Following the release of their debut single ‘Roses‘ and a breakthrough year on the Irish live music scene, rising Cork four-piece BABYRAT today announce their debut EP, Pretty Ugly, arriving 5 February 2027. They also today share powerful new single ‘Say! (What You Wanna Say)’.
Bigger, bolder and grittier than its predecessor, ‘Say! (What You Wanna Say)’ marks an exciting evolution in BABYRAT’s sound. Blending infectious indie-rock hooks, driving guitars, soaring synths and commanding vocals, the track is a defiant anthem about breaking free from manipulation, finding your voice and reclaiming your power. At its heart, ‘Say! (What You Wanna Say)’ is a song about liberation. Rather than dwelling on the pain of a toxic relationship, it celebrates the triumph of reaching a place where someone else’s cruelty no longer holds any power.
Speaking about the single, BABYRAT explain:
“‘Say!’ is about escaping a manipulative grasp and realising you don’t actually need to feel the way that person makes you feel. It’s about regaining strength and power, and the triumph of getting to a place where you’re no longer affected by their cruel nature. This song isn’t about suffering, it’s about overcoming.”
Written by Jamie Kierans, Zoe Jordan, Matthew Lucas and Stevie Healy, the single was produced by Jamie Kierans alongside Alessandro Di Camillo. Accompanying the release is the official music video for ‘Say! (What You Wanna Say)’, directed by the band’s own Jamie Kierans, shot by Grace Dempsey and Kate Globa, and edited by Grace Dempsey.
The single also offers another taste of Pretty Ugly, BABYRAT’s debut five-track EP, arriving 5 February 2027. Exploring the highs, lows and contradictions of early adulthood, the project navigates friendships, relationships and self-discovery, pairing bright, infectious melodies with darker, emotionally charged lyrics. Recorded at Camden Studios in Dublin, the EP promises to capture the energy and contrasting sides of a band whose sound continues to evolve. Having already built a dedicated following on the live circuit, including performances at Electric Picnic and All Together Now, BABYRAT are now translating that undeniable onstage energy into their recorded music.
BABYRAT Live Dates
November
13 – SHINE x BBC INTRODUCING presents DON’T SLEEP, Belfast
27 – 29 – Other Voices Music Trail, Dingle
December
30 – NYF, Dublin
January
15 – EUROSONIC, Groningen, Netherlands
February
23 – Dolan’s Kasbah, Limerick
24 – Róisín Dubh, Galway
25 – The Grand Social, Dublin
26 – Savoy, Cork
March
4 – Dublin Castle, London
For more information on BABYRAT please check their instagram and tiktok.