THE NEW 52 is a name that to many signifies DC Comics' relaunch of its superhero titles, but it is also the name of the new indie/pop-rock project of Dublin singer-songwriter Darragh Cullen, who has a new album and a show in Galway this week.
The New 52 - Darragh Cullen (guitars/vocals ), Conor McLoughlin (guitar ), Sean O’Connor (drums ) Mikey Deasy (bass ) - released their new album, Let Me Sleep, produced by Boo Hewerdine (Eddi Reader, Chris Difford ) on Haven Records in September. The album is Cullen's third release following the critically acclaimed The Finish Line (2010 ), made when Cullen was only 15, and earning him Male Solo Artist of the Year 2010 from Hotpress, and Whispers & Silent Screams (2012 ), but this is his first under The New 52 moniker.
The 21-year-old Cullen cites The Beatles, Foo Fighters, and The White Stripes, as influences, while his lyrical inspirations are Paul Simon, Elbow's Guy Garvey, and Robbie Williams. "One hundred per cent true, I think he's brilliant," says Cullen. "I wanted the lyrics to be direct, almost conversational at times, and full of little odd hints and references to things you wouldn't normally find in a pop song."
Cullen first met Boo Hewerdine when attending a songwriting workshop in 2013. They have co-written two songs on the new album - 'Good Intentions' and 'Manhattan (For A Handful Of Beads )'. “Boo was incredible during the album process. I wanted to focus heavily on the craft of songwriting for this album, and working with a master songwriter like Boo has been invaluable."
The New 52 play the upstairs bar of the Róisín Dubh on Thursday October 6 at 9pm. Admission is free.
