Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Toria – Flashing of Light (2025)

A rising talent in the Irish alternative rock world, singer-songwriter Toria might be new to some people’s ears, but that by no means suggests she’s not making waves. Reaching far beyond her Irish borders, her moving melodies are turning heads in Europe and North America, and I’m guessing it won’t be too long before she touches hearts in Oceania and South America. Come with us as we delve into her most recent single, ‘Flashing of Light’.

Following her well-received debut EP, Belief., Toria taps into the sounds of The Cranberries with ‘Flashing of Light’. Soft and moody, the melody is a whisper of 90s-inspired alternative rock music… or at least, that’s how it begins. A tentative weaving of guitars and drums, you feel as if you are tiptoeing along a sonic riverbank, glancing out on the dark river with bright light glistening on the surface; then you fall. A crescendo of crashing drums and soaring guitars pushes you into the water to twirl amidst the tumultuous waves, but there is a calmness within the music that tips you from one frenzied end to the other side of tender sincerity.

Melodically, ‘Flashing of Light’ is a powerful alternative rock song that dances across your skin while seeping into your soul. For me, it is Toria’s vocals that grab your attention despite the hushed veil. As with Dolores O’Riordan, Toria holds poignant vulnerability in the rich tones; however, while the vocals can lead you off into a whimsical ambience, a silent forcefulness oozes something weightier, heavier and more profound. The lyrics expand on this oscillation or simultaneous existence of delicate fragility and an opening embrace. Toria explains:

“’Flashing of Light’ touches on themes of death, and how sudden and shocking the loss of a loved one can be. I wrote it during a dark period, and I feel as though it has solidified the direction in which I want my music to take.”


Find out more about Toria on her Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify.


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