Irish indie-rock band Newdad are on a high, having performed at Coachella for the first time this year and the continuining praise for their latest album, ‘Altar’. The Galway quartet, known for their atmospheric soundscapes and introspective lyrics, camped out in California recently for a change of scenery and came up with their latest single, “Kick the Curb”.
““We played ‘Kick the Curb’ at Coachella and it felt like the perfect introduction to where we’re at now. It’s noisy and chaotic, but it has this kind of sad undertone that feels very us.”
After making a splash with their debut album, ‘Madra’, NewDad experienced a warm reception while touring the record internationally that gave them confidence to explore different sonics on the follow-up, ‘Altar’. The record explores the emotional cost of leaving home, weighing sacrifice against ambition after the band’s move from Galway to London. Frontwoman Julie Dawson delivers raw vulnerability and sharpened lyricism across themes of homesickness, identity, and resilience in songs like “Misery”. “It’s a song about how sometimes it’s easier to stay in a miserable and uncomfortable place rather than actually trying to make changes,” Dawson shared. “The album itself is where I divulge my love for home. It’s the idea that Ireland is the altar and it’s the thing that I worship, in a way.”
Newdad spoke with B-Sides host Pete Mar about the album’s introspective lyrical themes, their collaborative recording process, and the challenges of translating raw emotion into sound, and more.
