November Dog announce themselves with dreamy debut single

Music Review | 12th Oct, 2025 November Dog

Belfast-based four-piece November Dog are quietly becoming one of the most exciting new names in the Irish indie scene. Built around the songwriting partnership of Scott Hanna (lead guitar, vocals) and Danny Cockroft (keys), and anchored by the rock-solid rhythm section of Shaun Carlin (bass, production) and Michael McCorry (drums), the band have spent the last year holed up in practice rooms, shaping their sound and finding their voice. Now, they’re ready to let us in on the secret with their debut single, How I’ve Been.

Dripping in warm 90s lo-fi tones, How I’ve Been feels like a nostalgic nod to the golden era of college rock with hazy guitars and gentle fuzz. The track floats along on dreamy keys, which weave beautifully around the vocals and lightly strummed guitars. Just when you’re lulled into that melancholy groove, a fuzzy, slightly overdriven solo sneaks in to close things out perfectly.

Lyrically, How I’ve Been taps into something a lot of us have felt. As Scott puts it, The track is written from the perspective of someone who doesn’t feel appreciated enough, it could be a friend, a lover, even family. It’s an anthem for anyone who’s finally learned their value.

When it came time to record, the band kept things close to home. Bassist Shaun took the reins on production duties, splitting recording time between Belfast’s beloved Blackstaff Studio and a makeshift home setup. That mix of DIY intimacy and studio polish really shines through, giving How I’ve Been its honest, lived-in charm.

If this debut is anything to go by, November Dog are about to become a name you’ll be hearing a lot more of. How I’ve Been is a perfect slice of slacker indie pop.

November Dog - How Ive Been

The single, How Ive Been, is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: November Dog