Despite their modest DIY beginnings, recording in the confines of lead vocalist Ashley Abbedeen’s bedroom, Hotgirl soon established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on Dublin’s thriving music scene. Their singular alt-rock sound earned them a loyal following, with sold-out performances at major venues like Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and London’s Windmill, as well as high-profile support slots, opening not only for veteran acts like The Libertines but also for their contemporaries such as Sprints, Pillow Queens, and Fat Dog.
Having spent 2024 honing new material with producer Neil Kennedy (Milk Teeth, Creeper) and playing festivals both domestically and abroad with their typically raucous live energy, Hotgirl has channeled this kinetic stage presence into their upcoming EP, which is poised to showcase the band’s singular eccentricities that distinguish them from their peers.
In anticipation of said EP, Hotgirl has today provided the first harbinger in the form of the blistering lead single ‘In Your Head’ (available here) which showcases the group’s dynamic versatility, as they oscillate between the sweetly melodic and the intensely hard-hitting before subverting expectations by shifting the sonic backdrop entirely for the tracks outro section.
Commenting on the song’s genesis, Abbedeen explained: “This is a song about a boy I loved that really wanted me to write a song about him. I found it hard during our two years together to feel inspired enough to do it in any truly meaningful way, as I was actively suppressing what I thought of our relationship. The truth was that as much as we were in love, we were too dependent on each other to feel good about ourselves and ultimately needed to break up. It took us a long time to realise that the only thing that hurt more than being apart was being together. I am grateful for our relationship as it taught me a lot about myself. Finally giving up on it once and for all and trusting my gut gave me a newfound confidence in myself that had been dormant for way too long”
Hotgirl is Ashley Abbedeen (Vocals, guitar), Sophie Boxwell (lead guitar), Jake Hurley (bass), Nick Stanley (Drums) and the band can be caught live at the following venues:
1st November – The Grand Social, Dublin (w/ Floodlights)
16th November – Spilt Milk Festival, Sligo
21st November – Crescent Concert Hall, Drogheda (w/ Pillow Queens)
29th November – Whelans, Dublin (w/ Tapir!)
30th December – The Workmans Cellar, Dublin (NYF Music Trail)
Keep up with the band online: Instagram / TikTok
