A music graduate who has also worked alongside young people with mental health issues, Northern Ireland singer/songwriter from County Armagh, Conchúr –pronounced Connor– White’s story began in bands. He played in atmospheric indie-rockers Silences before their split allowed Conchúr to develop his solo voice at his own pace. That sense of freedom colours Conchúr’s music. On the Bikini Crops and Dreamers EPs, he filtered the influences of acts such as Arctic Monkeys and Father John Misty into songs at once playful, referential and experiential. The moonlit plea of this year’s Atonia, a cathartic reverie on sleep paralysis, showed White’s melodic and lyrical talents blossoming. White has just announced support dates with John Grant & Richard Hawley on their upcoming tour playing the songs of Patsy Cline, then shows with The Magnetic Fields in Europe in November. His new album, Swirling Violets, will be out 19th January 2024 via Bella Union. An irresistible invitation to float along with White, Swirling Violets is a magic-realist wonder from a new name to reckon with, bathed in a radiant glow.