Born in Dublin and now based in London, Music City (known to his mum and dad as Conor Lumsden) releases the debut album, ‘Welcome to Music City’. Taking inspiration from Ireland’s rock legacy, Conor says the record ‘feels like a constant fight between hope and disappointment’ of love, outside forces and the things that get inside your head.

‘Intro/It’s Alright’ opens with bar-room background noise before blasting into a Lemon Twigs-esque blend of power pop hooks and forthright lyrics: ‘Life’s an escalator’. ‘When That Day Comes By’ and ‘Do I’ also have melodic sensibilities, the former Americana tinged and the latter bringing to mind Teenage Fanclub with its jangly vibes and honesty: ‘Do I love you? Do I really care?; ‘I don’t have the answer’.

‘Little Favour’ has a slower start and underlying tenderness – ‘You’re so smart’ – while ‘Pretty Feelings’ is both funky and riff-heavy, with repeats of ‘I didn’t want to let you down’ towards the end. ‘A Matter of Time’ showcases a more melancholic side – ‘Did it have to be this way? It was a choice you made’ – before Conor embraces his inner Aerosmith on ‘Common Sense’. There’s also a touch of Thin Lizzy as he throws out singalong couplets like: ‘I do not mean to cause offence. I just have no common sense’. This song also features a barnstorming guest appearance from Sheer Mag’s Tina Halladay.

‘You Remember’ is a nostalgic piece of pop gold and ‘Photograph’ is a heartbreaking power ballad – ‘Holding onto yesterday, hiding in a memory’ – while ‘Something’s On Your Mind’ harks back to the Laurel Canyon sound as Conor offers unrivalled love and support to a loved one, amidst glorious harmonies: ‘Let me in a little more’.

Music City is a destination you’ll want to visit. Why not stay a while?