Ciúnas: Unearthing The Feel-Good Philosophy of Dublin’s Emerging Indie Girl Group

Interview by Anna Sparling

Photography by Kate Lawlor @daisychainphotos

The irony of the band’s name Ciúnas is not lost on their fans. The four-woman indie ensemble from Dublin are, by the very nature of their profession, anything but quiet. This sentiment rings true not only for their personality but, more obviously, for their sound, a topic that is more intricate than one might assume.

Having been compared to industry legends such as The Cranberries and CMAT—a likeness they take in their stride—Ciúnas embody a dream-like ambience with a sound that is lyrically driven but rich in memorable transportive hooks.

Composed of vocalist Lola Rose Coady, drummer Isobel Mc Caffery, bassist Allie Ryan, and Emer Garry on keys, each member brings a unique perspective to the band.

“Allie is a huge shoegaze fan, Isobel loves musical theatre and Radiohead, and I love CMAT and pop,” observes Lola on their contrasting influences.

In theory, this jumble of random inspirations shouldn’t work but it’s exactly what Lola and Isobel credit as a key factor in the band’s rising success. “I think when it comes together, it just really works. The clash of musical tastes and backgrounds is what makes our sound interesting and unique,” explains Lola.

It’s a theory that proves its credibility with the group’s first gig last year presenting itself as a sell-out, the girls have been on a steady rise since playing all the key venues in Dublin for emerging bands, sometimes even twice a week.

The genesis of the band is almost as unpredictable as their list of influences. When simplified, it begins with the straightforward—and in this case, rather fortunate—acts of light stalking and persistence.

“Isobel was the only female drummer in our year at BIMM, so naturally, from the get-go, I was thinking, ‘You, come here right now.’ At first, she was hesitant. I mean, it was 2022, and I was in my EMO era, so I understood the uncertainty. But finally, I got through to her, and she’s been drumming for us ever since,” Lola illustrates.

Allie was recruited in class, and Emer was ambushed by the girls a few months later outside of Cis Maddens. The rest, as Lola and Izzy put it, “is herstory.”

An all-female band wasn’t a non-negotiable for Lola and Isobel, nor was it something they necessarily planned from the beginning.

“There was a time when it was just myself, Lola and Allie, and we were working with this great guitarist, Patrick Griffin, who unfortunately had to leave because of his own workload. We still have a lot of love for him of course,” Isobel noted.

But when Emer was enlisted, Lola admits that the all-girl group did fulfill a childhood dream. “Ever since I was little, and I saw the Hex Girls on Scooby-Doo, I remember thinking, ‘I need to be in a girl band. Give me that.’”

“Still, music is so universal,” Lola continues. “It’s so easy to connect with anyone, regardless of gender, but definitely, girl power is something we find so nice to have. There have been times when we’ve been playing gigs with other bands, and we’ve been the only girls there, so it’s really cool to have the girls.”

Of course, it's no secret that the fluid nature of the music industry can be a difficult one to helm, especially for emerging artists trying to make their mark. This is a truth acknowledged by Ciúnas, and one they combat by simply not taking themselves too seriously.

Keeping it light-hearted and fun is an important aspect of the band’s shared philosophy, one that can be seen on stage and heard in their music.

“We started doing this because it makes us feel good,” explains Lola. “A big thing for us is that, if we died tomorrow, we’d want the one thing people would say about us to be, ‘Oh, that music made me feel good.’ 

This mindset holds a refreshing degree of authenticity in an industry that, according to Ciúnas, can often have an air of snobbery about it.

“I think there’s a lot of seriousness in music, and I don’t think there has to be. There are people who take themselves so seriously, even people we know and love,” Isobel comments.

This very concept birthed the band’s debut single Foggy, released this past summer. Though the song’s lyrics carry the weight of a serious subject matter—embodying the queer experiences of younger generations melodic and dreamlike riffs create a contrast that has secured the band write-ups in Hot Press Magazine and features on TodayFM’s New Irish Music.

“Foggy was one of those songs that just flowed out of me. I’m a spring writer, so I do my best work around that time of year,” explains Lola.

Continuing she remarked, “It’s funny how ‘queer’ has become this kind of buzzword in press releases. I was writing ‘queer, queer, queer’ in all of our PR emails, and it’s really cool that people see that and think, ‘Oh, cool, let’s get that diversity song on the radio.’”

Lola and Isobel are quick to acknowledge that not all their songs are about queerness, and it’s their ability to write about a broad range of topics that allows them to stay true to themselves—a trait that cannot be underestimated in a saturated market.

“How we carry ourselves is so important, and the vibes we give off at any gig, or even just meeting people on the street, will impact our reputation,” the pair explain. The importance of kindness is a cornerstone for the group and influences their decision to perform with other artists or bands. If they don’t think they’ll enjoy the performance, they simply won’t take the gig.

“How we are on stage is so important to us, especially as an emerging band. We will always have fun on stage and have a laugh—it’s who we are,” remarked Lola as Isobel nodded and added that the presence of the band on stage can be very silly and dumb.

“Managers will hate us,” they joke, recalling a time at The Grand Social when all band members, dressed in white dress shirts and black ties, paired oversized jorts with their outfits.

“It’s kind of the perfect metaphor for our band,” Lola laughed. “A little bit serious mixed with something fun and different.”

A vibrant energy is woven into the sound of Ciúnas and will continue to shape their music as they gear up to release their second single. The track aims to tackle a serious tone without straying from the goal of keeping their music light-hearted and aiming to make people feel good.

“We’ve come down with ‘bigthingscomingitis’ and are hoping for a January release for this next single,” explains Lola. “Then, hopefully by the end of next year, an EP is on the agenda.”

In a music industry that’s constantly shifting, Ciúnas have found their own space which is equal parts fun, introspective, and genuine. Partnered with an unwavering commitment to stay true to themselves the ensemble are carving out a brand-new path in the tangible world of indie pop and establishing themselves as a key player in Dublin’s music scene.

With an ever-growing fanbase and a second single on the horizon, Ciúnas are not just a band to watch, but one to experience.