David O'Dowda Returns with Atmospheric New Single Like New

By Chris Kennedy | Published 22nd Sept, 2026

After more than two decades working across music production, television, film and advertising, Dundalk-born songwriter David O'Dowda is turning his attention back to his own original music.

Now based in Manchester, O'Dowda has been reconnecting with his Irish roots while quietly developing a new collection of material from his home in the UK. It marks the beginning of a fresh chapter for an Irish songwriter whose music has travelled far beyond his original recording career.

The first taste of what's to come is Like New, an understated and beautifully atmospheric collaboration with Manchester-based singer and electronic artist IORA.

Like New Finds Its Strength in Subtlety

Self-produced by O'Dowda, Like New doesn't arrive looking to make a huge amount of noise. Instead, it draws you in slowly, allowing its gentle melodies and understated production to gradually take hold.

There's a soothing quality to the track from the opening moments, with emotive vocals sitting over carefully layered instrumentation. Guitar provides much of the foundation, while subtle touches of ambient piano and strings drift through the background, adding warmth and texture without ever overwhelming the song.

It's a restrained approach that suits the track perfectly. There's plenty happening beneath the surface, but nothing feels unnecessary or overworked. Instead, each element is given enough space to breathe, creating a warm, almost cinematic atmosphere.

IORA proves to be an equally good fit. Known for her cinematic approach to songwriting and electronic music, her rich vocal adds another dimension to Like New. The real strength of the collaboration, though, comes when the two voices meet.

Rather than competing for space, O'Dowda and IORA remain deliberately hushed, their vocals blending together and becoming another layer within the arrangement. The result feels intimate and almost weightless at times, adding to the reflective mood that runs throughout the track.

A Song About Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

There's an emotional uneasiness underneath all that calm, and that's very much intentional.

Speaking about the meaning behind the track, O'Dowda explains:

Like New, is loosely about understanding how it can sometimes be difficult to make meaningful changes in your life, and embracing that uneasy feeling you get when you venture out of your comfort zone.

That idea fits neatly with the music itself. Like New feels reflective rather than dramatic, capturing the uncertainty that can accompany change without forcing the emotion or spelling everything out for the listener.

There's also something fitting about O'Dowda exploring those ideas at this particular point in his own career. After years of creating music across different mediums, his return to original songwriting represents something of a change of direction in itself.

David O'Dowda Offers a Glimpse of What's Coming Next

Like New is the first glimpse of a larger, yet-to-be-announced body of work from David O'Dowda, and it makes for an intriguing introduction.

There's no grand reinvention or dramatic comeback statement here. Instead, O'Dowda seems comfortable allowing the songwriting, production and atmosphere to do the heavy lifting. The collaboration with IORA adds depth without distracting from that approach, resulting in a track that feels carefully considered from beginning to end.

For an artist returning his focus to original material, there's a quiet confidence to Like New. It doesn't chase an immediate hook or oversized moment, preferring to reveal itself gradually - and that's ultimately where much of its appeal lies.

Final Verdict

Quiet, atmospheric and emotionally understated, Like New is a beautifully measured return from David O'Dowda. IORA's vocals complement his perfectly, while the delicate combination of guitar, ambient piano and strings gives the track its cinematic edge.

As the first glimpse of O'Dowda's forthcoming body of work, Like New feels less like a comeback and more like the natural beginning of a new chapter.

The single, Like New, is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: Lucy Ridges