Photo: Zoë Holman
ELKIN's 2018 debut EP Bad Habits was a bright and optimistic folk-rock (with a dash of pop) affair. The openness to trying different styles was already evident however on single 'She Hated Love Songs II', the duo's 2017 collaboration with Tebi Rex. Ellen O'Mahony and Carla Ryan's first release of the year, single 'Green Eyes', appears to signal a very determined new direction though, very different to anything they have written so far. The hook lands instantly with the muted yet vibrant guitar opening which gives a grooving rhythm backdrop to their harmonies.
What impresses most here and strikes you straight away is how self-assured the music and sound delivery is, in a nutshell it's a fabulous piece of rn'b-tinged contemporary pop, easily able to go toe to toe with more established Irish (and indeed international) acts who reside in this particular sonic space. Still retaining the positivity of their earlier music, but with a little polish of despondency, 'Green Eyes' is a bold step into new territory for ELKIN. The wonderful thing is, they can delve deeper into this new groove, but also marry it with the sound they gave us on their debut EP. Plenty of options, and plenty to keep us guessing as to which ELKIN might show up next.
'Green Eyes' is now streaming on all major platforms including Spotify;
