Irish singer-songwriter Nylophone captures the pain of loss and loneliness in new single ‘Life Goes On’. 

For those navigating bereavement, words can seem hollow. Little consolation can be found in poetry, music, and the words of friends. You are forced to confront the grim reality that someone you love is no longer there, yet the same daytime TV host is chatting cheerfully about another homogenous ITV crime drama, the rumble of traffic can still be heard through the window and the same DPD driver still pushes the ‘sorry we missed you’ slip through your letter box when you miss your Amazon delivery. In his newest single ‘Life Goes On’, singer-songwriter Niall Woods (AKA ‘Nylophone’) gets honest about these moments.

Woods is carving out a space in the Wicklow music scene with his multi-layered dream-pop compositions. This time he has ditched the synths, allowing his fragile voice and finger-picked guitar to take centre stage. Structure is cleverly used for effect, as the instrumentation intensifies with the chorus lyric ‘life goes on’, echoing the ceaseless movement of time. Swelling strings and delicate percussion bring the song to a moving conclusion, as the lyrics hint at a sense of quiet optimism to be found beneath the bleakness of grief. There is no ground-breaking sonic innovation to be found here, but rather a universal message delivered through the medium of nostalgic, vulnerable folk-pop. 

'Life Goes On' is out now on all major streaming platforms.