Cardinals’ latest single arrives as an impressive preview of their upcoming debut album ‘Masquerade’, set to be released on 13th February. 

Immediately revealing itself as romantic, ‘I Like You’ begins with a gentle folkiness that sees Cork’s indie-rock quintet lean into their softer side. With rich guitar strumming soon accompanied by an accordion, it’s stripped back with an instant air of vulnerability. 

It’s not long before frontman Euan Manning’s vocals take centre stage, with the opening line “Don’t change your hair for me / If you still care for me”, as a nod to the classic ‘My Funny Valentine.’ The lyrics root the song in classic romanticism, while Manning’s emotive vocals give it that distinct, gritty edge that has become their signature. As percussion enters, the track moves from hushed beginnings to a heavier sound that’s fuelled by crashing cymbals and crunchy guitars, without sacrificing its intimacy. 

Whilst talking about the making of the single, Manning explained “This is the first song we wrote with the album in mind. After a very long period of not working on anything we started and finished this some bright morning last February in our practice studio. It felt cathartic, a completely grounding moment after feeling slightly lost for months.”

Wearing its heart on its sleeve as the lyrics "I like you" repeat towards the end, the track comes to a powerful close that truly reflects the catharsis the band felt in bringing it to life. 

 If you enjoyed reading this article, please consider buying us a coffee. The money from this pot goes towards the ever-increasing yearly costs of running and hosting the site, and our "Writer Of The Month" cash prize.