Irish rising star and LGBTQIA+ trailblazer SexyTadhg returns this November with their most emotionally vulnerable work to date. The artist—long celebrated for bold theatrics, soaring vocals, and politically charged performances—strips everything back for ‘Never Been Loved in the Daylight,’ a stirring new single that exchanges big-band energy for raw, glowing intimacy.
Recorded live in an intimate setting, the track highlights the magnetic stage presence and striking musicianship that have made SexyTadhg one of Ireland’s most compelling newcomers. Produced by Daniel De Burca and mixed and mastered by Alex Borwick, the song becomes a quiet but powerful exploration of queer loneliness, longing, and the uneasy tenderness of self-reflection.
With only piano and vocals, ‘Never Been Loved in the Daylight’ stands among Tadhg’s most affecting recordings. The minimal arrangement allows the emotional intricacy of the lyrics to shine, showcasing both Tadhg’s melodic instinct and their deepening range as a songwriter.
Reflecting on the track’s origins, SexyTadhg explains:
“While I was very lucky to be able to take refuge in my childhood bedroom during the pandemic, it triggered a lot of self reflection. I was so hopeful of falling in love once I’d left home but I came back to realise that I was even lonelier than before.
I remember coming up with this syncopated rhythm and the words ‘I’ve never been loved in the daylight, the sun always scares them away’ spilled out of me and it felt like an emotional shotgun had gone off… I wrote the rest between my bedroom and the bank of the river Barrow.”
They also recall the song’s first public performance—an unexpectedly transformative moment:
“Towards the end of covid… I was asked to close a Cabaregg show in Bellobar. I walked out in a leather trench coat and duct tape and sang the song. Once I’d finished I found myself enveloped by a roaring applause and a seemingly never ending standing ovation. I felt truly heard… Every performance of this song since feels like a moment of healing for me and a reminder that we’re never alone in loneliness.”
‘Never Been Loved in the Daylight’ follows SexyTadhg’s critically acclaimed debut EP, Sexy—a politically charged, theatrically rich dive into queer experience. Blending soul, jazz, and pop with flamboyant confidence, the EP drew praise from BBC Radio 6, RTÉ 2FM, Dork, Clash, Notion, Hot Press, the Irish Times, and more.
Beyond its critical success, SexyTadhg’s work has reached national audiences through radio support and television appearances including The Six O’Clock Show, Ireland AM, Ireland In Music, and Irish-language programmes Síorstíl and Glúin Z. Onstage, they’ve impressed across an 18-date UK tour supporting The Mary Wallopers, played major festival slots, performed at Fairview Park, the Galway Big Top, and the Cork Marquee, and sold out headline shows across Ireland.
With this new single, SexyTadhg invites listeners into a more intimate, unguarded and emotionally honest space.
Listen below: