Silk Releases New Single ‘july’ Ahead of Debut Irish Tour
Silk, the new project from Virgins guitarist and songwriter Michael Smyth, has unveiled a brand-new single titled July. Unlike his work with Virgins, Silk is a fully solo endeavour, with Smyth handling all writing, performing, and recording duties himself. The result is a sound steeped in shimmering distortion and immersive layers, a blend that is as heavy as it is dreamlike.
Described as his most focused release yet, July shifts between delicate, choral guitar passages and crashing waves of fuzz, carrying Smyth’s vocals as he reflects on themes of subtle betrayal. The track builds on the foundations of earlier releases such as Faze and but then, yes, which earned attention from outlets including Golden Plec, Hot Press, Nialler9, Ragged Cast, and Louder Than War Radio. Those singles also received airplay on DKFM Aspirin Age and WhiteLight/WhiteHeat, with Faze named among Shoegaze Blog’s top tracks of 2025 so far.
For mixing and mastering, Smyth enlisted Allan McGreevy of New Pagans, working out of Badlands Studio. The partnership brought a sharper punch to Silk’s expansive sound, marrying shoegaze textures with the grit of 90s alternative rock.
Speaking about the project’s origins, Smyth explained: “I constantly feel like I am rushing towards the inevitable infinite oblivion. Further exacerbated by the marking of years spent circling the sun. To that end, it’s important that I fill the time remaining with joyous, creative acts. The sharing of ideas is an essential part of that, which brings us to Silk.”
July arrives just as Silk prepares for its first run of Irish tour dates, marking the next step in Smyth’s journey as a solo artist.
