A couple of months ago, I had the pleasure of being invited to the latest edition of Soft Gut Songwriting Camp. As I tried to sum up here, in under two days, I saw some of the island’s top talent in both songwriting and production come together to create some truly outstanding original music. But one collaboration in particular stood out for me—and many others in attendance at Analogue Catalogue that weekend. ‘Aphids,’ the new single from Northern Irish artist Anthony Layde, felt singular.
With Layde’s masterfully vulnerable refrains paired with the soaring register of Belfast art-pop artist J SHIELDS and production by Cork maestro 1000 Beasts aka Cian Sweeney, ‘Aphids’ is, without question, one of the standout Irish tracks of the year. The chemistry between Layde and Shields is unmistakable; an alchemical blend that elevates ‘Aphids’ to another sphere.
The single is a haunting ballad about queer love, and how the person you cherish can also become your greatest downfall. In under three minutes, it manages to be nothing short of both gut-punching and a gossamer triumph that lingers long after it ends
Layde, a folktronica artist with an otherworldly flair, has been crafting a distinct musical identity, following his debut single ‘God Bless the Dancers’. With ‘Aphids,’ he dives even deeper into the complexities of queer romance. Through grotesque yet striking natural imagery, the song likens love to a flower slowly overtaken by a parasitic force. Layde’s whispered delivery, paired with J SHIELDS’ operatic range, hits like an immersive exploration of how beauty and darkness can coexist.
Reflecting on the song, Layde said: “I originally began working on ‘Aphids’ as a songwriting exercise with Cian and J SHIELDS as part of the Soft Gut Songwriting Camp. After whispering over a riff Cian had created using a lyre harp, James and I began reflecting on our experiences growing up as queer people in Ireland, and slowly, ‘Aphids‘ came to light.”
Ahead of its release tomorrow, have a first listen to ‘Aphids’ below.
