Dubh Lee – release new alt-pop folk single ‘FUFO’

‘FUFO’ was written during the winter of 2024 on a Monday evening that Dubh Lee remembers vividly. Having just been told by her landlord that the house she was living in would soon be sold, the news sent her spiraling into a familiar mix of anxiety about the future and frustration with the realities of trying to find housing in the current climate. Already running on the emotional comedown of too many late nights and sessions, the moment culminated in a panic attack that left her feeling completely adrift.

After a phone call with a friend who helped calm her down, Dubh Lee picked up a guitar and began writing. The result was ‘FUFO’ a candid reflection on feeling lost at sea without clear direction, while recognising that many others are navigating the same uncertainty.

The track was recorded with producer and engineer John Leader of Leader Sound Productions, who also contributes bass, organ and percussion. In a fittingly DIY moment, the song’s main percussion actually comes from a wooden chair in Leader’s home studio that Dubh liked the sound of.

Sonically, the arrangement nods to the layered intimacy of Elliott Smith,particularly his song Waltz #2 (XO) while the tone and phrasing of the second guitar solo take inspiration from the indie textures of Peach Pit. True to form, Dubh Lee improvised the slide guitar using a makeup bottle after discovering her glass slide had mysteriously disappeared.

The result is an alt-folk track that transforms a moment of personal panic into something quietly universal—a song for anyone trying to find their bearings in uncertain times.

About the music video:

The single is accompanied by a surreal music video with scenes filmed near the Curragh and in the singer’s home. With a nod to Edvard Munch’s The Scream and odd twists on the familiar exploits of driving, removing makeup and bathing, the visuals accurately capture the singer’s feelings of detachment.

Dubh Lee is an Irish songwriter and guitarist whose fearless lyricism and commanding stage presence have made her a compelling voice on the country’s independent music circuit. Blending folk storytelling with indie rock grit and flashes of alt-pop energy, the Offaly artist writes with striking honesty about excess, ennui, heartache and womanhood.

A seasoned live performer, Dubh Lee has brought her dynamic shows to stages across Ireland, appearing at festivals including Electric Picnic, All Together Now and Fuinneamh Festival, as well as the renowned Dublin showcase night The Ruby Sessions. She has also opened for acts such as Alabama 3, Jerry Fish and Bagatelle. In 2023 her song To My Sisters won the Night and Day Song Contest, further cementing her reputation as a powerful emerging songwriter.

Never confined to one sound, Dubh Lee moves fluidly between intimate acoustic folk and electrifying full-band arrangements, while her vocals have also appeared on collaborations with hip-hop and drum’n’bass producers. Her debut single Carouselarrived in 2020 as a blues-rock stomper accompanied by a psychedelic video exploring themes of indulgence and heartbreak.

Her debut EP Animals and Friends followed in 2023, pairing wry observations on romance and friendship with sonic influences ranging from Aldous Harding to The Band. After touring the release across Ireland, Dubh Lee returned in 2025 with the first singles from her second EP FUFO. The releases including My Poor Boy and Arms of Rubber continue her sharp exploration of modern life, relationships and Irish drinking culture. The remaining tracks will arrive in Spring 2026 alongside a nationwide Irish tour spanning ten counties.

Since releasing these singles, Dubh Lee has steadily built momentum, receiving rave reviews and amassing tens of thousands of streams on Spotify. With a growing reputation for powerful songwriting and captivating live performances, she is quickly emerging as one of Ireland’s most intriguing independent voices, and her new EP is certainly not to be missed.

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Photo credit – press photo