A nation-Nell treasure

There’s a lot happening for rising Irish star Nell Mescal right now.

In August, the Kildare native turned Londoner dropped her stunning new EP ‘The Closest We’ll Get’ led by the delicate yet savage single ‘Middle Man’.

Then in October, with her new songs in tow, she set off on a massive tour of arenas across the UK in support of American all-female rock trio, HAIM.

She then stepped even further into the spotlight for her own headlining tour which she just finished last week having played nine shows across Britain.

Nell won’t be resting for long though, as she gets ready for a set of Irish dates in December which will see her play Cork’s Cyprus Avenue on 4 December.

Produced by the renowned Philip Weinrobe, who has worked with the likes of Adrianne Lenker, Billie Marten, and Cass McCombs, ‘The Closest We’ll Get’ showcases an organic new sound developed during recording sessions out in Brooklyn, New York.

Drawing on Nell’s folk influences and Weinrobe’s unconventional production style, the EP delivers a raw, natural, and authentic body of work. Through six soul-bearing tracks, there’s dismal prospects, and levity too: the full gamut of what it feels like to fall in love with someone, experience it, and have to kid yourself that you’re fine about the crushing fallout.

“’The Closest We’ll Get’ is a collection of songs that tell a story about two people and how their relationship is in the grey area of friends or lovers,” explains Nell.

“Each song is a realisation of how sitting in the in-between affected me and in turn affected the ‘friendship’.”

In 2024, Nell released her debut EP ‘Can I Miss It For a Minute?’, carving out her spot as one of Ireland’s most frank and poignant young songwriters. In its tracks, and the slew of singles that had preceded it, she was willing to prod at her wounds—body image, growing up and bad relationships—over a thrum of rhythmic electronic-leaning pop.

With her latest work, Nell says she feels she has finally found her footing. With her previous efforts, she admits she would often pick apart her work retrospectively and find things she’s wish she’d done differently. However, with ‘The Closest We’ll Get’, there’s a soundscape that makes stunning sense. It feels premature to call it a perfect form—she is just 22, after all—but the coalescence of her voice, mellifluous and interesting, and this instrumentation, ushers in a special new chapter.

With praise from the likes of i-D, The New York Times, Vogue, NME, Radio 1, and a nomination at the Rolling Stone UK Awards, Nell has become one of the most talked-about new artists of the past two years, making waves with every release.

Fuelled by a relentless live presence and an unstoppable touring schedule to round out 2025, Nell Mescal stands on the brink of a breakout year that will define the next chapter of her rise.

Nell Mescal plays Cyprus Avenue, Cork city, on 4 December. Tickets are on sale now on her official website nellmescal.com or via cyprusavenue.ie. Tickets are expected to sell fast, so book now and don’t miss your chance to see Nell here on Leeside.