Dublin psych-pop band THUMPER are back with a powerful new single called ‘The Drip’, set to release on Friday, 23rd May. This track kicks off a series of releases throughout 2025. These will lead up to their second album, following their debut, Delusions of Grandeur, which was nominated for the Choice Music Prize. That album introduced fans to their unique sound — a mix of heavy distortion, sweet melodies, and catchy hooks.
‘The Drip’ explores themes of tour burnout and relationship struggles. The lyrics were written bit by bit, in different cities and moods during their tours. The title refers to the slow, draining effect of these challenges — like a drip torture. It also hints at an IV drip, which keeps someone alive. For the band, it symbolizes their deep love for making music and the people they share that passion with.
The song does not have a traditional chorus or a clear release. Instead, it builds energy and momentum with each section. The lyrics become more abstract as the song progresses. This tension between loving something and feeling worn down by it is what The Drip is all about. As one line says, “Poke to find a vein, flick the bag.”
The band recorded the track with producer Rian Trench in a converted cottage studio in rural Donegal. They set up the control room in the sitting room and used different bedrooms for guitar amps. Alan’s van even housed the bass amp outside because the noise inside was too loud. The double drum parts were recorded at Attica Studio in Donegal, owned by Tommy McLaughlin, known for working with artists like Soak and Villagers.
There was no signal, no Wi-Fi, and no distractions—just friends focused on making music. During this time, they were listening to bands like DIIV and Wednesday. They also worked with Alex Ferrar, who has engineered and produced for Wednesday, MJ Lendermann, and Angel Olsen, to mix the track.
Since 2021, Dublin’s noise-pop sextet THUMPER have grown from playing small hometown shows to touring extensively across Ireland, the UK, and Europe. They have become regulars at Irish festivals such as Electric Picnic, All Together Now, Indiependence, and Other Voices.
THUMPER have also performed at major European festivals including Mad Cool (Madrid), Reading & Leeds (UK), Iceland Airwaves (Iceland), Haldern Pop (Germany), Rock For People (Czech Republic), Eurosonic (Netherlands), Reeperbahn (Germany), and United Artists Prague (Czech Republic).
In 2023, their debut album Delusions of Grandeur received wide press coverage and earned them a nomination for Irish Album of the Year at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize. They were nominated alongside notable acts such as Fontaines DC, Just Mustard, CMAT, and Dermot Kennedy.
The band has gained airplay on major UK and international radio stations including BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 1, Radio X, KEXP, Kink, and Kerrang!. In Ireland, they have featured on RTÉ Radio 1, 2FM, Today FM, and Beat102103 among others.
They have also made TV appearances on RTÉ’s Tommy Tiernan Show and Other Voices. Their music has been featured on several Spotify editorial playlists and they have been highlighted in various music publications.
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