Irish indie artist Shimmer Boy (Aaron O’Sullivan) releases his new single Hideaway today, the final preview of his forthcoming debut album In The Aftermath, We Bloom, due for release on 1 July.
Hideaway marks a hopeful turning point in the journey told by O’Sullivan through his recent releases. After exploring themes of rejection, emigration, and creative survival, in Under the Surface, Mine Again & Brixton, this song finds him moving forward with a renewed sense of self-confidence and acceptance.
Speaking about the track, O’Sullivan says: “Hideaway is about trusting yourself, being yourself, and not hiding away from life anymore.”
The single offers a fitting final introduction to In The Aftermath, We Bloom. Never part of a “grand plan” for O’Sullivan, the album is the culmination of a songwriting journey that spans more than fifteen years. Having largely stepped away from songwriting for several years, Aaron found himself returning to music as a way of making sense of a difficult period, with those early songs gradually growing into a collection that explores identity, self-worth, addiction, friendship and personal growth.
Shimmer Boy came to Wavefield Recording Studios with producers Brian Casey and Sarah O’Mahony to transform the growing collection of demos into a cohesive body of work. Drawing influence from artists such as Sam Fender, Dermot Kennedy, Kingfishr, Kings of Leon and Snow Patrol, In The Aftermath, We Bloom marks a significant creative milestone for O’Sullivan.
Alongside the recording process, Shimmer Boy’s live profile has continued to grow. Following a sold-out headline show at The Roundy in Cork, he has toured extensively across Ireland and the UK, sharing stages with John Blek, Oscar Blue, Robert Grace, Briars and James Keegan. To celebrate the release, Shimmer Boy will perform a series of headline gigs around Ireland in July.
Preorder The Aftermath, We Bloom here.
LIVE DATES
JUNE
27 CORK, Wavelength Rooftop Bar (supporting Robert Grace) – tickets
JULY
03 CORK, Coughlan’s – tickets
04 CORK, Togher, Music Zone
09 DUBLIN, Whelan’s – tickets
11 KILLARNEY, J.M. Reidy’s
More information and tickets available from https://www.instagram.com/shimmerboy_/