“A New Local Hero” 2024 Winner Calum Agnew Releases Single “Anymore”
Fresh off his triumph as the recipient of the prestigious A New Local Hero Award, Calum Agnew injects further momentum into his soaring trajectory as one to watch in 2025 with the powerful new single ‘Anymore'.
An initiative of Hot Press and Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, A New Local Hero is a key element in Irish Music Month, a major promotion of Irish music and Irish musicians, launched by Hot Press and the 21 participating IBI radio stations, and supported by Coimisiún na Meán. Calum triumphed initially as the LMFM selection for the A New Local Hero finals.
Backed by his incredible seven-piece band and backing singers, Agnew’s new single is bursting with self-determination, musically and conceptually. It highlights the unique genius of the emerging musician as a performer, vocalist and songwriter, announcing their arrival as an artist of immense global potential. The song encapsulates the feeling of finally breaking free from the shackles of limerance:
“The song is inspired by a previous love interest I had,” Agnew says of his unrequited passion. "It was complicated, but I think most people will agree that love is quite complicated. You’ve got to know when to let go. When I did, it was freeing. I had my life back again. I guess after some time had passed, I was still angry at myself for wasting so many months being fixated on this fantasy of a life with someone else, rather than living my own.
Writing ‘Anymore’ was my way of expressing that anger. It was a final goodbye and a definite throwing away of that key”.
Launched by Irish label Rubyworks, the single was crafted with the expertise of acclaimed producer and arranger Cian Boylan (Bono, The Villagers) and mixer Ruadhri Cushnan (Ed Sheeran and Mumford & Sons) at their Camden Recordings Studios in Dublin. Inspired by the vocal tones and instrumentation of artists such as Raye, Lana Del Rey and Amy Winehouse, with the aid of his band – comprising Jamie Dalton on keys, Harry Luck on drums, Patrick Griffin on guitar, Glen Feely on bass, Evan Gerry on saxophone and Lily May Craig and Shauna Byrne on backing vocals – the single is another incredibly strong release from the young artist.
