Meet Cavan’s latest alt- rock band

Even More So was born out of late-night rehearsals and shared musical influences.

Four friends, Holly Murphy, Damian Keating, Tadgh Shields, and Dylan Shields formed the Cavan-based alt-rock band in August 2025 and they have just released their debut single ‘Painkiller’.

Even More So (EMS) started off with a bunch of like-minded folks, playing covers and pursuing individual side projects. When they met Holly, they liked her music and her remarkable voice and the band quickly formed. From there EMS started writing their own tunes and performing in local venues. Music has been the band members’ lifelong passion, first blossoming in secondary school.

“I guess we’ve all just done it our whole lives,” began Holly. “I’ve personally never done anything else, since I was in TY, I knew I wanted to do the audio music production course in Dundalk.”

EMS tells the Celt how music is everything to them, how they are trying to make their own way into the competitive music industry.

“We’re trying to make a career out of it,” Holly asserts.

Breaking into the music industry is notoriously difficult. The band has pushed themselves online, creating content and gathering fans all the while managing college and other pursuits.

A self-produced band, they mix and master everything themselves, recording in their homes with their own equipment or using college facilities. The songs are mixed and mastered by Holly and partner Aaron McCabe, who are both fourth year students studying audio and music production in DKIT.

Even with their heart-felt passion and dedication, the fourpiece admit that gaining traction in the music industry is the biggest challenge.

“At the minute, it would be getting our music out there,” Damian explains of their current focus. “We’re trying to create an audience for ourselves and gain fans, and we’re pushing ourselves on social media. I guess the challenge that comes with that is content. Creating content is a big factor now in the industry. The challenge is trying to climb the ladder and stand out from everyone else.”

Creating great music seems to come naturally to the if debut single ‘Painkiller’ is anything to go by. Released on February 23, the five minutes is packed with towering guitars and dynamic shifts. It captures the band’s ability to balance vulnerable vocals with a distortion drenched full force chorus. Lyrically Painkiller explores the duality of pain and love, and how one person can be the cure.

“It is a song that speaks to anyone who has loved hard, lost deeply, or searched for something to ease the weight,” Holly describes.

Building their profile, EMS have several live shows lined up in Dublin, giving them the opportunity to bring their music to a wider audience. First up is a slot in Temple Bar on April 15 sharing the bill with Smithfield Creatives. The following day they will provide support for fellow Cavan band, Marcus McGee and the Hollaw Men, when they play the Workman’s Club on April 16. This is set to be their biggest Dublin show to date.

“For the moment, it’s getting out onto the scene of venues, especially the Dublin scene, and pursuing proper music,” Dylan says of their priorities.

Alongside this, the fourpiece are focused on releasing more music and growing their fanbase.

“We want to just see how far we can get with it,” Dylan adds.

EMS are planning to release their second single at the end of April, with the hopes of putting out their first extended play later in the year.

As a young band, EMS knows firsthand how challenging and daunting it can be to put your music out into the world, especially when you’re composing original songs, using your own equipment.

“I think our story would be great to show people that you don’t need a fancy studio or huge amounts of money to chase your dream. It could be of great inspiration to other young, rising artists,” Holly says.

For anyone hoping to start a band, they emphasise that confidence and persistence are key.

“Consistency, being confident and putting yourself out there, it’s a hard thing to overcome, but it evolves over time,” Damian says.

They say that the hardest part is getting started, and once you do, it’s about showing up every time, no matter how difficult it gets.

“If you love it, that won’t be a hard thing to do,” the band concludes.