Dylan Flynn and the Dead Poets – shadows (2024)
Caught within the surge of new Irish indie-rock acts quickly reaching beyond the mountainous valleys and contemporary cities of Ireland, Dylan Flynn and the Dead Poets both revel in the creative community while standing out with raw individuality. Hailing from Limerick, the quintet are inspired by life in the 21st century while clinging to the nostalgic sounds of the 80s. In 2023, the lads quickly saw growth as an emerging indie-rock band; this year, they rush ahead as one of the most exciting up-and-coming bands to hit the UK/Ireland indie music scene. The latest addition to Dylan Flynn and the Dead Poets is the single ‘shadows’.
Following their critically acclaimed single ‘in your eyes’, ‘shadows’ is another track off the band’s highly anticipated upcoming album, the story after they’ve gone, scheduled for release next month. As compared to ‘in your eyes’, ‘shadows’ adopts a stronger, heavier, more hard-hitting lean toward vintage indie-rock with a wisp of post-punk peering from beneath.
Crashing drums meet a bold bass with a scorching guitar and a saxophone bringing up the rear. Interestingly, while there is unity in ‘shadows’, the individuality of each instrument is what complements the harmony beneath chaos. In my opinion, the saxophone adds obscurity to the track highlighting Dylan Flynn and the Dead Poets’ unique sound. The jazz-tinged smoothness ends a rock-filled tune proving the band is unafraid to push the boundaries of various genres.
While the melody is intriguing and profound in its own right, ‘shadows’ shows depth in the powerful lyricism. Executed perfectly with Flynn’s rich vocals, ‘the single is a tribute to human fragility, vulnerability and tragedy but simultaneously finding solace in the weighty tune. Flynn explains:
“This track was written while I was reflecting on a dark period of my life. It almost acted as a cathartic process that allowed me to put repressed feelings to be. It’s a much more aggressive and visceral song than I would usually write, but it was an honest reaction to the emotions I was dealing with.”
Find out more about Dylan Flynn and the Dead Poets on their Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
Discover more indie-rock tunes on The Other Side Reviews Indie Rock playlist:
