Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Galway native Dylan Connolly announced himself as KONNO last September, with the launch of debut single Meet Me Later – an anthemic, indie-pop debut single co-written with Darragh O’Dea and Dillon Brady. It was to be the first of a string of releases, with an EP promised later this year. Now, KONNO’s second release is arriving. Dream Talks lands next week on Thursday, May 29. It is an emphatic follow-up, laced with soaring, summery guitar lines and a big, resonant chorus.

This release has been delayed by a sinus issue Connolly faced for several months. He was unable to record a clean vocal during that time, and knew he needed to hold off until the situation had improved.

Overall, the song took 50 different revisions to come together, marking a painstaking attention to detail that has paid off in the quality of the recording.

“It [was written] around the same time as Meet Me Later,” he says.

“Probably four or five years old at this stage. It is literally an anthem for anyone who has ever been f**ked over, pretty much. It comes from a place of someone doubting you and [you] feeling like you’re not good enough and having imposter syndrome.

“Then there’s this sense in the middle of the song, in the chorus, of do you know what? Feck you. Can you see me now? Can you see how far I’ve come? This is how well I’m doing.

“I suppose everyone can relate to that in some way. It’s called Dream Talks. It was written in a time where I was feeling very anxious. When you’re asleep, you can’t feel anxious. You’re in a safe space. Dream Talks is when you’re asleep, you’re in that space, and you don’t have all of those thoughts rushing around your head.”

A music video will accompany the song’s release on streaming sites, expanding on the story behind Dream Talks. It was recorded between Connolly’s studio and Silverstrand Beach. “You might think the beach is random – why is the beach in the video?” he says.

“Essentially, the beach is my dream. It’s my safe space. I love the beach, and I love heading off for the day and visiting all the beautiful beaches this country has to offer. I love going for walks and swims, and that’s where the beach reference comes in. When I’m asleep, that’s my safe space – it’s at the beach.”

Pictured: Dream Talks…second single from Konno, aka Dylan Connolly.