In recent years, Ireland has been a breeding ground for talented individuals hell-bent on reinventing alternative music. Artists such as Fontaines DC and Sinead O’Brien have popularised punk-infused poetry, inspiring Irish vocalists to take full pride in their accent. The latest addition to the pack is David Balfe, who’s solo project, For Those I Love, perfectly conveys grief and confusion in a way that maintains a flicker of hope for the future.
Balfe was anticipating this surge of Irish lyricists long before Brian Chatten or James McGovern hit the scene. As part of the multimedia project Burn Out, Balfe explored the hardships endured by Irish youth during the recession. For those I Love’s monochrome videos, hypnotic beats and stirring rhyme all stem from this creative exploit.
However, whilst Burnt Out’s sound reflected the grungy guitar music it paved the way for, For Those I Love takes the same energy and applies it to the synthesiser. Each track is laden with a wealth of ideas which each swell and slide between each other, lulling the listener into Balfe’s own world.
I Have a Love
Each idea is miniscule. For example, his debut single I Have a Love, is introduced with the urgent iteration of two piano chords. The addition of heavily distorted guitar plunges the music into a darker realm – one punctuated by the reverberation of crashing cymbals and harsh drums. A break sees the song take some deep breaths. Balfe sings, “I have so many doubts” in an arch-like melody which evokes Balfe trying to make sense of his grief.
You see, the love that Balfe is referring to is the love he holds for Paul Curran. In February 2018, Curran took his own life, leaving the arts world devastated. Not only was Curran one of Balfe’s best friends ever since his school days, but he was also the creator of Burn Out and an extraordinarily talented poet. Throughout I Have a Love, snippets of their mates laughing, shouting and altogether enjoying life can be heard rising above Balfe’s soporific beat.
The lyrics take us through the entirety of their youth from “sharing books at big break” to “a warehouse rave with a bloke we met on the way”. He talks about the days leading up to Curran’s suicide and “the final loss of that glimmer of hope that we heard every time that you spoke”. Balfe isolates the all-consuming nature of grief in his words. In saying that his love will never fade, it equally reflects how his grief will never truly disappear, bound to every song… every place… every person. “I can see your face when the chords are replayed,” he admits. However, he also uses music to overpower his sadness.
The final moments of the song are reserved for a particular memory. Balfe describes the group hurtling down Irish roads, listening to an electrifying riff he had composed. The accompaniment becomes the very same riff: rapid notes on a synthesiser, dark piano and a pulsating beat. In short, hope. This time, Balfe’s rave-inspired percussion and funky brass riffs don’t feel out of place at all; his love will never fade but his grief will.
Top Scheme
Balfe currently has a stash of 72 songs reserved for his solo-project. His favourite nine are set to appear on an album in the not too distant future. For now, however, we only have access to one more track. Titled Top Scheme, it runs more in the vein of his previous work with Burn Out, whilst maintaining his distinct electronic style. It is a release of pent up anger over societal wrongs, declaring that “Sometimes all the love in these songs is not enough Cause’ world is f***ed.” He delves into the chaos of growing up, musing that unemployment and poverty are “just numbers and stats until it’s your life." He defends himself, screaming, “How can we not feel this rage when the therapy cost more than half your wage and you’re turfed out the very same day”.
Manifesting all this turmoil and uncertainty are a mass of glitching synth effects. Just like I Have a Love, Balfe makes heavy use of samples of conversation, exhibiting the anger coursing through society.
Drawing from dubstep, synthpop and punk, David Balfe’s emotionally raw and eclectic musical style marks him instantly as a future big player.
‘I Have A Love’ and ‘Top Scheme’ are currently available on all streaming services.
This beautiful DJ set is also currently up on YouTube:
An album is set to appear soon.