With their second EP, the refined and sophisticated 'Salt of the Lee' (which includes one of the standout alt-rock tracks of 2025, 'Bittersweet'), Cliffords have demonstrated they are more than just a fleeting trend. This band is committed to achieving greatness.
In their relatively brief history, Cliffords have taken a unique approach. Their inaugural tour was in Australia, tagging on performances to their appearance at the Misneach Irish festival organized by Dermot Kennedy. Earlier this year, the group toured the UK and Ireland for the first time and were pleasantly surprised by the warm reception they received.
“We didn’t really expect crowds anywhere… it was kind of a shock, but really fun – unbelievable craic!” says vocalist Iona Lynch.
This statement clearly indicates where the band stands in their journey of "breaking through." While Cliffords are not new, they continually encounter fresh experiences and relish each one.
Lynch recounts how the group that eventually became Cliffords formed after she met Gavin Dawkins (now their bassist and trumpet player) while still in secondary school. After Gav and the band's previous drummer, Dan Ryan, were inspired by the movie Sing Street to start a band, they brought Lynch on board as the singer. After a few years and various lineup changes, lead guitarist Harry Menton and keyboard player Locon O’Toole joined the band, which triumphed in a college battle of the bands competition and kept moving forward. The name Cliffords (originally started with "The") naturally came from the band's pet dog that roamed around Dan's garage, their rehearsal space.
The group dedicated years to playing every gig they could, cultivating a solid local following.
“We were the band that would play every support slot in Cork! You could text us half an hour before a show, and we’d be there to play,” shares Lynch. “Once, we played three shows a week at one venue.”
“We would perform weekly at a bar called Fred’s, and almost every time we’d write a new song to play,” Lynch adds.
With many familiar faces in the audience, this was an ideal moment in the band's career for instant feedback on their newer songs. However, circumstances have inevitably shifted.
“Since releasing music that others outside your immediate local scene are hearing, you don’t have the same freedom,” Lynch remarks.
Gaining wider recognition has prompted the band to seek more organization and discipline. Iona elaborates on how the band spent time in London for a concentrated writing week shortly after the release of 'Salt of the Lee' and just before their debut at Glastonbury. This marked the first time Cliffords have written in such a focused manner, although they’ve always collaborated on their songs. According to Iona, the lyrics are deeply personal, contributing to Cliffords’ compelling nature. But how can collaborative writing evoke such genuine emotion? Lynch attributes it to the band’s friendship and shared background.
“At this point, we all live together and know each other inside and out,” Lynch explains. “We’ve grown up in the same city; we share a similar outlook or experience – my story is as much Gav’s as it is Harry’s... we all navigate the same reality, albeit from different perspectives, but I feel I understand them enough to perceive what they see.”
As Lynch clarifies, “There has to be individuality in the songs, and you must tell your own story, but perhaps through a broader lens.”
Writing extensively while growing up together has led the band to chronicle their personal development.
“It’s like writing your own autobiography as you go along,” Lynch expresses, followed by her thoughts on the art (or science?) of songwriting.
“Truly great songwriters practice; they write songs daily, pursuing various activities in life to discover their inner voice and reach a point where their true self is succinctly expressed,” she states. “I once believed it was something I was naturally skilled at, able to write at any time. Now, I’m more focused on structure and practice—aiming to write a song each day and consuming art and other music that influences my writing.”
“And it becomes easier when you approach it more as a job rather than a wild experiment that occasionally succeeds! We’re starting to view ourselves as musicians instead of just a fun band,” Lynch notes. “We released the first EP because it was expected. We didn’t quite grasp that people would actually listen to it! The second EP felt more like a project.”
With a growing fanbase and expanding live audiences, greater expectations are now placed on Cliffords. Lynch shares how she and her bandmates are striving to manage some of that pressure to remain authentic.
“Otherwise, you risk writing songs for others… I don’t believe people genuinely want what they think they do,” she reflects. “You should create the songs you feel compelled to write, and if they genuinely enjoy your music, they will appreciate them.”
As more and more people do just
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Con il loro secondo EP, il ricco e elevato 'Salt of the Lee' (che presenta una delle migliori canzoni alt-rock del 2025, 'Bittersweet'), i Cliffords hanno dimostrato
With their sophomore EP, the sophisticated and polished ‘Salt of the Lee’ (which includes one of the leading alt-rock tracks of 2025, ‘Bittersweet’), Cliffords have demonstrated