Finding Mr (swipe) right

Versatile Cork sextet The Art Crimes Band is about to greet the new year with the release of their latest single, a funk and soul infused track inspired by the dating app Tinder.

The origin story of ‘Guy Like You’ goes back to when singer Grace McMahon was busily swiping left one day while pondering all things a guy has to be before she will go on a date with him.

She eventually decided against listing all the materialistic reasons people might usually consider and instead decided to focus on finding a really great person in general, her criteria going something like: “Delightful, mindful, no doubt insightful, makes my heart beat”.

When debuting the new song during the group’s successful run at 2021’s Cork Jazz Festival, Grace told crowds: “I used to obsess over all the millions of things a guy has to be, then when I stopped obsessing about it, I found him and I married him.”

The Art Crimes Band’s first album ‘Radio’ on the SUGO Music record label in 2015 reflected a group still searching for their groove.

Following on from last year’s single ‘In The Dark Of The evening’ and with a fresh studio album in the works, they have solidified a firm foundation in the R&B/soul sound within which they are right at home.

Band members are Gary Baus (alto saxophone), Stephen Kirby (guitars), Niall Dennehy (drums and percussion), Grace McMahon (vocals), Tim O'Leary (bass) and new member Katie O’Donnell (piano and keyboards).

With engineering and mixing duties once again at the hands of drummer Niall Dennehy, ‘Guy Like You’ attempts to channel some of the band’s 1990s R&B and soul influences such as Laruen Hill, En Vogue and Erykah Badu, mixed with the familiar retro warm sound closely associated with the band.

‘Guy Like You’ is released worldwide on the SUGO music record label on 4 February and a three track special edition will also be available featuring the single plus bonus tracks via The Art Crimes Band’s Bandcamp page.