Rebecca Dow (feat David Sloan) – War Against Emptiness

You may have heard ‘War Against Emptiness’ on my September DKFM show. It’s their follow up single to the brilliant ‘Beneath You’. Their first single together carried the familiarity of two musicians who had spent years working alongside one another in Belfast shoegaze band Virgins. It also gave them the freedom to discover what their partnership could become following the group’s conclusion earlier this year. That connection sounds even stronger here. Dow and Sloan appear more assured in their shared musical language, with the guitars gaining weight and Dow exploring a more restless vocal style.

Speaking about the single, Dow and Sloan explain the struggle at its centre.

A guitar riff announces ‘War Against Emptiness’ with real self-possession. It enters with a loose swing in its stride, setting a tougher tone before the full density of Sloan’s arrangement gathers around it. There is confidence in the way the guitar occupies the opening seconds. That confidence also places the single firmly within the current strength of Irish guitar music, where bands and artists continue to find fresh ways of working with volume, melody and texture. Each part thickens the atmosphere while the original riff keeps the song moving and growing.

Dow responds to that scale by taking a serpentine route through the melody. Her vocal curls around the guitar rather than following its movements directly, bringing an uneasy feeling to the verses. Her control remains central to the performance. She knows when to remain close to the microphone and when to widen her delivery, allowing the tension to increase without releasing it too early. The unease in Dow’s voice suits lyrics concerned with silence, disconnection and the fear of gradually disappearing. You can hear the effort involved in remaining present, especially when her delivery begins to rise through the thicker guitar layers. Sloan gives her plenty to respond to. Feedback gathers at the edges, glide guitar bends the background out of alignment and the fuzz becomes dense enough to make the song feel enclosed. At the same time, the arrangement possesses an enormous sense of scale. That combination gives the track its emotional heart. Sloan builds a setting capable of carrying a huge vocal performance, and Dow answers with one of her strongest to date.

‘War Against Emptiness’ finds Rebecca Dow and David Sloan growing into their identity as a duo. The shared instincts developed during their past projects remain present, while this collaboration gives them room to follow heavier guitar tones and more exposed writing. Sloan’s layered production places tension in every corner of the track, and Dow delivers a vocal performance filled with unease, resolve and control. Together, they have written a song about remaining visible when isolation threatens to erase you. Give it the volume it deserves. With ‘War Against Emptiness’, Dow and Sloan ensure emptiness never gets the final word.

‘War Against Emptiness’ is out on 11 September 2026. You can check it out across all major digital platforms.