*Cavan Indie rock three-piece, The Spiritual Leaders, have released a second single from their new EP, 'Albania Away'.*

Cavan band make splash with latest single

Complete with artwork by Cavan artist Anne O'Reilly, 'Underwater with You' comes packaged with two b-sides- a dance remix of the single by EP producer Rob Newman of Snug Recording in Derby, England, and another new track, 'Does This Mean'.

Seamus Enright

Published: Fri 10 Jul 2020, 4:11 PM

Last updated: Fri 10 Jul 2020, 4:13 PM

Cavan Indie rock three-piece, The Spiritual Leaders, have released a second single from their new EP, 'Albania Away'.

'Underwater with You' was uploaded to the internet today (Friday, July 10) accompanied by a stylish music video shot on the beaches of Galway.

Complete with artwork by Cavan artist Anne O'Reilly, 'Underwater with You' comes packaged with two b-sides - a dance remix of the single by EP producer Rob Newman of Snug Recording in Derby, England, and another new track, 'Does This Mean'.

Based around a circular guitar riff and electronic drumbeat, the band explain lyrically 'Underwater with You' is about "growing up and settling down".

A product of the vibrant Origins music scene once of Cavan town, The Spiritual Leaders, which today includes David Reilly (lead vocals and guitar), Fergus Brady (lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and backing vocals), and Cathal Brady (drums and percussion), came together in 2009 through a shared love of classic indie and alternative rock.

“We let him go wild with it basically,” chuckles Cathal when asked about the techno-inspired 'Underwater with You' remix. “We went in with notions of what we wanted, but then developed ideas as we progressed. That's where Rob really came into his own. His guidance was invaluable. He was part of the creative mix, not just there pressing buttons.”

Newman's studio, based near to where singer David now works and lives with his family, is well known in music circles having previously played host to bands such as Irish rock legends Therapy?.

'Albania Away' was recorded across two days in April 2019, and one session in September that same year.

A product of the vibrant Origins music scene once of Cavan town, The Spiritual Leaders, which today includes David Reilly (lead vocals and guitar), Fergus Brady (lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and backing vocals), and Cathal Brady (drums and percussion), came together in 2009 through a shared love of classic indie and alternative rock.

“The second time out we were a lot more organised. We got four songs done in that time. We went back a final time last December to finish things off, and that was to do 'Underwater with You'.”

Along with coming together from various distances to record, the band also had to scale the chasm created from barely playing together for the best part of seven years.

The last time they did play together in a live setting was the Gonzo Theatre on December 28, 2012. The performance served as both the launch of their then self-titled album, and also a farewell to fans with the impending departure of David across the Irish Sea.

“It was strange. It was the end of the chapter rather than the start,” recalls Cathal of that bittersweet moment on stage.

Given the lapse, one could be forgiven to find a band still trapped in a time when Bruno Mars and Emile Sande topped the charts, and the Wii U was only just released to gaming audiences.

But if anything, the years have added a sense of maturity to the dogmatic Spiritual Leaders- both personally and musically.

As a band they've come at the release of 'Albania Away' by promoting it in a way they never got to with the album all those years ago.

“With the album [2012] we didn't push it. I think there was a review done in the Celt. It was brilliant and we were delighted with that. But that was it!”

'Albania Away' therefore is very much the band collectively scratching an itch that never went away.

Though if nothing else was to come from the latest creative splurge they'd be equally happy settling for a place in the annals of history as a little-known but much-loved cult-indie band from Cavan.

“If there was 20 people who liked the album and the EP and said 'there was this great band once from the Cavan you should have a listen to', I think we'd be happy having achieved that,” says Cathal with a laugh.

But with positivity already brimming around 'Albania Away', the hope is always there to achieve more.

Despite being released mid-March when much of the world was scuttling into Covid lockdown, the EP continued to collect glowing reviews like moss to a rolling stone. It also earned favourable airplay on BBC's East Midlands 'Introducing', Dublin's Phoenix FM, and a spot on the 'Alternative Eire' playlist on Spotify.

“I think the Irish indie scene has come back to a point where it is really, really strong again,” suggests Cathal when asked his thoughts on the rise in interest in Irish bands once again, particularly those willing to sing from a place of origin and without affectation.

“I'd be a kind of nerd [for Irish music] where I'd go onto blogs and just listen to round ups of weekly releases from the likes of Bandcamp or places like that. There is lots of really good stuff out there, and more coming. [The scene] really is in rude health and it feels good to be part of that.”