Radie Peat shares debut solo single ‘Still I Love Him’
Rough Trade Records are excited to share the debut solo single by one of Ireland’s most influential and revered vocalists, Lankum and ØXN’s Radie Peat – an interpretation of the popular traditional love song, ‘Still I Love Him’. With unique vision, staggering vocal range and a wry sense of knowing, Peat is celebrated for her powerful contralto voice, technical vocal authority, and emotional depth, she distils the essence of folk music, breathing life into old songs and carrying them forward with new meaning, both sustaining and enriching the Irish singing tradition, her strength of will palpable through poised delivery. On ‘Still I Love Him’ Peat traverses the peaks and troughs of romantic relationships, carrying a message of strength and sovereignty out of a song that can easily change shape according to the one that sings it.
This distinctive version of the song was discovered by close friend and musical companion John Francis Flynn who came across it in the Irish Traditional Music Archives. Following Flynn’s discovery ocit and I wanted the freedom to make decisions around my voice without having to explain myself”. Describing a process of subtly building and layering her own voice, harmonising for emphasis and atmosphere, Peat talks about “creating emotional connection, that’s what I’m trying to do”, she says, “I’m trying to capture the elation and devastation that can accompany true love”.
Peat describes the archival categorisation of this rare version as disturbing, “John discovered the song in an archive titled “True Love”, I found that so dark – even though you suffer – because of the amount you love someone – you stay, you carry on”. Here Peat represents the bittersweet; the elation then the derailing and disorientating affect – the erosion of the self that happens when romantic embroilment is combined with increasingly poor treatment.
Yet, throughout ‘Still I Love Him’, Peat forges a sense of stability, a soundness amidst the song’s chaotic scenarios where tolerance and forgiveness weathers into resilience. “I was trying to show the two sides of the coin here, I was trying to get across the two extremes that can exist when we are experiencing love”. Across a series of despairing vignettes we hear of a woman wrangling with a difficult partner, “I was representing his escalating bad behaviour with minor chords and sombre tones” but then Peat’s voice ascends with optimism, “there has to be great love to go through that suffering – I wanted the chorus brimming and gushing with romance represented in the vocals and instrumentally with the strings”.
Radie Peat Live Dates
3rd Nov 2026 – Union Chapel – London – UK
20th Nov 2026 – Vicar St. – Dublin – IE
31st Jan 2027 – Paradiso – Amsterdam – NL
Pre-sale Thursday 9th July at 10am. General sale Friday 10th July at 10am.