Emma Hynes unveils Experimenting Saturday
ahead of debut album release
Music Review | 4th April, 2026
Things are starting to heat up for singer-songwriter Emma Hynes as she edges closer to dropping her long-awaited debut album this summer, and if the previews are anything to go by, it’s going to be worth the wait.
Hynes has been quietly carving out her own lane, blending alt-folk and indie textures with flashes of pop and rock. But boxing her into just musician
doesn’t really cut it - she’s also a published writer, a performer, and a visual artist. Creativity seems to spill out of everything she touches.
We’ve already had a taste of what’s coming. Earlier in 2025, she kicked things off with Sierra
, the first glimpse of the album’s sound, before following it up with Hinterland
and Tell Me How
. All three tracks picked up serious love from music press and found their way onto national airwaves, building a steady buzz around her name.
Now comes Experimenting Saturday the fourth and final single before the album lands, and it might just be her most intriguing release yet.
The track opens gently, built on delicate fingerpicking, before easing into a laid-back, almost hypnotic groove. It drifts along with a dreamy, cinematic quality, slowly expanding into something that feels bigger than its parts. Subtle but lush string arrangements add depth throughout, giving the song an almost soundtrack-like atmosphere.
And that’s really the headline here, this is a shift. While Hynes has roots in stripped-back folk, Experimenting Saturday
sees her stepping into a bolder, more expansive sonic space. It’s still intimate, but there’s a clear sense she’s pushing boundaries and exploring new territory.
If you want to catch her in the moment, there are a couple of key live dates lined up. She’s playing an in-store acoustic set at Volume Records and Books in Dún Laoghaire on April 4th, followed by a full-band launch show at The Racket Space (The Bernard Shaw) on April 5th - marking the first time she’ll perform her original material live with a full backing band. Not a bad way to usher in a debut era.
Experimenting Saturday
was produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Martin Quinn at JAM Studios in Ireland, and it feels like a confident step forward - not just a teaser, but a statement.
If this is the direction the album’s heading, Emma Hynes might be about to have a very big summer.
The single, Experimenting Saturday, is available through all streaming platforms.
Photo Credit: Emma and Karl Hyne
