Irish-language collective Huartan release Cad É Sin today, a powerful new single that continues their mission to bring endangered Gaelic songs into the modern world. Known for blending traditional Irish music with electronic textures, the West Belfast group have built a sound that conveys ritual and rebellion. A pulse from the past and the present, all at once.
The song reimagines Cad É Sin Don Té Sin, transforming its folk melody into a cinematic electronic landscape filled with layered vocals, hypnotic rhythms, and a strong sense of defiance. Performed as a duet between Múlú and Catriona Ní Ghribín, it captures both strength and vulnerability. “The story behind it basically is: what do you care what I do with my life?” Múlú explains.
“Cad É Sin Don Té Sin is a well-known song in the Gaeltacht and traditional music communities. Most tracks on our album began with Catríona or Múlú recording their take on a traditional song for Stiofán, who then carefully arranged and produced it into a final, trad/electronica version. We feel that Cad É Sin is a strong reflection of the sound that has emerged from this collaboration, and of our mission to push the boundaries of traditional Irish song. Irish-language songs have often stayed within the traditional music world, but we hope to bring them into new spaces where anyone can connect with them, whether or not they speak fluent Irish or are familiar with trad music.”
Arranged and produced by Stiofán Ó Luachráin, with co-production from Seán Óg Graham of Beoga, the track features contributions from cellist Laura McFadden and fiddle-player Clare Sands. The result is organic yet transcendent, a seamless conversation between tradition and innovation rather than a clash of the two.
Formed in 2023, Huartan have become one of Ireland’s most compelling live acts, known for performances that merge music, myth, and movement. Rooted in decolonial ideals, their shows evoke a mythical pre-Christian Ireland, masked performers, symbolic imagery, and an intensity that transcends language. Alongside Anna Poloni, an anthropologist whose presence adds depth to the collective, the band create an experience that feels part concert, part ritual.
Following their first single, Dúlamán, which introduced this new sonic universe earlier this month, Cad É Sin feels like a declaration. It’s the sound of a culture not being remembered but reimagined. As Huartan release their debut album today, November 14, they stand at the forefront of a movement turning history into something you can feel, dance to, and believe in.