Being an imperfect relationship is hard. Very often we choose to ignore signs that seem obvious to everyone else to try and continue to be faithful for the person that we have a devotion to. Often it is only after a breakup that we get to stop and think about the different things that weren’t right and see that we are better off out of that situation. One of the finest lines in all of media comes in the Netflix TV series Bojack Horseman, “When he look at the world through rose tinted glasses, all the red flags just look like flags”, and never has a statement been more true. Sometimes it is difficult to properly articulate or represent this idea, and then other times a song comes out that sums up the sentiment perfectly. The most recent single from Blanchardstown R&B artist AIS is an excellent example of this.

In recent years, AIS (known off stage as Aisling Moore) has developed recognition by gigging around Dublin by gigging around open mics around the city of Dublin before joining the house band of Berlin D2, the band Dirty Sexy Money. In recent years, she has become a member of Irish funk-pop group, Free Ice Cream, while also starting to further hone her own songwriting. Hurt Sometimes is the first sample of what we are to expect from the performer into the future.

This is a fantastic song. There is a fragility and honesty to the vocals throughout the track as she recounts her experiences of being in an unhappy relationship and how being out the far side has helped give her a better perspective. Throughout the track, AIS lets the listener in on the complicated feelings that can still linger after a breakup and even though you know it’s the right decision there’s still some part of you that is clinging on to the past and will to give it another try. It is something that will resonate with a lot of listeners, and this stands as testament to the quality of songwriting on show.

The accompanying instrumentation on the track is another expertly utilised resource to create the sense of confusion and turmoil at the heart of the song. The early stages of the song are driven by an acoustic guitar riff before being joined later by thumping drums and distorted vocal overlays –  the listener is almost placed inside the side of our protagonist as she tries to make sense of her thoughts. It’s powerful songwriting.

We’ve all been there.

MK