Irish indie-pop favourites The Coronas return with gold once again as they release their latest single, ‘That’s Exactly What Love Is,’ featuring UK sensation Gabrielle Aplin. It’s an emotional ballad powerhouse and serves as a teaser for the band’s forthcoming eighth studio album, Thoughts & Observations.
The track commences with a staggering, emotive ballad feel; the heartfelt lyricism and the delicate sound of keys swirl in an ambient undercurrent. As Gabrielle Aplin comes in with her voice, a subtle rhythm builds, drawing the listener right into its emotional soundscape. The song takes flight when Danny O’Reilly sings together with Gabrielle, combining their voices into a beautiful duet.
“That’s Exactly What Love Is was one of the first songs we wrote for the album. It was written as a duet – a conversation almost. The original demo had me singing the female part in soft falsetto,” explains lead singer Danny O’Reilly. “But I knew straight away Gabreille’s voice would be amazing on the track. In fact, I bumped into her at a festival in September 2022, about a week after the first demo was recorded, and mentioned it to her then. When she came into to studio to record the proper version, over 12 months later, she floored us all in the control room. Her performance is incredible.”
Danny’s lyrics, rich with emotion and trauma, offer a raw and honest portrayal of love’s complexities. ““I suppose there’s a lot of emotion and trauma in the lyrics, from both points of view. Trying to sing about myself through the eyes of someone else was cathartic and something I’d never done before,” he reveals.
George Murphy’s production is a masterclass in the organic sound of subtlety. Danny says, “My original demo was quite produced and programmed with blips and blops and weird sounds and he saw that the emotion of the song would be much better served if we approached it more organically and subtlety.”
This release comes at the same time as the announcement of their new album, Thoughts & Observations, which is out on September 27. Heralding from The Coronas’ string of number-one albums in Ireland comes a growing international fan base, from sold-out tours in the USA to Canada and Australia.
Recorded in Eastcote Studios, London, and picturesque Dingle, County Kerry, the album is set to deliver a compelling and melodic journey through life, relationships, and art. A three-piece band—Danny O’Reilly, Graham Knox, and Conor Egan—have expanded on the talents of their touring supergroup featuring Lar Kaye (All Tvvins), Cian MacSweeney (True Tides), and Roisin O.
The album is produced by Grammy award-winning George Murphy, which gives it a blend of anthemic energy and delicate introspection, all bound in an authentic and emotionally resonant sound. Thoughts & Observations is designed by Luke Sean Murphy. The inspiration for art direction is credited to Annie Atkins. The design approach previously mentioned is a type of cut-and-paste layered, and with the 1970s, colour palette can be used to give the whole a sense of strength, unity, and instant recognition to the whole.
The Coronas are one of the longest-playing Irish bands on the scene. Theirs is an impressive feat that deserves celebration, considering the volatile nature of the music industry. That much is certain by their dedication to improving with each album the live act itself, as Danny O’Reilly concludes: “Every album we make is with a view to improving our live show. We still feel like we have something to say.”
In “That’s Exactly What Love Is,” The Coronas make a mark, grasping deep resonance; this is the very soul of love, whether intricate or often tumultuous in its journeying. That this song is a career highlight for the band, in collaboration with Gabrielle Aplin, is but a taster for what Thoughts & Observations promises to be in all its brilliance.
You can find more of The Coronas at:
You can listen to ‘That’s Exactly What Love Is’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.