Maria Kelly – yearning for ‘Something Better with the release of her new single

Indie favourite Maria Kelly strives for ‘Something Better’ with her new single, out today via VETA Records. Adding an urgency to her usual sparkling melodies, ‘Something Better’ signals a new, more indie rock-driven sound for Maria. ‘Something Better’ is about the pressures we put on ourselves to meet our own impossible expectations, and a tongue-in-cheek reflection on the self-involved disappointment that often follows. 

Maria says of the track: “‘Something Better’ felt like a missing piece that captured the core feeling of this next record – a feeling of wanting a better reality for yourself than the one you find yourself in, and slowly but surely cultivating the courage to get there. Though, ironically, this one was really difficult to get right! Countless drafts, vocal difficulties, recording bumps – it just wasn’t coming together. It essentially became about the songwriting process itself, and was finally finished with some help from my friends Matt, Laoise and Seán; a funny reminder that everything gets easier when you ask for help!”

Maria is joined on the single by creative collaborator Matt Harris (guitar, bass, ukulele), former Bitch Falcon drummer Nigel Kenny and PostLast / HAVVK singer Julie Hough (backing vocals).

‘Something Better’ appropriately follows ‘Slump’, Maria’s breathtaking September release that was featured as Dee Reddy’s Pick of the Week on Today FM and selected for the RTÉ Radio 1 Recommends List for two weeks in a row. This new single is also hot on the heels of her Ireland Music Week showcase performance at the Workman’s Cellar.  

In May, Maria shared ‘Drive’, which was featured in the international trailer for the film Ezra, starring Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robert De Niro. ‘Drive’ was also included on the RTÉ Radio 1 Recommends List and received praise from the likes of Nialler9, The Thin Air, Chordblossom, GoldenPlec, Hot Press, The Last Mixed Tape, and more. It’s been a banner summer for Maria; she played live on RTÉ Radio 1 and Galway Bay FM, in addition to performances at the Whelan’s We’ve Only Just Begun Festival, the Galway International Arts Festival with Ezra Williams, her sold-out ‘Night of New Things’ at Bello Bar, and as the opener for Tom Odell at Live at the Marquee in Cork.

Photo credit – Tara Mollan