Whenyoung - Paragon Songs (2023) [Hi-Res]

Irish duo, Whenyoung, present their second album "Paragon Songs", an ambitious array of alternative anthems. Since their debut release, "Reasons to Dream" in 2019, the pair have been re-establishing Whenyoung with new music, a new sound, fewer members, a new team, a new label, Aoife overcoming a broken jaw... and all the other life-changing that went on for everyone in that time.

Paragon Songs embraces influences from a multitude of musical genres from contemporary pop to new-wave punk to traditional folk. The variety in the music reflects the diffusive state of mind that comes with entering a healing process, the state of flux and the different moods and stages: Regaining self-esteem, tackling anxiety, confronting invasive thoughts, accepting imperfections, self-love and appreciating the little things. It is an emotional healing journey, one without an end.

The majority of the album was written in 2020, from their writing studio overlooking the sea. The band consciously tried to progress and develop their sound, consistently trying different approaches to the songwriting. For example, A Little Piece of Heaven started out as a percussive loop played on the back of a guitar that Aoife began babbling melodically over. Some of the tracks were written to a bass synth line rather than a bass guitar, some tracks were inspired by reverse guitar lines.

The band recorded the 10-track sophomore record at Studiowz in southwest Wales with producer Gethin Pearson, assisted by Owain Jenkins, mixed by Nathan Boddy, Dan Grech and MSM and mastered by John Davis.