn all about it! On the live scene, following support slots for Mahalia and Loyle Carner, Lizzie plays a sold-out show in St Pancras Old Church, London, which is set to be a beautiful show....
May 13, 2025•10 min•Ep. 54
Lady Gaga has well and truly returned with 'MAYHEM', her first pop album in FIVE years following 2020's 'Chromatica'. Following our review of that album, I invited Dean O'Reilly back onto Léim Thart with me to give initial thoughts on this new era for Gaga. Producers on the album include Gaga, Andrew Watt, Cirkut, and Gesaffelstein. This album follows the critical success of single 'Disease' and 'Abracadabra', and the worldwide smash of 'Die With A Smile' with Bruno Mars, which boasts over 2 bil...
Mar 07, 2025•17 min•Ep. 53
I'm thrilled to FINALLY welcome my friend Paddy Keyes onto Léim Thart with his brilliant debut EP 'Over & Over'. After several years of releasing indie-pop bangers, the Sligo-native, Dublin-based artist has shared his first body of work with the world. We got to dive into the journey so far, some track details, and what to expect this year! Keyes explores past experiences of various relationships in his youth throughout the EP. In the title track ‘Over & Over’, Keyes shares his frustrati...
Feb 19, 2025•17 min•Ep. 52
I'm thrilled to welcome British singer-songwriter Jo Hill onto Léim Thart with her stunning debut album, girlhood. The album is a testament to Jo’s exceptional songwriting prowess, drawing inspiration from iconic legends like Queen, Boney M, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, and Joni Mitchell, while also echoing the influence of contemporary acts such as Big Thief, Remi Wolf, and Kacey Musgraves. She brought me through the highlights of the album, going independent, connecting with her audienc...
Jan 16, 2025•19 min•Ep. 51
A force in pop music, GRACEY has been in our years for almost a decade as a singer and songwriter. She has featured on releases with The Chainsmokers, Clean Bandit, Craig David, Jax Jones and KSI. In addition, she co-wrote 'PSYCHO' for Anne-Marie & Aitch which landed Top 5 in the UK singles chart, Jonas Blue and RAYE’s platinum-selling ‘By Your Side’ + others for Meghan Trainor, Rita Ora, Marshmello, Tiësto and more, earning her a nomination at the A&R awards for Songwriter of the Year 2...
Nov 25, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Today on Léim Thart, we have a re-issue of my 2022 chat with Ryan McMullan. At the time, he was about to release his debut album 'Redesign'. However, he then postponed release citing poor mental health. Fast-forward to 2024 and 'Redesign' has just been released much to the delight of a very patient fanbase, with an even bigger and better tour to go along with it! On this episode, you'll hear all about the album, and find out where Ryan McMullan is at in 2024! View this episode on YouTube HERE Fo...
Nov 04, 2024•16 min•Ep. 47
Victor Ray is the UK's newest standout voice of R&B and Pop, with the release of new single ‘Still The Same’. It arrives alongside the news that his biggest headline show in London to date, at KOKO in November has sold out. The single is the first taste of new music since the release of his ‘I TRIED.’ EP in the summer, the final in a series of releases documenting Victor’s extraordinary rise over the last 18 months. The gig list is getting longer and longer - performances at Montreux Jazz Fe...
Oct 15, 2024•15 min•Ep. 48
Charli xcx has FINALLY treated us to the follow-up of her summer-defining album 'BRAT' in the form of a remix album, entitled 'Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat', which features a star-studded line-up of collaborators, such as Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Lorde, The 1975, Bon Iver, Caroline Polachek, Tinashe, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, and The Japanese House. With 'BRAT' being the most critically-acclaimed album of the year, and being an album living on the danceflo...
Oct 11, 2024•21 min•Ep. 47
Making her return to Léim Thart, Dublin pop artist Aimée has a new banger, the heartfelt 'Passenger Seat' takes us through a comforting journey dedicated to her late mother, as a trip down memory lane is set to slick pop production. Written with Gabrielle Aplin and Ash Howes (Kylie Minogue, Atomic Kitten), Aimée describes her latest offering as her ‘best therapy session yet’ written for everyone who is missing someone, whether it’s an ex-partner or somebody who has passed on; ‘Passenger Seat’ is...
Jun 13, 2024•14 min•Ep. 46
American popstar and TikTok sensation Leah Kate joined me recently while in Dublin for her 'Super Over' Tour, which boasted even bigger crowds than ever as she made her way across Europe. I got to know her and her music through playing a few quick-fire games, including some podcast-exclusive content right here just for you :) No stranger to the stage, she has toured alongside Madison Beer, Hayley Kiyoko, and Anne-Marie. Leah Kate is proving to be a star on the rise with 300M+ global streams, 200...
Jun 09, 2024•11 min•Ep. 45
Norwegian superstar Astrid S has blown the world of pop music away with a staggering 5 billion streams of hit songs such as "Hurts so Good", "Think Before I Talk" and "It's OK If You Forget Me". Her second album, the newly-released 'Joyride', reflects her growth as an artist, inspired by car journeys with her Dad. They listened to bands like The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Coldplay, and HAIM - early musical impulses that are reflected throughout the new album. Astrid S is a global pop artist with so...
May 26, 2024•33 min•Ep. 44
One year on since his first Léim Thart, Fred Roberts has gone from strength to strength with the release of his debut EP 'Sound Of My Youth'. With over a million streams to date, packed-out headline gigs, and a summer full of festivals ahead, we sat down for a much-needed catch-up on all things music... and sleeper trains. and underwater tunnels. Lead single Sound Of My Youth was written in LA on the last day of a writing trip with Andrew Wells(Phoebe Bridgers, Halsey) and Anthony Rossomando (La...
May 09, 2024•21 min•Ep. 43
4 years since her last album, and continuing her reign at the top of the muisc world, we have finally been treated to Dua Lipa's third album 'Radical Optimism' 🦈 Following the juggernaut disco-infused 'Future Nostalgia', Dua worked with the aim to build a new psychedelic, Britpop-inspired record. Did she succeed? Here is my full review. Since 2020, Dua Lipa has remained at the forefront of pop culture, with a 3rd Grammy win, 7th BRIT award, and the lead single of Barbie movie 'Dance The Night',...
May 04, 2024•38 min•Ep. 42
Making a grand return to Léim Thart, one of my favourite guests is Bandon Beyoncé LYRA! Having freshly released her self-titled debut album, we just had to catch up and discuss all the new music. Hear her talk about working with Lady Gaga's producer, keeping a song from David Guetta, and the juiciness of a live show! The debut album is a comprehensive reflection of the Irish pop- dance sensation today. Consisting of 14 tracks, the album conveys the broad range of her musicality, journeying from ...
Apr 15, 2024•20 min•Ep. 41
BRITs Rising Star nominee Caity Baser is still learning, good thing she has a mixtape about it! With over 200 million streams to her name to date, and collaborations with both chart-topper Joel Corry, and Sigala, Baser has wowed sold-out audiences far and wide with hits like 'Pretty Boys', 'X&Y', 'Friendly Sex', and 'I'm a Problem'. With her new mixtape 'Still Learning' out now, and her biggest tour to date about to kick off, she shared all the juicy details with me for Léim Thart! Watch thi...
Mar 19, 2024•15 min•Ep. 40
South African pop newcomer Will Linley has just kicked off his sold-out European tour with a show in Dublin's Whelan's, to a raving reception from the crowd. Before taking to stage, we sat to talk about his tour plans, his new 'Magic' EP, along with what is on the way for the 22-year-old! Having shared stages with the likes of P!nk and Maroon 5, the tour will leave audiences wowed by the high energy, and thoughtful lyrics. Will first gained traction on TikTok, leading to an airplay #1 in South A...
Feb 16, 2024•19 min•Ep. 39
After a number of years as this generation's leading anti-popstar, Baby Queen has released her debut album 'Quarter Life Crisis', to rave reviews and landing in the Top 5 of the UK Album Charts! This seminal piece of work for the South African star (born Arabella Latham) has punctuated a number of years of releasing emotional, rock-tinged pop music. Numerous shows & festivals later, supporting Olivia Rodrigo, and being a key feature on the global hit Young Adult series on Netflix 'Heartstopp...
Jan 05, 2024•18 min•Ep. 38
Indie-Rock trio Post-Party have just released their brand new song 'Lap Around The Sun', as the lead single from their upcoming second EP. Proving themselves as one of the Irish acts to watch in 2024, their debut EP “We’re Not Getting Any Younger” placed No. 3 in the Official Irish Independent Chart, alongside being supported on Spotify's New Music Friday, The Indie List and Hottest New Bands playlists. The new release celebrates the importance of letting go to move forward. Fast paced and energ...
Dec 06, 2023•20 min•Ep. 37
20-year old British pop newcomer Fred Roberts has just released a soaring debut single with 'Runaway'. Following a stint on The X Factor, he began releasing covers on social media in lockdown, all the while crafting his own songwriting style, and landing a deal with Polydor Records. The first offering, 'Runaway', is a statement of reckoning, written with a Grammy and Oscar winning team. A guitar-lead coming-of-age anthem, the song is an ode to growing up and facing your difficulties with confide...
May 18, 2023•11 min•Ep. 36
In the midst of a blockbuster year representing Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Brooke joins me to talk through her new single 'Heartbreaker', which shows a different, more sombre side to previous singles this year. On a steady incline, her debut EP due this year promises to deliver pop perfection. Throughout the Summer, Brooke Scullion has been performing across Europe taking the stage at events such as Glastonbury and headline shows in London as well as Dublin, Madrid and Cork...
Aug 29, 2022•11 min•Ep. 37
Back in the spring, fresh off their sold-out Ireland & UK tour, I chatted with Dave of Irish pop band Wild Youth about their nostalgic new single 'Seventeen’! Over the summer, they've been busy with support slots for Lewis Capaldi and Westlife, along with an appearance at Indiependence. Their October Irish tour is on sale now and they have an imminent slot at Electric Picnic! Co-written by Conor O Donohoe & JC Stewart, and produced By Tristen Evans (The Vamps), Seventeen is the 1st singl...
Aug 22, 2022•8 min•Ep. 36
A steady force in Ireland, Ryan McMullan is releasing his new single 'Wilder', taken from his upcoming debut album 'Redesign'. An anthemic up-tempo pop tune, Ryan explains the lyrics: ‘it’s really just about having fun'. This is exactly what fans can expect from his upcoming Redesign Tour. No stranger to the stage, having shared it with titans such as Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, The Coronas and Dermot Kennedy, this extended tour will go across Europe, North America along with his biggest show yet i...
Jul 29, 2022•11 min•Ep. 35
I could not be more excited to have Sweden’s finest Tove Styrke on Léim Thart! While she was in Dublin opening for MARINA, I got all the details from the tour, her brilliant new album HARD, and her experience of Dublin! Over the past decade, Tove Styrke has emerged as one of the pop world’s sharpest and most fascinating observers of the human heart. On her fourth album ‘HARD’, the Stockholm-based pop star brings her fiercely intimate lyrics to a truly visionary sound, spiked with elements of eve...
Jun 02, 2022•28 min•Ep. 34
Absolutely buzzing that Ocean Tisdall is back once again to deliver his heartfelt new single ‘Crying Room’, following the release of the seismic 'White Lies' earlier this year. We chatted all about the song, the video, and his upcoming EP! Channelling more of the raw and passionate aesthetic he has cultivated for himself already, ‘Crying Room’ sees Ocean in a more colourful, yet sombre guise, coupled with an incredibly absorbing new video bringing the song to life. Since emerging in 2021, Ocean ...
May 26, 2022•8 min•Ep. 33
Rising Cork singer-songwriter Clodagh is the latest on Léim Thart, who just released her new single 'All You Do Is'. I learned all about the process, her dream collaborators, and we name-dropped a few Irish artists along the way! Follow Ruairí Egan / Léim Thart HERE
May 13, 2022•6 min•Ep. 32
A face of pop music in Ireland, Aimée sat in to tell me about her new single ‘Nobody Else’, working with Swedish writers, and getting a masterclass from pop god Max Martin! Aimée’s arrival on the scene in 2018 led to a string of Top 40 hits at home in Ireland, as well as support from BBC, Kiss, Clash and more. Her debut EP ‘Confession’ shot to the No. 1 spot in the iTunes Pop Album Chart, not to mention the overall iTunes Album Chart. Songs like ‘Don’t Call Me Pretty’ established her as an artis...
Apr 28, 2022•15 min•Ep. 31
A regular on Irish stages, awards lists, and airwaves, LYRA has been heard everywhere from Love Island to Grey's Anatomy! Fresh off the release of the new remix to her song 'Lose My Mind' by none other than Shane Codd, Cork's finest LYRA sat down on Léim Thart and to delve into her 2022 plans, new music, even getting some Lady Gaga gossip! Having self-released her debut EP W.I.L.D., which featured the stunning track ‘Emerald’ produced by Rupert Christie, who also worked with Kate Bush, Coldplay ...
Apr 06, 2022•20 min•Ep. 30
KAWALA already have headline tours, multiple EPs, and a slot of the FIFA 21 soundtrack under their belt. Fresh off the release of their debut album 'Better With You', I was joined by co-frontman Jim to chat all about it! We got to dive into the songs, their current in-store and incoming headline tours, along with the connection they have with their audience! On the album itself tracks like previous single ‘Searching’ and the FIFA-featured ‘Ticket To Ride’, along with new tracks ‘Marathon’ and ‘E...
Mar 14, 2022•21 min•Ep. 29
