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FOR THOSE I LOVE BIRTHDAY / THE PAIN
Moving closer to what's certain to be a seminal self-titled debut album, multi-talented Dublin artist David Balfe has shared another affecting preview under his For Those I Love moniker. Reflecting its oxymoronic title, 'Birthday / The Pain' tackles extreme joy, sadness and everything in between. Masterfully balancing uplifting instrumentation and infectious hooks with visceral lyrics that retell Balfe's traumatic childhood experiences in unflinching detail, Balfe shared: "I was six when I first encountered the fallout of a violent death. It's such a haunting burden at that age, and still is. "Birthday / The Pain" recalls that moment, the desperation of trying to make sense of it as a child, and what it'd mean for me growing up against that backdrop." As with all his releases so far, 'Birthday / The Pain' arrives alongside a striking video, this time directed Sam Davis, who described the clip as: "a journey through a landscape of memories - a train of thought." Watch it here now. -Holly Mullineaux
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