Áine at Paper Dress Vintage

Irish artist Áine (pronounced awn-yah) today shares her Blue Valentine EP OUT NOW via Parlophone. The cohesive 5-track collection showcases her breathtaking voice perfectly; a voice which has earned her early comparisons to the likes of Lana del Rey, Adele and Lorde. Listen to the Blue Valentine EP HERE.


Raised on pop superstars Lady Gaga and Marina and the Diamonds, Áine’s small-town upbringing - she hails from County Cavan - meant her dreams of ascending to such heights felt unattainable, until Glastonbury 2016. Plucked from a pub stage to appear on primetime BBC festival coverage (performing before Coldplay’s headline slot), she mesmerised viewers with her rendition of track Black Dahlia.


Title track Blue Valentine is a sultry, fun, powerhouse ode to the strength salvaged from a former relationship, even when that ex tries to reconnect down the line. In this track, Áine makes it clear the sun has set on that particular relationship… The accompanying video, which lands on Valentine’s Day, is directed by Noel Paul (Lily Allen, Bat For Lashes, Father John Misty), and accentuates the dark humour Áine is so fond of.


Plastic is a damning take on fake and dishonest people; those that offer constant put downs and foster toxic relationships. The topic of self love is important and timely, though when it veers into self-absorption, things can get ugly. Pretty Boy focuses on a protagonist so caught up in their own bubble they’re blind to the outside world.


The 27 Club opens with haunting strings as Áine sings of craving attention and turning a blind eye to responsibilities, all in the name of having a good time. Taking inspiration from the famous Hollywood murder - and American Horror Story season 1 - EP closing track Black Dahlia centres around ambition and achievement, until dreams are snatched away by unwanted interference. The track is already popular, having notched up almost 600,000 streams on Spotify and has proven to be the perfect singalong moment at her live shows.


Aside from title track Blue Valentine, all songs were recorded at JAM Studios in Co.Meath (near Áine’s home) and released independently. Blue Valentine is her first recording with Parlophone and signals the beginning of the next chapter in her journey.


The release of the Blue Valentine EP kicks off what is sure to be an exciting year for Áine, as she makes her mark in music as an accomplished songwriter and performer, armed with an abundance of personality and musical ambition.