A New Local Hero winner, Calum Agnew releases single 'Anymore'

Fresh off his triumph as the recipient of the prestigious A New Local Hero Award 2024, Calum Agnew injects further momentum into his soaring trajectory as one to watch in 2025 with the startlingly powerful new single ‘Anymore'. 

Backed by his incredible seven-piece band and backing singers, this track is bursting with self-determination, musically and conceptually. It highlights the unique genius of Calum Agnew as a performer, vocalist and songwriter, announcing the arrival of an artist of immense global potential. 

An initiative of Hot Press and Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, A New Local Hero is a key element in Irish Music Month, a major promotion of Irish music and Irish musicians, launched by Hot Press and the 21 participating IBI radio stations, and supported by Coimisiún na Meán. Calum triumphed initially as LMFM selection for the A New Local Hero finals.

The song encapsulates the feeling of finally breaking free from the shackles of limerance. 

“The song is inspired by a previous love interest I had,” Calum Agnew says of his unrequited passion. "It was complicated, but I think most people will agree that love is quite complicated. You’ve got to know when to let go. When I did, it was freeing. I had my life back again. I guess after some time had passed, I was still angry at myself for wasting so many months being fixated on this fantasy of a life with someone else, rather than living my own. 

"Writing ‘Anymore’ was my way of expressing that anger. It was a final goodbye and a definite throwing away of that key,” he adds.

With the A New Local Hero-inspired backing of Rubyworks, and the expertise of acclaimed producer and arranger Cian Boylan (Bono, The Villagers) and mixer Ruadhri Cushnan (Ed Sheeran and Mumford & Sons), the single was recorded at their Camden Recordings Studios, Dublin. 

The resulting gem, ‘Anymore’, is a sure-fire crossover hit. 

"It was especially difficult selecting a winner for A New Local Hero on this occasion,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes says. “The standard was incredibly high overall. But in the end, it was really striking that – after due deliberation – the decision of the judges was unanimous. Everyone could see that Calum Agnew has real star quality. He writes superb, extremely catchy soul-pop songs that have genuine depth. His vocals are great. And he has surrounded himself with a band of brilliant musicians, who blasted out the material on the night with real verve and panache. This single is a genuine statement of intent, confirming that he has what it takes to go all the way. I have a feeling that it won’t be long before he’s selling out huge venues, so let’s get behind Calum now, and speed him on his way."

Inspired by the vocal tones and instrumentation of artists such as Raye, Lana Del Rey and Amy Winehouse, and with the aid of his seven-piece band – comprising Jamie Dalton on keys, Harry Luck on drums, Patrick Griffin on guitar, Glen Feely on bass, Evan Gerry on saxophone and Lily May Craig and Shauna Byrne on backing vocals – this song immediately sets Calum Agnew apart from anyone else in the Irish music industry at the moment. It is that good.

As anticipation mounts for the release of ‘Anymore’, fans can expect big things from Calum Agnew in the coming year. With his unwavering passion and irresistible talent, the sky's the limit for this Dublin-based sensation with a team of exceptional artists from BIMM backing him on stage to create one of the most powerful live shows you can experience from an Irish artist nowadays. 

‘Anymore’ is out now on all streaming platforms.