The Davids
Photography by @alyssaduffphotography
Indie rock band The Davids, hailing from Armagh, are Near the Noise’s latest Artist of the Month.
We first discovered the band at Numuze and Blue Pool’s Late Night Art Takeover in December, where they played Ulster Sports Club. After looking them up, we were pleased to find they already had two tracks on Spotify - one of which we loved so much it earned a spot in our Top 25 of 2025 playlist.
From that point on, we knew The Davids were a band we wanted to keep close to the project.
MEET THE BAND
The Davids spent their first year as a three-piece, made up of Aaron Beattie (vocals and guitar), Jos Lennon (bass), and Joel Clarke (lead guitar). The trio met while studying music together in college, quickly realising they shared both musical taste and personality - something that naturally led them into writing together.
Interestingly, the band said it wasn’t necessarily the early highs that made things feel real. If anything, it was the tougher moments, when a show fell flat or a song wasn’t quite clicking, that pushed them to improve and take the project more seriously.
However, things didn’t quite feel complete until drummer Harry Whyte joined in 2024, solidifying the four-piece lineup we know today.
One thing that particularly stood out to us was the band’s name - especially considering none of the current members are actually called David. As the band explained, the name dates back to the very beginning, when Aaron and original member Callum (who both shared the middle name David) first started the project.
Despite the lineup change, the name stuck - and honestly, we’re glad it did.
“We’re too far gone to change it.”
THEIR SOUND
The band’s sound has drawn comparisons to the likes of Snow Patrol and early Coldplay - which we can definitely hear.
At its core, their music sits within indie rock, with a clear emphasis on melody and atmosphere. However, they’re careful not to box themselves into any one label too tightly.
“We try not to box it in too much, we’d rather people take what they want from it.”
When it comes to influences, their approach is fluid. Songwriting-wise, they consistently return to the foundations of John and Paul, while also pulling from newer sounds - creating a blend of old and new that’s constantly evolving.
“To be honest, it’s constantly shifting.”
Their creative process is equally organic. Aaron typically brings an idea into rehearsal, where the band builds on it together - only pursuing what feels natural.
“If it doesn’t click quickly, we tend to move on… When something does stick, we take it to a live setting as soon as we can because that’s where we really find out if it works.”
THE SCENE
While the band speak highly of the Irish music scene and the level of talent emerging from it right now - they’re also mindful of how it’s perceived externally.
“It can feel like the identity gets romanticised a bit, rather than the music just being taken on its own terms. We’re incredibly proud to be an Irish band but we think the real strength is just in the quality of music itself.“
That said, they’re encouraged by the growing attention the scene is receiving, describing it as both fresh and exciting.
They also highlighted Ashgrove and Jetvaine as two acts to keep firmly on your radar - two quite new bands which is always something we love to see.
LIVE & UPCOMING
The Davids have their sights set on playing more shows across the island, with venues like Whelan’s in Dublin high on their list and, one day, Vicar Street as a dream milestone.
Closer to home, they’d jump at the chance to play iconic Belfast venues like Limelight or Ulster Hall.
So far, they’ve already had some standout live moments, including a sold out headline show at Nan Rice’s in Newry - one they described as having “excellent energy”.
Following the release of their latest track Celestial, which we featured in our Track Spotlight series, the band are preparing to head back into the studio. The track marked another lyrically strong offering, with B-side Badger Season proving just as impressive. It’s a discography that already feels far beyond its early stage.
“Each track shows a slightly different side of what we do, so you get a better sense of the band as a whole rather than just one angle.”
All of this leads into their upcoming headline show at Union Bar on 23rd April, supported by Ashgrove and Jet Black Tulips - a night shaping up to be a brilliant showcase of local talent. We’ll definitely be there, so keep an eye out for our live review afterwards.
OUR VERDICT
We’ve said it before in our Track Spotlight series, but The Davids are firmly one of our favourite emerging local bands right now.
We can appreciate the thread of influence from early Coldplay in their sound, but they manage to keep things fresh, authentic, and entirely their own. What really stands out, though, is their mindset - their focus on growth, authenticity, and letting the music speak for itself.
“The most important thing for us is the internal progression of improvement. Just making some better art and not overcomplicating it.”
It’s this attitude that makes them so exciting to watch.
With a strong start behind them and plenty more to come, we’ve no doubt The Davids are only going to keep getting better - and we can’t wait to be singing along at their Union Bar headline show.
A very worthy Artist of the Month.
