Dublin/Kildare four-piece Kampala release their long-awaited debut album Madernity on March 6th, a record shaped by the chaos, contradictions and emotional static of modern life.
Formed by Rob McDonnell (vocals/guitar) alongside Baz Daly (bass) and Justin Capocci (drums), with former Keeley guitarist Dan Kane later completing the lineup, Kampala have quietly built a reputation as one of Ireland’s most compelling underground guitar bands — balancing dark-edged atmosphere with driving, melodic immediacy.Drawing inspiration from several decades of iconic sounds, the band’s music carries echoes of Depeche Mode, The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, Suede, Seattle Grunge, Johnny Marr, Joy Division, Gang of Four, DIIV, Interpol, Foals, among others. In more recent times, the band have also been influenced by contemporary artists such as Fontaines D.C., The Murder Capital, NewDad, The Twilight Sad, Osees, Lo Moon, The War On Drugs, Deep Sea Diver to name but a few.
Since 2022, Kampala have built their following through relentless gigging across Ireland and Germany, earning a reputation for intense, immersive live shows.
Recent singles have drawn praise from Hot Press, Pure M, IMRO, The Beat and multiple radio champions, steadily growing the band’s audience and critical profile.
With Madernity, Kampala step fully into their identity — a band documenting the present moment with grit, melody and intent.
The album’s fourth single and emotional centrepiece, “It’s Not Me, It’s You” explores the liberating moment of recognising toxicity in a relationship. It’s both personal and universal — a sharp contrast to the album’s broader social lens.
Written late in the album process, the track earned its place instantly.
“The chorus hook was irresistible. As soon as we heard it, we knew it had to be on the record.”
Recorded in a single live take like the rest of the album, it captures Kampala at their most immediate and emotionally direct.
Rather than chasing studio polish, Kampala chose instinct. Madernity was recorded live in their Ballymount rehearsal space using ageing gear and simultaneous takes of bass, drums and guitars. Vocals and synths were layered afterwards, preserving the energy of a band playing together in real time.
Long-time collaborator Diarmuid Breathnach handled mixing and mastering, adding subtle depth without losing the band’s rough-edged immediacy.
The result is a record that feels human, direct and alive.
THEMES: DISCONNECTION, NOISE & MODERN LOVE
Written across the last five turbulent years, Madernity captures the strange psychological climate of the 2020s — digital overload, fractured attention spans, political noise and the slow erosion of genuine connection.
The album questions what intimacy, identity and communication even mean in a world shaped by algorithms and soundbites. Yet amid the commentary sits a thread of vulnerability, including a classic love song that offers light among the shade.
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