Goldbug

Goldbug is the moniker of Dublin based Irish artist Danilo Ward. He has spent the last 8 years playing in guitar bands (such as of all living things and Echo Northstar) and writing his debut album, to be released in autumn 2025.
With Goldbug, he projects a tender image of his isolated upbringing in a rural village in Provence, France, that he describes as 'bug heaven'. His greatest passion is music, his second – insects. On his debut album, he weaves stories of hope & fear, love & loss, and faith & doubt.
Losing The Swing, the first single from Goldbug's debut album 'Swings & Roundabouts', was released on February 7th, accompanied by a music video he directed.
The album was mainly recorded from home, except for drums, which were recorded at Start Together, Belfast, and horns, recorded at The Meadow, Wicklow. Co-produced by Chris W Ryan (NewDad, Just Mustard, Chalk, Cardinals) and mastered by Heba Kadry (Bjork, Sufjan Stevens, Big Thief), the album follows an art-rock tradition, with Danilo's soft voice sitting amongst hazy instrumentals that
twist and turn to unfamiliar places, mirroring his life as a missionary kid. Splashes of brass, ambient
electronic textures and dusty mellotrons all wrap around songs otherwise gently sung on acoustic guitar.
With only his debut single out, Goldbug has garnered early support from BBC6Music, BBC Introducing, Dublin City FM's John Barker, The Thin Air, GoldenPlec, Genuine Irish, The GOO Dublin.

''Exquisite debut single from Goldbug. There are so many glorious twists and turns in Losing The
Swing, I never knew where it was going to go next, kept me on my toes'' - BBC6Music's Emily
Pilbeam

''I am blown away by Losing The Swing, I have fallen so very deeply'' – BBC Introducing's Abbie
McCarthy

''Goldbug has something of the old ways in it. Losing the swing is throbbing with melancholy.
There's a hint of Duke Special in Ward's breathy, languid vocals, while the instrumental shows all
the hallmarks of an artist who has cut their teeth in Ireland's famous Dream Pop scene, most notably
in the form of Chris W Ryan's signature vibrato, pick scraping wail. It's an exciting debut'' - The
Goo Dublin