NEWDAD RETURN WITH NEW SINGLE
Copyright: Peter Eason Daniels
Irish alt-rock trio NewDad return today with their stirring new single ‘Pretty’, offering a heartfelt preview of their highly anticipated second album Altar, arriving 19 September via Atlantic Records. The track is a tribute to their hometown of Galway - where the band first formed - and is accompanied by a beautifully shot visualiser filmed in the city by longtime collaborator Peter Eason Daniels, one of the creative forces shaping the album’s visual identity.
Written during an early writing session in Galway last year with original member Aindle O'Beirn, ‘Pretty’ follows last month’s punchy and cathartic lead single ‘Roobosh’. While ‘Roobosh’ roared with raw emotion, ‘Pretty’ reveals a softer, more introspective side of the record - tender, wistful, and emotionally sharp.
“Pretty is a lighter spin on a key theme of the album, homesickness. It was a way for me to express my adoration for Galway, it’s a love song really.” adds frontwoman Julie Dawson.
Set to shimmering guitars and delicate melodies, Dawson’s hushed vocals reflect on the contrast between the quiet charm of home and the chaos of life in London. ‘‘Coming to a place like London that’s so chaotic and overwhelming really made me appreciate the peace and quiet of home. Also the landscape, being able to see wide open fields and roads with no one on them it’s just so calming and I’m in love with it. That’s why I wrote this song”
Written over two years following their move from Galway to London, Altar explores themes of identity, displacement, and the emotional cost of ambition. “The album itself is where I divulge my love for home.’’ explains Dawson. ‘‘It’s the idea that Ireland is the altar and it’s the thing that I worship, in a way.”
Co-produced by Shrink (Sam Breathwick) and co-written in part with Justin Parker, Altar marks a bold sonic evolution for NewDad - merging their signature dreamy textures with jagged guitars and emotionally charged songwriting. Since their 2020 debut How, NewDad - comprised of Julie Dawson (vocals/guitar), Sean O’Dowd (guitar), and Fiachra Parslow (drums) - have garnered international acclaim for their immersive alt-rock sound.
Their 2024 debut album Madra launched them onto the global stage, with tours across the UK, Europe, Asia, and North America, and support slots with Pixies, The War on Drugs, and Fontaines D.C. Now, with Altar, NewDad dive deeper into themes of belonging and transformation, showcasing a richer, more refined sound.
Following a string of major headline shows in China and festival appearances across Japan and North America, NewDad will bring Altar to fans across the UK and Europe later this year.
NewDad 2025 UK Tour Dates
18th Oct - United Kingdom, Manchester - Academy 2
19th Oct - United Kingdom, Sheffield - The Foundry
20th Oct - United Kingdom, Glasgow - SWG3 TV Studio
22nd Oct - United Kingdom, Bristol - Bristol Electric
23rd Oct - United Kingdom, Cardiff - Tramshed
24th Oct - United Kingdom, Birmingham - XOYO
26th Oct - United Kingdom, Brighton - Chalk
28th Oct - United Kingdom, London - O2 Forum Kentish Town
31st Oct - Ireland, Dublin - 3Olympia
1st Nov - Ireland, Cork - Cyprus Avenue
2nd Nov - Ireland, Galway - Leisureland
4th Nov - United Kingdom, Belfast - Mandela Hall
