Aslan "move forward" with new single, A Hand To Hold

RTÉ News​

19-06-2025

Aslan are set to release A Hand To Hold, their second new song since the death of their former front man Christy Dignam in 2023.
The track with new singer Lee Tomkins on vocals will be released on 11 July and the Dublin band will perform it live for the first time on their upcoming Australian tour.
It follows the release of the single Hear Your Call last March and Aslan, who are currently working on a new album due out later this year, have described it as having a "new sound".
Speaking about A Hand To Hold, the Finglas five-piece say: "At times, when feeling that way, we don't realise there's a hand to hold, to show us not everything in life is as bad as it feels. Sometimes you need to open your eyes, to see there is still good amongst all the bad.
"Like with all songs, the message that resonates with each individual, can be different, as we all have different thoughts, experiences and views in life. For us, it's a feel good song, a positive song.
"There are a number of singalong parts in it, which we see as a way of bringing people together and this is something we really love when performing live, strangers, friends, singing together, singing back to us and with us."
Singer Lee Tomkins has said he is "very excited" about performing the single live for the first time at their gig in Perth, Australia, on 11 July.
"It feels good to be getting more new music out and for it to have a different sound to anything the band has done before, it's exciting," he said.
"It's great to hear everyone singing along. That's the aim of the song so performing it in Australia for the first time is going to be special."
Aslan founding member Joe Jewell also discussed said the recording process for the new single.
"We are well settled in now. All we can do is keep being creative," he said. "The recording process is always enjoyable. Once the recording starts, it's full steam ahead."
The band's drummer Alan Downey added that it's important for Aslan to continue putting out new material and to progress and move forward.
"Releasing new material has always been a top priority for us. We thrive on being creative," he said.
"It feels good every time we release something new. Being in recording mode is special. It obviously brings all the writing process, rehearsals, and ideas together and it's brilliant to hear that final recording."
Guitarist Billy McGuinness added, "Having released our first single with Lee in March this year, it's great to be releasing our second one so quickly as it lets people who haven't seen the band live hear the direction we are going in," he said.
"I think the last single Hear Your Call had the Aslan vibe but with this new single, it's definitely different for us. But different is good in my opinion.
"It's great playing a new song for the first time, there is excitement and nervousness in the air. Like when we played Hear Your Call for the first time in the Olympia.