STRAND release feelgood indie single, “Upside Inside”

16 Nov

THE second single to be released since the band’s rebrand

Formed in 2018 as Soundstrand, STRAND is a five-piece indie-pop outfit from Finglas, North Dublin. From their inception as schoolboys, STRAND’s sound has aged as they have, starting out with a youthful-sounding blend of Buzzcocks and Housemartins, before moving into a contemporary indie and pop rock mix, reminiscent of Inhaler, The Strokes and The Cure.

Enjoying gigs at The Workman’s Club, The Grand Social, Fibber Magees and Whelan’s, over the past year, the group have bided their time, waiting until 2024 to begin releasing music offically to streaming platforms. Later entering the studio with Keelan O’Reilly of Post-Party to begin work on their upcoming EP, “Upside Inside” is the second single from the five-track collection.

The single navigates the “mundane nature of being an adrift 20-something” - juxtaposition to the tune’s boppy, happy-go-lucky charm - leaving the listener with the feeling that “maybe it’s okay to be aimless once in a while”. Recorded in Transmission Rooms in Drumlish, Co. Longford - which has seen the likes of Shane McGowan, Kodaline, Declan McKenna, The Script, The Waterboys and Cronin darken its door - O’Reilly’s poppy, yet punchy production lends itself to the track’ accessibility, and the song as a whole aims to leave the listener with the parting emotion every band aims for - wanting more.

One infectious, summery indie banger, from a band we have no doubt will be taking over Irish radio very soon.