New Single Alert: Pebbledash Explore Introspective Depths on ‘Cartography’
By Following The Success of Their Single ‘Asha’s Waltz’ Pebbledash Have Just Released Their Latest Single
‘Cartography’
Kicking off 2025 with an electrifying momentum, Pebbledash unveiled their highly anticipated debut EP, ‘Four Portraits Of The Same Ugly House,’ in January which was met with widespread acclaim from music critics and fans alike. Their sound has caught the ears of influential platforms such as BBC Radio 6, Radio X, RTÉ, and renowned publications including Clash Magazine, Dork, Hot Press, Nialler9, Psychedelic Baby Magazine, and District Magazine to name a few. The band has not only carved a niche for
themselves in the scene but has also enjoyed substantial support on Spotify Editorial playlists, prominently featured on Fresh Folk, Fresh Finds, melomania, Fresh Finds Folk, Hot New Bands and Fuzzed among others. Their last release, “Asha’s Waltz,” marked yet another significant milestone in their rapidly rising trajectory from their EP and saw the melancholic lament gain over 15k streams in less than a week with five Spotify editorial playlists. Today, Pebbledash have just released their latest single “Cartography.”
Following the release of their latest single, “Asha’s Waltz,” which garnered over 15k streams in less than a week Pebbledash, the innovative band from Cork, has gained significant recognition. Support for “Asha’s Waltz” has come from industry tastemakers, including So Young Magazine (UK), which praised the band for their “ability to blend traditional Irish folk with shoegaze elements, highlighting what makes them unique and special.” Additionally, “Asha’s Waltz” has been featured on several indie playlists, including Nialler9‘s New Irish Music, Genuine Irish‘s New Irish Music, Post-Brexit Pop’s New Music Friday, Goldenplec’s Fresh Fridays, So Young’s, and The So Young List.
Cartography as a song much like the art of map making is about searching and discovery. It is attempting to make something impenetrable (in this case fear), tangible, real and physical in the hopes to be able to be rid of it, getting to where the X is and digging up the treasure.
Fionnbharr Hickey of the band says, “The song takes the point of view of a day I spent in Berlin where I couldn’t shake this anxious feeling I was having all day but couldn’t quite understand why or where it was coming from so there’s imagery of that as well as to some artists I was listening to at the time as I always found music to be a great distraction when I felt like this.
After deciding I didn’t want this song to sound morose or sad even though the material signifies a difficult time for me, I wrote the guitar parts using an alternate tuning I liked at the time and one that felt uplifting and adventurous. I also wanted to write something I could picture people dancing to in their bedrooms or kitchens or wherever.
We recorded the track with Andy Killian (Pretty Happy, Ankil) and layered on some drones and feedback, building the track to its celebratory crescendo and having done only one vocal take, it felt ready. In many ways the song is about exploring simplicity and doing what we felt is right, not overthinking things, recorded in a few hours and with only one vocal taker we are sort of exposing ourselves as a raw five-piece and that felt good, there’s nowhere to hide in this track.”
“In choosing to release Cartography shortly after our recent single Asha’s Waltz, we wanted to display the fullest extent of what we’re capable of as a band in microcosm – loud and soft.” Cormac Donovan O’Neill (synthesiser/backing vocals) notes. “Contrasting between textures and dynamics is vital to us as a band, both within a song and between releases. Cartography represents the propulsive, frantic energy of our live shows, with the
modulating whirl of the layered synth parts taking inspiration from perpetual motion machines like Stereolab and Neu!. Reflecting the racing mind depicted in Fionnbharr’s lyrics, the song concludes in a maelstrom of screeching guitars and pounding drums; the whole thing sounds just on the edge of falling to pieces before settling into a long-sought calm.”
Pebbledash has established itself as a formidable presence in the music scene, garnering acclaim both as a dynamic live band and through their recorded work. They have captured the hearts of fans and critics alike, earning recognition from So Young Magazine, featuring prominently in their coveted tracks of the year and performing at the magazine’s celebrated live events.
The band has graced some of the most iconic venues across Ireland and the UK, including, The Windmill Brixton (London), Hope and Ruin (Brighton), The Elephants Head (London), The Social (London), Whelan’s (Dublin), Cyprus Avenue (Cork), Ulster Sports Club (Belfast), Róisín Dubh (Galway), The Complex (Dublin), and Live at St. Luke’s (Cork) among others.
Looking ahead to the latter part of 2025, Pebbledash is set to embark on their highly anticipated second headline tour, “Of Seaweed and Sandstone,” which will take them across Ireland and the UK this November. Tickets on sale now!
Upcoming Dates
04.07.25- The Shacklewell Arms, London
05.07.25- Roisin Dubh, Galway (Outside The Box Festival)
17.07.25- The Record Room, Limerick
22.09.25- Strange Brew, Bristol (So Young Tour)
23.09.25- The Joiners, Southampton (So Young Tour)
25.09.25- The Adrian Flux Waterfront Studio, Norwich (So Young Tour)
26.09.25- Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds (So Young Tour)
27.09.25- Yes Pink Room, Manchester (So Young Tour)
29.09.25- Patterns, Brighton (So Young Tour)
30.09.25- Moth Club, London (So Young Tour)
23.10.25- 25.10.25- Left Of The Dial, Rotterdam
06.11.25- Cyprus Avenue, Cork
07.11.25- Workman’s Club, Dublin
08.11.25- Voodoo, Belfast
12.11.25- Servants Jazz Quarters, London
15.11.25- Castle Hotel, Manchester
16.11.25- The Attic, Leeds
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