January is a month full of grey skies, bitter winds, and dark nights. It’s hardly a mood-booster. Until today. Allow me to introduce you to The Blow In’s, an Irish folk duo whose 2024 ‘Meant To Be’ EP celebrates high-spirited pep, get-up-and-move melodies, and poetic lyrics.
Supercharged by Cian O’Leary’s vocals and rhythm guitar prowess, as well as Oisin O’Regan’s talents as a lead guitarist, ‘Meant To Be’ is more than a gorgeous patchwork of soul-stirring beats. It’s a spotlight, unveiling The Blow In’s refreshing ability to blend traditional Irish folk with modern genre-defying instrumentation. So, with that said, let’s take a deep dive into ‘Meant To Be’ and start brightening up the last few days of January!
Meant To Be
Kicking off this five-song EP, we have ‘Monica,’ a track that beautifully encompasses that familiar, home-sweet-home romance feel. During the intro of this track, you’re immediately hit with a sprightly gallop of banjo riffs, which – with the help of their bright timbres and racing tempos – adds a delightful dollop of sunshine to the instrumentation. Cushioned by gleeful guitar mastery, the banjo gently paves the way for Cian O’Leary’s vocals.
Soft and delicate, O’Leary’s voice is the perfect embellishment for this track, as it contrasts the bold, lively instrumental harmonies with an addictive airiness. With the addition of snappy drums and smile-inducing lyrics, ‘Monica’ is a great opener to The Blow In’s EP, showing listeners how the pair can, seemingly effortlessly, combine the chummy allure of Irish folk with modern, emotive storytelling.
As the track progresses, you’ll become immersed in an electric interplay of banjo, guitar, and drum melodies that are so energetic that you’ll swear that you can feel the air crisping around your headphones. There’s no other way to describe it – the instrumentals in this song are insane!
So, The Blow In’s have set a high bar with their first track, but what about the next tune? The next track, ‘Run,’ may slow things down a little, but make no mistake, The Blow In’s signature vibrancy still stands at the bow of this single. Of course, the instrumentation features familiar faces in the masterfully played guitar and banjo, but this track’s backbone is also studded with the shrill lull of the harmonica, which, for me, imbued the melody with a touch of melancholy.
Considering how this track’s lyrics balance both themes of bittersweet nostalgia and longing, the addition of the harmonica is perfect – you’re still getting the vivace tempos and intricate rhythms that you’ll come to associate with The Blow In’s, but also a new relish of poignancy that shows the extent of the duo’s range. What’s more, ‘Run’ reminds me of Noel Gallagher’s ‘Riverman’ in the sense that The Blow In’s can seamlessly blend upbeat dynamics and textures with lyrics that speak to heartache. Overall, ‘Run’ is perfect for those who didn’t know they needed a blend of alternative rock and Irish folk!
Now, let’s talk about ‘Butterflies,’ a more relaxed, soothing dreamscape that illuminates the writing and vocal talents of lead guitarist Oisin O’Regan. For me, the glimmers of ember-bright piano and the warm, heavy heart of the guitar riffs paint a beautiful picture of sitting on a beach with someone you know you’re about to say goodbye to. It’s powerful, it’s poetic, and most importantly, the instrumental narrative perfectly mirrors the heart-punching story of the lyrics.
O’Regan’s voice, rich and tranquil, nurtures the mellow emergence of the banjo, which cleverly makes an appearance as the lyrics focus on the memories of being alone with that special someone for the first time, symbolising the fluttering heartbeat you’d have. Strangely enough, as I was listening to this song, I was reminded of one of my favourite singles from Swedish singer-songwriter José González: ‘Crosses.’ Both songs evoke a quiet sense of introspection and exude an authentic, stripped-down air that allows you to connect even further with the overall narrative.
It was a close call between ‘Butterflies’ and the fourth track, ‘Free’ for my top pick from the EP, but I think I’ll have to give it to ‘Free.’ This track opens with the crooning growl of the guitar and O’Leary’s timeless vocals, an animated acoustic riff flowing along the fringes of the harmonies. Together, every element, every note, transported me to an evening drive down a stretching road flanked by towering trees with my hometown growing smaller and smaller in my side-view mirrors.
In other words, ‘Free’ has a whiskey-smooth quality that fuses the sting of separation and the uncertainty of ever finding freedom, creating a swell of bittersweetness that permeates the entire texture of the track. However, it’s not just the song’s emotive instrumentals and vocals that made it my favourite. It’s also the song’s lyrics: ‘You said to me / You’ll never be free / You can trust me with your heart and dreams / Please don’t forget me.’ With lyrics like that in every chorus, it becomes all too easy to resonate with The Blow In’s writing style. Racing to a sudden diminuendo, you’re hit with a repeat of that last line, ‘Please don’t forget me,’ and personally, this left me wondering how free you ever really are from your past. What a potent ending!
Last but certainly not least, the final track of the EP, ‘Brown Leaf.’ It was a great choice to end ‘Meant To Be’ with this track; it acts as a type of romantic palate cleanser after having explored a kaleidoscope of complex emotions in the previous songs. Opening with a sweet acoustic riff, ‘Brown Leaf’ welcomes you into a snuggery of homeliness, jam-packed with O’Leary’s rustic vocals, crisp drumbeats, and the pleasant hums of the harmonica.
Listening to this track, I was amazed by how The Blow In’s can maintain such control over their signature upbeat style while adding new flavours to their songs to highlight their uniqueness and range.
We heard it in ‘Butterflies’ how the boys can balance vivid compositions with bittersweet sorrow, and now, with ‘Brown Leaf,’ you can immerse yourself in autumn-tender, love-filled tones that still radiate as brightly as the other tracks do. As the instrumental harmonies slow gracefully toward the end of the track, you feel completely at peace, like you’ve just finished rereading one of your favourite novels.
All in all, ‘Meant To Be’ is one of the most unique EPs that I’ve heard in quite some time, and it’s so great to see these two young lads spearheading the evolution of the wonderful Irish folk genre.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEUz8xttHoQ/?img_index=1
ALT: Irish folk duo, The Blow In’s, perform a live show at J.M.Reidy’s.
The Blow In’s
The Blow In’s embody excitement, and not just because their EP is jam-packed with vivacious bops. It amazed me to learn that this County Kerry-based duo only formed The Blow In’s at the end of 2023! In such a short space of time, the pair have accomplished so much. Releasing their debut single ‘What Could This Be,’ playing dozens of summer shows to packed-out crowds, being chosen to play after The Wolfe Tones on their farewell tour at the Gleneagle INEC Arena…the list is endless!
And, of course, we can’t talk about The Blow In’s successes without mentioning that the incredibly talented James Vincent McMorrow specifically picked them to support him during his November 2024 tour of Ireland, stating that their music ‘spoke to him personally.’
Having plans to release more original music and perform at venues and festivals across the UK this year, it’s safe to say that The Blow In’s are at the very start of a vibrant, promising journey.
‘Meant To Be’ is available to listen to on all major platforms!
Till next time.