Cork indie five-piece Screaming Yoga Club are set to release their new single, ‘Its Ok Not To Be Ok’, on 23 October across all digital streaming platforms, bringing their distinctive blend of rugged guitar sounds, sharp melodies and mischievous humour to the next chapter of their musical journey.
Describing themselves as “so alternative they’re almost mainstream”, the band have carved out a place in the Irish indie scene with a sound that balances infectious hooks and energetic songwriting with a playful refusal to take themselves too seriously. Their latest single continues that approach, pairing an emotionally charged theme with melodic momentum and an understated sense of the absurd.
As its title suggests, ‘Its Ok Not To Be Ok’ is a song for anyone who has weathered a few storms, acknowledging sadness and uncertainty while leaving the door open to the possibility of finding your feet again. There is no shortage of sincerity in the sentiment, but Screaming Yoga Club deliver it with the unpretentious spirit of a band who understand that sometimes a simple song is all you need.
Speaking about the track, singer Barry McAuliffe explains: “It’s Ok Not To Be Ok is a song for the emotionally weather beaten, where sadness meets momentum and the faint possibility of getting it together, also a silly simple song…a song.”
That combination of emotional honesty and playful irreverence has become a defining feature of the band’s identity. Their sound has previously been described as “a superb, energetic musical extravaganza of tunes, moves and banter”, with comparisons to Blur and R.E.M. pointing towards their ability to combine memorable melodies with an alternative rock sensibility that never loses sight of the fun in making music.
The band’s connection to Cork and the surrounding countryside is equally central to their story. All five members grew up within striking distance of the Cork-Kerry county bounds, and they regularly return to their spiritual home on a remote hill near Ballydehob in West Cork to write and play together. This strong sense of place, combined with years of experience across the Irish alternative scene, has helped shape a sound that feels rooted in familiar indie traditions while retaining its own offbeat character.
The line-up brings together McAuliffe on vocals, formerly of Rulers of the Planet and Slow Motion Heroes; Joe Jolly on guitar and keyboards, of Slow Motion Heroes and Hope Is Noise; Derry Callanan on bass, of Jonny Rep and LMNO Pelican; and brothers Kevin O’Brien on guitar and Tom O’Brien on drums, both formerly of Deep Sky Objects and EveryoneHQ.
Their debut album, ‘Paint the Void’, is out now, while work is underway on a second full-length record. ‘Its Ok Not To Be Ok’ is part of a planned run of new singles over the coming months, offering a further glimpse of the material taking shape as the band continue to develop their sound.
Although the studio recordings capture their melodic instincts and songwriting craft, the live environment remains a particularly natural fit for Screaming Yoga Club. Their performances bring together energetic musicianship, irreverent banter and an infectious enthusiasm that places the emphasis firmly on the shared experience of a good gig.
Recent support appearances have seen them take to the stage alongside The Undertones in Cork, The Sultans of Ping in London and The Stunning at the INEC in Killarney, putting them in the company of established names whose own approaches to guitar-driven music have left a mark on the Irish and wider alternative scene.
With ‘Its Ok Not To Be Ok’ arriving as their latest offering, Screaming Yoga Club continue to build on the foundations laid by their debut album while preparing for the next phase of their musical journey. Melodic, energetic and cheerfully unconventional, they remain committed to making indie music that can accommodate a little sadness, a lot of noise and the occasional reminder not to take life, or yourself, too seriously.
