NewDad

{{Infobox musical artist

| background = group_or_band

| name = NewDad

| image = Newdad Dome 2025.jpg

| caption = NewDad performing at The Dome, London in May 2025

| origin = Galway, Ireland

| genre = {{flatlist|

Indie rock
pop
shoegaze
lo-fi{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/waves-mw0003489918/releases|title=NewDad-Waves|publisher=allmusic.com}}

}}

| years_active = {{start date|2018}}–present

| label = {{flatlist|

Fair Youth
Atlantic Records

}}

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|newdad.live}}

| current_members = * Julie Dawson

Fiachra Parslow
Sean O'Dowd

| past_members = * Áindle O'Beirn

Cara Joshi

}}

NewDad are an Irish indie rock band from Galway, formed in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/newdad-on-finally-returning-to-the-stage-stzfcbt9v|title=NewDad on finally returning to the stage|first=Chilpra Gantara|last=Doherty|date=11 September 2021|website=The Times}} Their music has been compared to The Cure, Beabadoobee, and Just Mustard by NME magazine.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/newdad-community-inspired-lo-fi-dream-pop-from-galway-2896732|title=New Dad, Community Inspired Lo-Fi Dream-Pop From Galway|first=Becky|last=Rogers|date=9 March 2021|publisher=NME|website=nme.com}} Atwood Magazine wrote of the group: "The band oozes personality with cynical but honest lyrics, colorful visual components, and poignant messages about coping with the, albeit painful, formative experiences."{{cite web|url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/ndwv-newdad-waves-ep-music-interview-feature/|title=INTERVIEW: DIVE HEADFIRST INTO IRISH DREAM POP BAND NEWDAD'S DEBUT EP 'WAVES'|first=Jesse|last=Herb|date=15 April 2021|publisher=Atwood Magazine}} The group have appeared at the Green Man Festival in Wales,{{cite web|url=https://www.greenman.net/line-up/2021/|publisher=Green Man Festival|title=Green Man 2021 Line-up|date=2021|website=greenman.net}} the Pitchfork Music Festival in Paris,{{cite web|url=http://pitchforkmusicfestival.fr/artists/newdad/|title=NewDad at the Pitchfork Music Festival|publisher=Pitchfork|access-date=29 November 2021|archive-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812210109/http://pitchforkmusicfestival.fr/artists/newdad/|url-status=dead}} and on the Irish television program Other Voices.{{cite web|url=https://www.othervoices.ie/videos/how-live-at-other-voices-x-giaf|title=NewDad on Other Voices|website=www.othervoices.ie}}

Career

=Formation and early career (2018—2020)=

Julie Dawson, Áindle O'Beirn and Fiachra Parslow started the band while in secondary school at Coláiste Iognáid as a way of avoiding solo performances for their Leaving Certificate practical music exam. Sean O'Dowd, who was studying music technology in Limerick, began recording the band, before eventually becoming a full member.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/newdad-i-wrote-the-songs-about-my-later-years-in-secondary-school-but-the-words-can-still-be-very-personal-22845536|first=Kate|last=Brayden|publisher=Hot Press|title=NewDad - I Wrote Songs About My Last Years In Secondary School But The Words Can Still Be Very Personal|date=16 March 2021|website=hotpress.com}} An early feature in local paper the Connacht Tribune wrote "Belying their relative inexperience, Galway band New Dad are fast becoming one of the city's most inventive and enthralling acts."{{cite web|url=https://connachttribune.ie/new-dad-just-basking-in-glow-of-debut-delivery/|first=Cian|last=O'Connell|title=New Dad just basking in glow of debut delivery!|date=5 March 2020|publisher=Connacht Tribune|website=connaughttribune.ie}}

The band released five singles in 2020; "How," "Swimming," "Cry," "Blue" and "I Don't Recognise You," which accrued over two million streams on Spotify.{{cite web|url=https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/120755/newdad-debut-ep-risin-dubh-show|title=NewDad Debut EP Roisin Dubh Show|first=Kernan|last=Andrews|date=29 March 2021|publisher=Galway Advertiser}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2021/0330/1206882-behind-the-music-newdad/ |title=Behind The Music-NewDad|date=30 March 2021|website=RTÉ.ie}} On 5 November 2020, the group recorded a live session for Steve Lamacq's show on BBC 6 Music.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000nztg|title=Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music|publisher=BBC|website=bbc.co.uk}}

= ''Waves EP'' (2021) =

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = GoldenPlec

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenplec.com/album-reviews/newdad-waves/|title=GoldenPlec Album Review|publisher=GoldenPlec|first=Jake|last=Hurley|date=1 April 2021}}

| rev2= DIY

| rev2Score={{Rating|4|5}}

| rev3 = Dork

| rev3Score={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/albums/newdad-waves-ep/|title=Dork Album Review|first=Jay|last=Singh|date=24 March 2021|publisher=Dork}}

| noprose = yes}}

Their debut EP Waves was released in March 2021. Recorded with engineer Chris Ryan in Belfast, the EP features the previously released singles "I Don't Recognise You" and "Blue." God Is in the TV wrote of the EP "Each song juxtaposes fuzzy guitar waves, dexterous basslines, subtle percussive beds, woven with Julie's half spoken half sung vocals that are intimate, evocative and heart puncturing."{{Cite web|url=https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2021/03/16/introducing-newdad/|title=INTRODUCING: NewDad|first=Bill|last=Cummings|date=16 March 2021|publisher=God is in the TV|website=}} In a 4-star review DIY magazine wrote of the tracks, "Together they offer a palpable melancholy, one driven by vocalist Julie Dawson's intricate balance of despondency and bite, not least on the subtle spite on the closing title track."{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2021/03/25/newdad-waves-ep-review|title=NEWDAD - WAVES|publisher= DIY|website=diymag.com|date=25 March 2021 }} The Journal of Music opined: "NewDad posit themselves as both the lovelorn hero and the cut-throat antagonist, switching sides with ease."{{cite web|url=https://journalofmusic.com/criticism/small-details-break-ups|title=The Small Details of Break-ups|first=Kelly|last=Doherty|date=14 April 2021|publisher=The Journal of Music}} In a positive review, Far Out magazine wrote, "Their debut EP is a well-rounded effort that shows a band who are rightly-confident in their abilities."{{cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/newdad-interview/|date=11 March 2021|title=Why you need to start listening to NewDad|first=Joe|last=Taysom|publisher=Far Out Magazine}}

= ''Banshee EP'' (2021 — 2023) =

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = GoldenPlec

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenplec.com/album-reviews/newdad-banshee-ep-review/|title=GoldenPlec Album Review|publisher=GoldenPlec|first=Justin|last=McDaid|date=1 February 2022}}

| rev2= DIY

| rev2Score={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2022/02/09/newdad-banshee-ep-review|first=Alisdair|last=Grice|date=9 February 2022|publisher=DIY|website=diymag.com|title=DIY Banshee Review}}

| rev3 = Dork

| rev3Score={{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/albums/newdad-banshee-ep/|date=9 February 2022|publisher=Dork|first=Jasleen|last=Dhindsa|title=Dork Banshee EP Review}}

| rev4 = Gigwise

| rev4Score = {{Rating|9|10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/3415521/ep-review--newdad---banshee|first=Karl|last=Blakesley|publisher=gigwise|website=gigwise.com|date=7 February 2022|title=Gigwise Banshee EP Review}}

| noprose = yes}}

In October 2021, the group released the single "Ladybird" and announced their second EP, Banshee. The EP was recorded with Chris Ryan in Belfast and mixed by John Congleton.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/discovery/newdad-ladybird|title=NewDad pull from cinematic nostalgia on mesmerising new single "Ladybird"|first=Cailean|last=Coffey|date=26 October 2021|publisher=The Line of Best Fit}}{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenplec.com/newdad-share-new-single-ladybird-and-announce-whelans-show/|first=Stephen|last=Byrne|date=26 October 2021|title=NEWDAD SHARE NEW SINGLE LADYBIRD AND ANNOUNCE WHELAN'S SHOW|publisher=GoldenPlec|website=goldenplec.com}} In January 2022, BBC 6 Music premiered "Say It," the second single from the EP.{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/news/newdad-single-say-it/|title=NewDad have shared 'Say It' from their new EP 'Banshee'|first=Sam|last=Taylor|date=11 January 2022|publisher=Dork}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/newdad-unveil-new-single-say-it-on-bbc-radio-6-22886926|title=NewDad Unveil New Single Say It On BBC Radio 6|date=11 January 2022|first=Kate|last=Brayden|publisher=hotpress.com}} So Young Magazine wrote of the single; "'Say It' has NewDad sounding more confident and more ambitious."{{cite web|url=https://soyoungmagazine.com/newdad-share-new-single-say-it/|first=Charlie|last=Brown|title=NewDad Share New Single 'Say It'|date=11 January 2022|publisher=soyoungmagazine.com}} Banshee was released on 7 February 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/galway-indie-rockers-newdad-release-sophomore-ep-banshee-22890786|publisher=Hot Press|website=hotpress.com|date=9 February 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|last=Brayden|first=Kate|title=Galway indie outfit NewDad release dreamy sophomore EP Banshee}} Gigwise, giving it a score of nine out of ten stars, wrote; "NewDad look primed to set the world alight."{{cite web|url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/3415521/ep-review--newdad---banshee|first=Karl|last=Blakesley|date=7 February 2022|publisher=Gigwise|website=gigwise.com|title=EP Review: NewDad - Banshee}} GoldenPlec wrote; "the themes of 'Banshee' thoughtfully unfold through a dreamscape of helplessness, uncertainty, depression and neurosis."{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenplec.com/album-reviews/newdad-banshee-ep-review/|first=Justin|last=McDaid|publisher=GoldenPlec|website=goldenplec.com|date=1 February 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|title=NEWDAD BANSHEE}} Dork magazine wrote of the EP; "Sonically expansive and colourful, it's a brighter step up from last year's 'Waves EP'." and awarded it four stars out of five.{{cite web|url=https://readdork.com/albums/newdad-banshee-ep/|publisher=Dork|website=readdork.com|date=9 February 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|first=Jasleen|last=Dhindsa|title=NewDad – Banshee EP}}

After the success of Banshee, the band relocated to London. The move also saw O'Beirn being replaced by London-raised bassist Cara Joshi.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/newdad-madra-interview-atlantic-b2501428.html|title=Irish alt-rock band NewDad on their debut album, falling out, and curses: 'It's no wonder bands don't always last'|first=Ellie|last=Muir|date=25 February 2024|access-date=21 March 2024|newspaper=The Independent}}

= ''Madra'' (2024) =

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = DIY

| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://diymag.com/review/album/newdad-madra|title=NewDad – Madra review|magazine=DIY|last=Swann|first=Emma|access-date=25 January 2024}}

| rev2 = NME

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/newdad-band-debut-album-madra-review-radar-3573726|title=NewDad – Madra review: review: sublime songs from Ireland's next great guitar band|website=NME|last=Baines|first=Huw|date=24 January 2024|access-date=25 January 2024}}

| rev3 = Record Collector

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/madra|title=Madra {{!}} NewDad|magazine=Record Collector|last=Earls|first=John|date=31 December 2023|access-date=25 January 2024}}

| rev4 = Uncut

| rev4score = 8/10{{cite magazine|title=NewDad – Madra|magazine=Uncut|page=34|date=January 2024}}

}}

On 14 September 2023, the band announced their debut album, Madra (which translates as 'dog' from Irish), scheduled for release on 26 January 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/newdad-launch-debut-album-madra/ |title=NewDad Launch Debut Album 'Madra' |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=14 September 2023 |publisher=Clash Music |access-date=15 September 2023}} The announcement was marked by the release of the single "Angel". The album was produced by Chris W Ryan, mixed by Alan Moulder, and recorded at Rockfield Studios.{{cite web |url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/09/14/newdad-madra-angel-release-date |title=Irish indie band NewDad share "Angel," a song inspired by Euphoria |last=Renshaw |first=David |date=14 September 2023 |publisher=The Fader |access-date=15 September 2023}}

=Solo projects=

In August 2024, NewDad singer/songwriter Julie Dawson announced the release of her debut solo album, Bottom of the Pool, scheduled for 13 September 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music-news/newdads-julie-dawson-announces-solo-album-bottom-of-the-pool-23048671|publisher=Hot Press|title= NewDad's Julie Dawson announces solo album Bottom Of The Pool |date=29 August 2024|website=hotpress.com}}

= Life Is Strange: Double Exposure =

NewDad composed a new song, titled "Under My Skin", for Life is Strange: Double Exposure, an episodic adventure game published by Square Enix.{{Cite web |url=https://press.na.square-enix.com/DODIE-CHLOE-MORIONDO-AND-OTHER-ICONIC-ARTISTS-HEADLINE-ORIGINAL-SOUNDT |title=DODIE, CHLOE MORIONDO AND OTHER ICONIC ARTISTS HEADLINE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK FOR LIFE IS STRANGE: DOUBLE EXPOSURE |date=24 September 2024 |publisher=Square Enix |access-date=28 November 2024}}

Personnel

Julie Dawson (vocalist and rhythm guitarist)
Sean O'Dowd (lead guitar)
Fiachra Parslow (drums){{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/waves/read/making-waves-newdad/081746|title=Making Waves: NewDad|first=Ben|last=Homewood|publisher=Music Week|website=musicweek.com|date=28 October 2020}}