LIMERICK songwriter NIYL performs at Dolan’s on Saturday November 1, ahead of the release of his debut album ‘Parish Is Burning’.
Crafting soul-baring indie-pop laced with cinematic depth, NIYL blends haunting electronic textures with powerhouse vocals and unflinching storytelling. His sound, described as “a resplendent soundscape teeming with alt-soul sensibilities”, has drawn comparisons to London Grammar, Woodkid and Yebba.
The artist’s recent performance on The Late Late Show for Eurosong 2025 marked a defining moment, introducing his emotionally charged sound to a national audience. He has already earned support from RTÉ 2FM, Hot Press, The Irish Times and Independent.ie, and has shared stages with Rufus Wainwright, Dermot Kennedy and Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo.
His latest single, ‘Chain of Fools’, released in September, takes inspiration from Aretha Franklin’s soulful classic. The track combines sharp electronic production, brooding rhythms and vocals that soar from heartfelt agony to blistering rage.
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“’Chain of Fools’ is the moment where heartbreak turns into armour,” says NIYL. “It’s not just about betrayal—it’s about refusing to let someone else write the end of your story.”
Due this November, Parish Is Burning is NIYL’s most ambitious statement yet: a memoir set to symphony, chronicling his journey as a queer artist growing up in rural Ireland. Across its tracks, he threads the seasons as metaphors for love, grief, resilience and rebirth.
“This record is my memoir in sound,” he explains. “Every track is a confession I was too afraid to make when I was younger. It’s a requiem, but it’s also a riot. I’m not just telling you where I’ve been—I’m dragging you in to feel it with me.”