Silk is the new solo project from Virgins guitarist/songwriter, Michael Smyth. Leaning into the heavier end of shoegaze spectrum than his main project, he returns with the expansive new single ‘but then, yes‘. Building on debut single ‘Faze’ which garnered instant attention from radio and press alike, debuting on DKFM Aspirin Age radio show and caught the sharpened ears of Golden Plec, Hot Press, Nialler9, Ragged Cast, IMRO, First Music Contact, Analogue Trash, White-Light White Heat, MP3 Hugger, TheBeat.ie, Static Sounds Club, Louder Than War, and Turn Up The Volumes 5 Best Debut Single’s along with one of Shoegaze Blogs Top songs released in 2025 so far.
On ‘but then, yes‘, Michael further expands his sound, as the song dovetails between almost impenetrable vast walls of fuzz, to shimmering dreamy passages building to a devastating crescendo. The track also features vocals from AJ Das of Dublin shoegazers, Picture Postcard. Lyrically the song delves into the evolution of connection between people over time, from platonic to romantic and into something deeper, capturing the electricity as emotions experience that slow but seismic shift.
Written, performed and recorded by Michael, when it came time to mix the song he turned to long time collaborator Jonny Woods (1980 Something Studios, Wynona Bleach) and Jon Moorehead of Moosetronix to master the track.
The impetus for the project is described by Michael, “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.” The single is released ahead of the first live dates for Silk, which will see members of Broncos, Ferals and Wynona Bleach take up position in the live band.
Michael has also produced a video for the track. Designed to act as a visual mood board for the song, a visual representation mirroring the emotions the song hopes to evoke.
Silk – but then, yes (feat. AJ Das) Spotify link
Silk – ‘but then, yes’ (Official Video)
Catch the band live:
July 25th Belfast, Deers Head supporting Alpha Twin
August 30th Belfast, Oh Yeah at GazeFest w/ Whitelands
FFO: Whirr, Nothing, Velvet, Mondaze, MBV, Slow Crush
“Dense, dreamlike with a killer chorus” – Static Sounds Club
“Pure shoegaze” – Golden Plec
“Dreamy chorus” – Hot Press
“Like hearing someone you love talk quietly in the next room while you fall asleep” – Start Track
“Something that tweaks the conventions of moden-era shoegaze” – Analogue Trash
“An ocean of hallucinatory resonance” – Turn Up The Volume Blog
“Vocals two floors below the mix, guitars fuzzy and loud as God intended” – Shoegaze Blog
“This song encapsulates everything we love about shoegaze” – Drowned In A Sea Of Sound