Kneecap have shared a raucous new single called ‘Fenian’, which sees them “reclaim identity” with “good times had by all”. Listen below.
The track is from the Irish trio’s forthcoming album ‘Fenian’, which is set to drop on May 1 via Heavenly Recordings, and has already been previewed with the electric ‘Smugglers & Scholars’ and ‘Liars Tale’, which hit out at Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
With the title track, the group continue to capture their signature blend of hip-hop, dropping a raucous, anthemic party tune that is already a contender to be the song of the summer.
The title refers to the 19th-century Irish revolutionaries who were committed to overthrowing British rule and achieving an independent Irish republic. While the term has been used as a slur and has had negative connotations attached to it, the song and the album as a whole see Kneecap reclaim the term and embrace feelings of brotherhood and community.
Describing the term as one steeped in history and pride, Kneecap shared that the song was written as “an anthem to embrace our Fenian past, and to cure our colonial hangover by reconnecting the warriors of Irish folklore with the Fenian c***s from the North of Ireland today.”
It also comes with a music video directed by Thomas James, which was shot in West Belfast and sees DJ Provai’s tricolour balaclava front and centre.
Speaking about why he wanted to get involved in the video, James said: “For me, this track is about a reclaiming of identity. Not only of the word, but for people too. Which is what our film is. A trippy whirlwind through people and places who embody the spirit of the boys and the song. Of seeing the word Fenian through a new lens.
“It was a blast. It was chaos. It was a fever dream of running around Ireland convincing people to pop a bally on and do something mental. Good times had by all.”
The topics of Irish history, troubles and identity that the band have spoken about in the past too, and in 2024 they opened up to NME for The Cover about how it helped shape them as artists.
Recalling how they started making music together in 2017 to tell real stories of their West Belfast lives and to hear their native tongue in a modern setting, they shared: “There’s still a post-colonial hangover of colonisers telling us that our language is useless and that we’re not progressive […] People have been told that for the last 100 years.”
They also tackled the issues around identity and history in their film, which was released that same year told the fictionalised origin story of the band, as well as taking inspiration from the three’s experiences growing up in post-Troubles Belfast.
The film scored a five-star review from NME, with Andrew Trendell writing: “Unapologetically ballsy and brave, Kneecap has no business being as good as it is – not only one of the standout films of 2024, but arguably one of the best music biopics of all time.”
It was also named the best film of 2024 by NME, with an entry that read: “Cue the funniest and most exciting band biopic since, well, ever. Even Noel Gallagher’s a fan – and he hates everything.”
As well as releasing new music, Kneecap have recently performed in Havana after they arrived in Cuba on the Nuestra América Convoy with Jeremy Corbyn. They also spoke out about the “real issue” of anti-Semitism and reaffirmed that they are “against discrimination in any form”.
The trio have a huge number of live shows coming up across the UK and Europe this summer, including slots at Crystal Palace Park in London in June – their biggest headline show to date – and festival slots at Primavera, Open’er, Roskilde, Reading & Leeds, and more. Visit here for tickets to all upcoming gigs.