Dea Matrona

Irish rock duo Dea Matrona met in a competitive context.

In their early teens, singers and multi-instrumentalists Mollie McGinn and Orláith Forsythe laid the groundwork for their friendship while both competing in an Irish language singing competition, before uniting to busk together on the streets of Belfast.

There began a nearly decade-long journey as musical partners. Dea Matrona’s rise is built on a fierce DIY mentality: the duo honed their sound over years on stage, building a loyal fanbase and self-funding their own releases.

Their debut album, For Your Sins, released in 2024, soared to number one on the Independent Breakers chart, received airplay on BBC Radio 1, took them to Glastonbury, and also saw them support Canadian rockers The Beaches on tour.

This summer, the duo will accompany icon Sting on the road, bringing their hybrid sounds to even larger stages.

As they prepare to release their highly anticipated second album, Hate That I Care (due June 5, 2026 via AWAL), Dea Matrona shifts into high gear, addressing the personal and political issues that have shaped them as a band.

This new record explores themes of female empowerment and identity through an Irish lens, as well as the feeling of being an outsider, both musically and deeply personally. McGinn aptly summarises it: “We’re excited to release this album.

” While their music is imbued with a strong nostalgia, recalling the hazy choruses crafted by legendary bands like Fleetwood Mac and The Cranberries, D’s lucid lyrics