We chat to The Coronas about their new single, their upcoming album and Australian tour, and how they don't Tik Tok to get Bruce Springsteen's attention.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the modern music industry, The Coronas have continued to independently thrive without sacrificing their creative vision along the way. A multi-platinum group who can claim supporting Bruce Springsteen in Hyde Park, playing for President Biden, and a burgeoning global fanbase, The Coronas’ last three albums also went straight to #1 in the Irish Charts
So what’s their secret? We caught up with the Dublin group hot after their unveiling of the poignant new single, That’s Exactly What Love Is, showcasing their signature blend of indie pop and rock, with a special feature from friend and collaborator Gabrielle Aplin.
The Coronas Australian tour
- Thurs 21 Nov | Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne: Tickets available from here
- Fri 22 Nov | Selina’s, Sydney: Tickets available from here
- Sat 23 Nov | Magnet House, Perth: Tickets available from here
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
That’s Exactly What Love Is marks the second single from their highly anticipated eighth studio album, Thoughts & Observations, set to drop on Friday, 27 September. Accompanying the release is a brand new music video, adding visual depth to the track, which fans can look forward to hearing live during the trio’s upcoming Australian shows this November.
Opening with the wistful vocals of frontman Danny O’Reilly, serenely crooning “I’ll start with sorry / And please believe me / Kills me to see you cry,” the track soon burgeons into a heart-rending duet as Aplin’s crystalline voice blends with O’Reilly’s.
Their collaboration echoes the sublime partnership of Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush on Don’t Give Up, driven by the group’s trademark pensive pop and mature songwriting. The song reflects its vulnerable lyricism through astutely simplistic instrumentation and warm tones, ultimately delivering a message of hope rather than despair.
“Our music has always been optimistic, even the sad songs tend to have a sense of optimism,” says O’Reilly. “We’re in an extremely privileged position in this band. We have our own label, can make whatever music we want, and we’re blessed to have a loyal fanbase who continue to sell out venues for us. Who wouldn’t be optimistic?”
Filmed near Glastonbury Tor, the accompanying music video for That’s Exactly What Love Is effortlessly mirrors the track’s moving themes. Directed by longtime collaborator Johnny Stewart, the clip perfectly captures the poignant emotion of the song.
“That’s Exactly What Love Is was the first song I wrote after our last album came out,” he continues. “I wrote it as a conversation between two people going through a breakup, and as soon as I wrote the female part, I had Gabrielle in mind to sing it. She’s so talented and professional; she blew us away when she came to London to record her part.”
The Coronas have continued to thrive in the ever-evolving music industry, embracing their creative vision with each release.
“Since we released our first record, we’ve seen the industry transition every few years. When we started, the majority of our album and single sales were physical CD sales. Then we watched as the industry evolved to downloads, then streaming, and now this hybrid of streaming and TikTok.
“With this album, we fully embraced the ‘not making music for anyone else but ourselves’ viewpoint, forgetting about singles, or what might work on TikTok.”
Thoughts & Observations, produced by Grammy Award winner George Murphy, takes an incisive look at life, relationships, and art, balancing moments of delicacy with soaring anthems. The album also features the talents of The Coronas’ touring supergroup, including Lar Kaye on guitar, Cian MacSweeney on saxophone, and Roisin O on backing vocals.
The album originated not long after 2022’s Time Stopped, with the band eager to continue creating. “In a weird way, Thoughts & Observations feels like the end of a trilogy of albums,” O’Reilly notes. “We released True Love Waits, then straight into Time Stopped, and then straight into Thoughts & Observations. They feel connected, not only sonically but as a chapter in our story as a band.”
Despite the band’s evolving sound and themes, their commitment to their fans and live performances remains unwavering. “Every album we make is with a view to improving our live show,” says O’Reilly. “We still feel like we have something to say.” And as The Coronas prepare to bring their magic back to Australia this November, they’ll do so armed with their new album and an undying passion for music that continues to resonate with fans old and new.
That’s Exactly What Love Is is out now. Thoughts & Observations is due out on Friday, 27 September. Follow them everywhere here.
This article was made in partnership with The Coronas.
