it’s amazing to exist with fontaines dc

Last summer I went through my quarter life crisis not knowing what I was “meant” to be doing at 27. I’m 28 in a few weeks and that answer is still not clear but what does Fontaines DC have to do with this?

I’ll not pretend to be the original diehard fan of this Dublin based post-punk band but as a new found fan as of 2024, I thought I could model my rebrand on their undeniably cool vibe. After an ill-fated trip to the hairdresser for red hair and another nose piercing later, it’s safe to say, the Fontaines look is not for me.

So for now, it’s just their music that I must connect with. After releasing their new single, “It’s Amazing to be Young”, it felt like the perfect time to write about the uniqueness of their music. Their recent award winning album, Romance, has been citied on multiple Best Album of the Year lists for 2024 and I think it’s fair to say, no one is doing it like Fontaines. From their aesthetic, their sound, music videos and strong purpose, they are one of the most creative and talented bands today.

Led by Grian Chatten, the band has a cult like following from the days of “Skinty Fia”. When I initially listened to them their sound felt a bit abrasive to me and in all honestly, I couldn’t make out some of the words they were saying. Thank God for Spotify’s captions and from studying these, it’s clear why people flock to see Fontaines, they are poets.

Some people may say it’s a cop out but my favourite song from their catalogue is “Favourite”. And what makes “Favourite” even better? The most emotional music video consisting of home movies of the band growing up. It’s stunning.

I am loving the resurgence of music videos to accompany singles, Sam Fender recently brought the internet to tears with his music video for “Remember My Name”. I grew up watching the music channels until 2020 because thanks to rural Ireland wifi, I wasn’t “online” until the end of the first lockdown. Thankfully Kerrang and Starz were always available (RIP).

Pairing incredible songs with powerful visuals and a story make the lasting impact even deeper. “It’s Amazing to be Young”’s music video is the final instalment in a trilogy of connected stories from “Romance”. Two characters are introduced in “In a Modern World” and “Here’s the Thing”. They come together in an emotional tale directed by Luna Carmoon that is well worth the extended viewing time.