Jamie McIntyre is back with another banger in ‘Melbourne’ and he’s hit that bittersweet spot again. This is one of those tracks that doesn’t need any flashy tricks to pull you in. It’s raw, it’s vulnerable, and it’s so damn relatable, especially to the young Irish demographic. If you know what it’s like to watch someone pack their bags for Australia while you stay behind pretending you’re fine, this one will definitely hit you.
Jamie’s always been an incredible songwriter, but something about Melbourne feels especially sharp. The lyrics nail that weird emotional mix of pride and heartbreak “Doing what my heart says is right / But I’m gonna lose her and that’s fine / Least I got to hold her hand.” That one line is like a goodbye you didn’t want to say out loud. He doesn’t overcomplicate it, just tells the story straight and lets the weight of the moment carry everything. You can almost hear the ache in his voice.
The structure is simple, which works massively in its favour. The repetition of the earworm hook “Now she’s living in Melbourne” feels like trying to make peace with it by saying it over and over. There’s a soft instrumental thread running throughout, giving the whole thing this hazy honesty. That production touch from Gavin Doyle is clear again, polished without losing the emotional texture Jamie always brings to the table.
Stylistically, this is very much Jamie’s lane, that folky-pop blend you’d associate with artists like Darren Kiely or Kingfishr, but it’s unmistakably his voice, his tone, his emotion. As soon as it starts, you just know it’s a Jamie McIntyre song. It’s honest, heartfelt, and exactly what people need when they’re in the thick of missing someone who’s chasing something new.
Melbourne is another solid reminder that Jamie is currently in his strongest songwriting era yet. Following the high bar he set with Chapter 23, Outside the City, and Grá, this one slides right into the collection with ease. Whether you’re blasting it in your car or sitting in silence thinking about the one who left, this one will sit with you for a while.
Tour Dates:
October 1st – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
October 2nd – Róisín Dubh, Galway
October 3rd – Whelan’s, Dublin
October 5th – Dolan’s, Limerick
(Tickets moving fast — don’t sleep on this one.)
‘Melbourne’ scores its self a 8 out of 10
Reviewer – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography