We Speak Music

YARD Delivers Masterful Tune ‘BEND’

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2024

The sonic force that is YARD has unleashed their latest single, “Bend,” a track set to shake the electro-noise genre to its core. Known for their gripping live performances, YARD melds the raw intensity of noise rock with the relentless rhythms of techno, creating an auditory experience that leaves audiences both electrified and slightly unnerved.

At the forefront of their visual identity is Bucketman, the band’s enigmatic mascot, embodying the dark, boisterous energy that defines YARD’s sound. This surreal figure adds a visceral punch to their performances, distinguishing YARD in Ireland’s vibrant music scene.

YARD has shared the stage with notable acts like Shame, Psychotic Monks, and Mandy Indiana, leaving an indelible mark with their dynamic stage presence. Their rise in the music scene has been meteoric, earning them slots at prestigious international festivals such as Eurosonic and The Great Escape, with an eagerly awaited appearance at Primavera Pro in 2024. Drawing inspiration from the likes of SUUNS and Nine Inch Nails, YARD crafts a sound that is both fiercely infectious and refreshingly original.

“Bend” sees YARD weaving together elements of grunge, heavy rock, and pulsating electronica into a sound that is as fierce as it is captivating. The track opens with a barrage of blinding electronics, thunderous drums, and ferocious guitar riffs, all anchored by White’s powerful vocals. Just when listeners think they’ve grasped YARD’s musical identity, the band shifts gears, delivering surprises that confirm their status as a group to watch closely.

The single delves deep into the exhaustion and quiet desperation that accompanies the relentless demands of modern life. “Bend” becomes an anthem of defiance, with YARD channeling their high-octane energy into lyrics that resonate with anyone feeling overwhelmed by societal expectations.

A YARD live show is a sensory explosion, where the band’s energy whips the audience into a collective frenzy. Venues transform into sweat-drenched, pulsating arenas, where strangers become a temporary tribe, united in their head-bobbing devotion to the music.

With a packed tour schedule and more festival appearances on the horizon, “Bend” is poised to become a staple in fans’ playlists. YARD is not just making music; they’re spearheading a radical shift in how we experience live performances.

With “Bend,” YARD takes a stand against the pressures of the fast-paced world, delivering a defiant piece that pierces the superficial and connects deeply with those who feel suffocated by modern life. YARD is here, and they demand to be heard.

Listen here:

We Speak Music

Phoebe June Traces Love, Distance and Heartbreak on New EP ‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’

Published

4 minutes ago

September 11, 2026

Joni Jones

For Phoebe June, some stories are easier to tell through music.

Her new EP, ‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’, is an intimate collection that traces the emotional journey of a relationship from the exhilaration of falling in love to distance, uncertainty, heartbreak and, ultimately, learning to let go.

Inspired by artists including Gracie Abrams, Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers, Phoebe June combines diary-like lyricism with melancholic ballads, subtle uptempo moments and an understated, emotionally honest production style.

At the centre of the project is ‘Thursday’, a bittersweet track about loving someone from a distance and holding onto the hope that the connection might survive.

Written after Phoebe left a country that held deep personal meaning, and left someone she cared about behind, the song looks back at the relationship from its beginning. Even its title is personal: the two first met on a Thursday.

The song captures the complicated feeling of walking away from something meaningful without believing that it necessarily has to be over. It’s about distance, memory and the possibility of finding your way back to someone, while recognising that hope only works when it goes both ways.

Across six tracks, the EP develops that story in sequence.

‘Everything You Are’ opens the project with the warmth of new love, while ‘Dead Sea’ explores the security of finding someone who helps you stay afloat through difficult times. As the story progresses, ‘Thursday’ introduces separation before ‘Getaway Car’ moves into the aftermath; unanswered questions, lingering attachment and the realisation that someone can profoundly affect your life while still being unhealthy for you.

‘One Day’ leaves the door open to the possibility of a future reunion, balancing hope with the understanding that some relationships may only exist in memory.

The EP closes with ‘Ophelia’, its emotional breaking point. Inspired in part by Friedrich Heyser’s painting of the same name, the track confronts the pain of feeling manipulated and unappreciated after giving everything to someone else.

The result is a project that deliberately moves from light to dark. Phoebe June considered not only the narrative but the emotional progression when sequencing the EP, allowing the brightness of its opening to gradually give way to the heartbreak of its closing moments.

Even the title reflects that feeling.

‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’ takes its name from a flower, with the image of a gate separating two people becoming a metaphor for a love that remains beautiful but just out of reach. To reach over it requires effort, just as maintaining a connection across distance, uncertainty and changing circumstances does.

Ultimately, Phoebe June isn’t interested in simply documenting her own heartbreak.

She wants listeners to recognise themselves in it.

‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’ is a collection about love, nostalgia, hope and regret and about what remains when something beautiful ends up on the other side of the gate.