Billy Fitzgerald – Little Gestures (2026)
Irish-pop/indie artist Billy Fitzgerald returns with an energetic live experience on his four-track EP, Little Gestures. This follows on from last year’s A Grand Romantic Gesture, and these stripped-back versions are the perfect companion to that album.
Fitzgerald describes his own music as “indie-pop songs from Ireland that make heartbreak sound fun”. These tracks were made as he recovered from the effects of long Covid. The recording was unconventional, with locations ranging from bedrooms to secret spaces. These finished re-imaginings display the fun had while calling upon drum machines and melodicas, a world away from the polished recordings found on the studio album.
‘Gimme Love’ opens with a delightful acapella, where Fitzgerald can show off his great vocals. There are razor-sharp acoustic guitars and backing vocals from Fitzgerald’s wife, Aoife Mulqueen. “I have given you everything / My money, my body, my wedding ring” Fitzgerald pleads on the chorus. When he gives his vocals some welly, the results are outstanding.
The next track, ‘Give Me A Chance’, has an 80’s style electric drumbeat laid over nice keys. There is a fantastic tempo to it; these songs work well when stripped back to basics with minimal arrangements. Fitzgerald explains about the recording of the track, “My live drummer Dennis completely reshaped the groove of the song. He also remixed the song for my last EP that added cool keyboard melodies to the chorus. All of which I stole for this!”
When choosing which of the tracks would form this EP, Fitzgerald chose the ones that he felt had the best reaction when performed live. Another one of these was ‘You Had Your Chance’. The intro sounds like a lullaby, and the track has a soft vocal. Fitzgerald has an impressive vocal range, particularly on this. Halfway through, there’s a lovely tempo change, with strong keys and synths. The lyric, “You can say I love you / But that won’t change the way things stand no / You had your chance” details heartbreak, wading through the emotional carnage before finally coming out the other side.
This utterly dynamic listen reaches a conclusion with ‘All Fucked Up’, which is the highlight of the EP. It features a very nice dance beat and a guest rap by Shaool from the Sligo-based hip-hop group, This Side Up. You could picture David Byrne making something as quirky and loose as this is. There is a lovely choir part which winds Little Gestures down wonderfully.
Fitzgerald has stated on his social media, “If you’re a fan of Prince, Eels, David Byrne…I think you’ll like my shit.” And the response from me is an emphatic YES I DO!!!!
Find out more about Billy Fitzgerald on his Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Old Crows Promotions.
