We Speak Music

EUGENE MCGUINNESS drops swirling epic ‘Icarus’ ahead of new album

Published

5 months ago

February 20, 2026

Don Reed

“Increasingly extolled for his knack for melody and lyrically street-savvy ways”- The Line Of Best Fit  

“A nimble lyricist and a cheerfully wordy raconteur of contemporary nightlife”- The Guardian  

“From Liverpool you get the hooks and melodies, London you get the razor sharp outlook and from Ireland comes the wistful smoky romanticism”- Drowned In Sound

“Absolutely beautiful’”– John Kennedy, Radio X

Eugene McGuinness had accepted his career in music was over. The end of his deal with Domino Records, followed by a difficult self-released album, fatherhood, and just life generally, saw his personal dreams and ambitions slowly slip towards the horizon. A period of great change, McGuinness had embraced his new work and family life, happy to leave the ugliness of the ‘music biz’ behind him. However, the absence of making music – and the joy the process brings – left a noticeable hole.

A decade on from Domino, an evolved McGuinness is back. His brand-new album, ‘Eugene McGuinness Versus the Universe’, will be released in April 2026, following the release of his affecting comeback single ‘Seascape’ and follow up track, the beautiful widescreen romance of ‘London’.

The album was recorded at Liverpool’s Docklands Speed Shop with friend and producer Gajo Paco. Encouraging spontaneity, Eugene, Gajo and a host of old friends and acquaintances were ‘feeling it out’ along the way, trusting the process and welcoming a series of ‘happy accidents’ to contribute to the record’s warm and organic sound.

Of Irish heritage, the idiosyncratic McGuinness began crafting songs in his teens and gained recognition with debut EP ‘The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness’ – released in 2007. His self-titled debut album was released in 2008 on Domino Records followed by ‘Glue’ (2009, as ‘Eugene and The Lizards’), ‘The Invitation to the Voyage’ in 2012 and ‘Chroma’ (2014). ‘Suburban Gothic’ (2018) was released independently and marked his departure from Domino Records.

‘Eugene McGuinness Versus the Universe’ picks up where ‘The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuinness’’, left off. A return to playfulness, rawness, and mysterious off-kilter pop from a more mature Eugene McGuinness, the album is another fine addition to McGuinness’ discography and reflects his evolution as an artist – unafraid to experiment and never playing to the gallery, following a tradition of songwriters – Bob Dylan, Shane MacGowan, Randy Newman, Rufus Wainwright – with voices and interior universes that are all their own.

Eclectic, personal, experimental and collaborative and flaunting McGuinness’ compelling gift for melody, the new LP spans a range of styles, from the intimate atmospheres of ‘Drag’, to the Gospel-infused ‘There’s Always Next Time’. The next single to be lifted from the record, ‘Icarus’, features McGuinness’ trademark wry lyrical flair with lush vocal harmonies, a bevy of vintage guitars and sweeping strings coalescing into a swirling epic, which sees McGuinness correlating his life to the legend of Icarus flying too close to the sun.

‘Eugene McGuinness Versus the Universe’, which is being released via Docklands Speed Shop’s label and fellow Liverpool based outfit Mellowtone Records, sees McGuinness coming full circle in many ways. The very day he signed his first record deal with Domino, McGuinness was booked to play a show for Dave McTague’s Mellowtone Records in a tiny café in Liverpool. The two Docklands Speed Shop founders Gajo Paco & Charlie Mullan were in attendance at the show that night. In addition, they were members of the legendary Derry/Liverpool band The Prelude – a band who also played Mellowtone shows and shared the stage with McGuinness on many occasions. A testament to the tight knit scene and ‘village’ mentality of Liverpool’s music community, ‘Eugene McGuinness Verses the Universe’ is the result of long-lasting friendships cemented together by the mutual need for creativity and collaboration.

Eugene McGuinness will launch the new album with a special live performance / signing at Rough Trade, Liverpool on 21^st March 2026. Get tickets here: https://shorturl.at/GviYy

& Culturlann Ui Chanain, Derry, on 28^th March 2026. Tickets: https://shorturl.at/fIUWk

We Speak Music

The Songs of Butler & Cupples Prioritise Craft on Intimate New Single ‘Better off Lost’

Published

4 days ago

July 3, 2026

Brett Wylie

Following the momentum of their first three breakout releases earlier this year, genre-fluid project The Songs of Butler & Cupples have returned with ‘Better off Lost’. A stripped-back, intimate offering that further sharpens their songcraft-first ethos, the release reinforces the duo’s position as one of the most forward-thinking, emerging songwriting projects operating outside the traditional band framework.

Conceived entirely as a vehicle where pure songcraft remains the central focus, The Songs of Butler & Cupples was formed in direct response to a contemporary music landscape increasingly shaped by image, algorithms, and visual perception rather than musical composition.

Led by two highly experienced industry songwriters, the project is intentionally fluid. It allows musical ideas to dictate their own final form without being restricted by rigid genre conventions or commercial chart expectations. With ‘Better off Lost’, the pair turn inward, embracing an acoustic-led direction underpinned by Americana-leaning textures and delicate, emotive vocal arrangements.

Sonically, the track marks a further evolution in their rapidly expanding creative palette. Built around a gentle acoustic guitar foundation, ‘Better off Lost’ foregrounds vulnerability and vocal performance above all else. The raw emotional delivery is elevated by subtle, layered harmonies and understated pop sensibilities that give the track its modern, polished edge.

The duo’s stylistic range has already drawn comparisons to boundary-pushing artists such as Miley Cyrus and Kacey Musgraves, whose recent celebrated works have helped reframe contemporary Americana within the broader pop landscape. Like those icons, Butler & Cupples demonstrate a versatile range that fiercely resists easy categorization.

Across their 2026 discography, they have proven comfortable shifting between entirely different sonic worlds, including: Electronic-Leaning Production: Utilising sleek, modern digital textures. Experimental & Rock Influence: Embracing grittier, guitar-driven edge and unpredictable structures. Acoustic Minimalism: As heard on the new single, proving that a strong emotional through-line remains intact regardless of the instrumentation.

Rather than chasing viral TikTok trends or tailoring their masters for playlist algorithms, the project remains deeply rooted in strong structural songwriting, genuine emotional resonance, and absolute creative freedom.

At its core, The Songs of Butler & Cupples functions as an open creative framework without built-in limitations or outside expectations. ‘Better off Lost’ stands as another clear statement of intent from the duo: that well-crafted songs, when given proper breathing room and unfiltered honesty, still possess the power to cut through the modern noise.