“‘Kiss Kiss’ is about desire in its most volatile form: intense, physical, cyclical, where attraction and connection get knotted up with chaos. It’s a dreamlike, unstable feeling of going with it anyway, a ‘fuck it, it’ll be grand’ surrender. You recognise the cost, but throw yourself into the madness of love regardless, risking it all for that euphoria, which is really what we’re all here for. Desire and love override logic.“
Now a three piece comprising Pam Connolly (guitar/vocals), Cathy McGuinness (guitar/vocals) and Sarah Corcoran (bass/vocals), the band’s writing process has evolved, and their sound is transforming with it. Where songs once came together through a four-way process, the trio began experimenting with drum machines and loops, opening the door to new sonic territory, unlocking surprising new influences like Moby, Fatboy Slim and Chemical Brothers.
“We initially found it hard to readjust, but the challenge of experimenting with new methods of songwriting was exciting,” Corcoran says. “We went in with no expectations and it just flew out of us,” McGuinness adds.
After three acclaimed albums: In Waiting (2020), Leave the Light On (2022), and Name Your Sorrow (2024) – Pillow Queens have built a reputation for emotional depth, anthemic power, and live shows that feel like a collective release.
After the release of their 2022 sophomore album Leave the Light On, the band earned a nomination for Album of the Year at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize, and made their late night television debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Pillow Queens have received widespread critical acclaim across press outlets such as The Irish Times (“Astounding from every angle”), NPR (“Really spectacular”), The Guardian (“A joyful, raucous celebration of queer love”), Pitchfork (“Burnished heartland euphoria, defiant lyricism bolstered by ragged harmonies, lashings of pride, and an unabashed love of crescendos”), NME, The Line of Best Fit, Rolling Stone UK, CLASH, DIY, DORK, The Independent, The Times, The Telegraph, Hot Press, Stereogum and more. With regular radio plays across BBC Radio 1, BBC 6Music (Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq), Radio X (John Kennedy) AND RTÉ 2FM.