Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

TOUCAN – Cool Side of the Pillow (2025)

In a fusion of soul, funk, jazz, folk and indie-pop peeping from the background, TOUCAN’s music can soothe the most savage beast with his laidback, tranquil, kaleidoscopic music. If you had not heard of TOUCAN before, then prepare for a sound brimming with tenderness, intimacy and some cheeky grin attitude. We first encountered singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist TOUCAN (also known as Conor Clancy) with his 2024 single ‘You At Last’ – a breathy blend of neo-soul and pop. Today, however, we take another step into his discography with his most recent single, ‘Cool Side of the Pillow’.

On the warmest night, or even the cooler ones, flipping yourself to the cool side of the pillow is generally heavenly. Chilled, soft and a soothing grace to your head, that side of the pillow wins every time; Ireland-based TOUCAN’s ‘Cool Side of the Pillow’ is as fantastic. Bad play on words, I know, but bear with me.

Recorded at Monique Studios with Christian Best and produced by Cian Sweeney, ‘Cool Side of the Pillow’ offers another side to TOUCAN’s multi-faceted personality with a vintage RnB and soul swing. I can imagine this track perfect for any of those smoky jazz clubs of yesteryear; however, the edginess of modern-day RnB shimmers across, finding a line between refreshingly new and comforting familiar.

Entwining bold guitar with a gentle piano, glittering percussion and soulful horns, ‘Cool Side of the Pillow’ oozes romantic vibes and intimate grooves. Chilled-out, toe-tapping, and soul-stirring, the ballad is a kaleidoscopic trip carrying you along a warm, rich sonic river. For me, however, just as the song has its tranquillity, it is TOUCAN’s vocals that insert a sense of luxurious sensuality into the tune.

Melodically, ‘Cool Side of the Pillow’ is a fascinating flush of intense intimacy, but it is the poetic lyricism executed in dulcet tones that captures the core of the track. TOUCAN shares: “The song delves into the theme of love’s intimacy, painting a vivid picture of a night filled with softness, romance and affection.”


Find out more about TOUCAN on his official websiteFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator


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