Papa Boyle steps into the spotlight with King Of The Late Night
Music Review | 4th Jan, 2026
With a run of slick singles already doing the rounds, it’s shaping up like 2026 could be a big one for Irish artist Papa Boyle. Armed with a knack for blending the glow of ’50s and ’60s sounds with a modern indie edge, Boyle’s music feels like vintage warmth run through a present-day filter.
Buzz around his debut EP has been building ever since we first got a taste with Drive Thru back in 2024. Now he’s keeping that momentum rolling with the second single lifted from the project, King Of The Late Night.
Built around acoustic guitar and stripped-back percussion, the track leans hard into indie-pop melodies. A clean, simple guitar riff drifts in and out, while a heavy bassline and punchy snare make it pretty much impossible not to tap along. Lyrically, Boyle turns the camera inward, playing with the idea of hosting a TV show where the guest is...himself.
The spark for the song came after a night out that turned into a couch-bound documentary binge. Somewhere in the mix, Papa Boyle landed on a film about Johnny Carson, King of Late Night, and the concept stuck. The track drifts through curiosity, nostalgia, and those slightly existential questions that only seem to surface in the small hours. As Boyle puts it, sometimes the most interesting person to interview is you.
Creating the visuals for the song was great craic, it was a good laugh leaning into the tv show host character and who knows this alter ego might make an appearance at the next show!- Papa Boyle
King Of The Late Night
was recorded between Stoneybatter, Dublin and Analog Catalog Studio in Newry, with mixing handled by Carl Small.
You can catch Papa Boyle live at Curveball in The Button Factory, Dublin, on February 27th.
The single, King Of The Late Night, is available through all streaming platforms.
Photo Credit: Papa Boyle
