Irish garage punk band Adore was formed in 2022 following the breakup of their previous group, Gif. Lara Minchin (lead vocals, guitar) had been a member of Gif during her teenage years, while Naoise Jordan Cavanagh (drums) became a fan and, by chance, stepped in as the guitarist when the original drummer switched instruments. Once Gif disbanded, both Lara and Naoise realized they had to start a new band, with their mantra being, “We need to start a new band! We need to start a new band!”
Adore caught the attention of Richard Burke from Blowtorch Records, a Galway-based label for emerging and independent talent. He first witnessed their performance at the Electric Picnic festival and was instantly impressed. Blowtorch Records released their debut single "Postcards," providing a press kit and aiding in its promotion. The band recognized the significance of this opportunity and played at the inaugural WXSW showcase in Galway in May 2025, the same day they announced their signing with Big Scary Monsters.
Last month, they released their first EP, "BITER," under the label, which was produced by Daniel Fox (of Gilla Band) and features seven tracks (eight on the vinyl version). Lara elaborates on the significance of releasing this debut project: “While we’ve put out singles before, an EP or album allows us to tell a story. Choosing the songs and their order was really enjoyable for us. Every detail is deeply personal, even the layout of the vinyl sides. The artwork was crucial as well; we wanted it to visually represent the sound, and Lauren McGovern created something perfect! Being picked up by Big Scary Monsters for this release is a blessing; the support has been wonderful. It’s encouraging when someone believes in what you’re creating and is willing to take a chance on it.”
"BITER" includes songs written in the band's first three years, along with a few composed before they officially formed. Lyrically, it addresses themes of resilience and the notion that while silence may have once been survival, it is no longer effective. “Interestingly, the first track on the EP is ‘Fragile,’ which was written before Adore, and the final track, ‘Sweet Keith,’ is the most recent composition for the EP. Thus, it reflects the non-linear journey of learning from mistakes, recognizing patterns, experiencing relapses, and achieving growth,” Lara explains. She emphasizes their desire to document the early stages of Adore: “In today’s world, physical media holds great importance, especially since online content can be altered post-release. The record serves as an unchangeable archive.”
Adore collaborated with renowned Irish producer Daniel Fox (of Gilla Band), who encouraged them to explore unconventional ideas and was direct about what worked and what didn’t. “His honesty is invaluable. There’s usually quite a bit of time pressure during recordings, but he stops us from overthinking and trying countless takes for perfection. Dan also persuaded us to choose 'Sweet Keith' as the single. Just weeks before its release, we completely switched gears because he was adamant it should be the single, and I think he was right.”
With Lara based in Dublin and Naoise in Cork, their creative process involves Lara bringing a written song to their practice sessions. She admits, “It never resembles a song to me until Naoise plays on it, then it feels real. We've always been a long-distance band, so this setup has always worked for us.”
In 2024, Adore supported Sprints on their Irish tour, having released only "Postcards" at that time. Recognizing their potential, Sprints invited Adore to join them on their UK tour, and they also supported the up-and-coming Belfast band Chalk. What have these experiences brought them?
“Mainly lifelong friendships! We’re fortunate to play music and meet such wonderful people. Sometimes you form those magical connections with friends, and touring together is fantastic (we’ve been lucky to get along really well with these bands), as it allows you to truly connect. It feels a bit like scout camp. We felt a similar bond with a Cornish band called Blind Yeo; despite only meeting twice, we’ve offered each other places to stay. They have a lovely song called ‘Anam ‘Cara’ that reflects this experience.”
Adore played their first shows outside the UK and Ireland at Rotterdam's Left of the Dial festival in October 2024 and are planning more EU shows in 2026. This year, they participated in all three Psych Fests: Manchester, Brighton, and Edinburgh, leading up to their Irish headline tour which commenced at Mike the Pies, Listowel last month and will conclude at the Button Factory in Dublin on November 29th, marking their largest headline show to date.
“Performing live is our favorite aspect of being in the band,” Lara shares. “We
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Irish garage punk band Adore was established in 2022 following the disbandment of their former group, Gif. Lara Minchin (vocals, guitar) had previously played in Gif during her teenage years and