If Cian Ducrot’s debut album ‘Victory’ was an open wound – raw, emotional, and deeply confessional – then his new single “Shalalala” is the healing scar that sings back with resilience and joy. Known for his soul-baring ballads of heartbreak and longing, the Irish singer/songwriter turns a creative corner on this latest release, offering a triumphant, gospel-charged anthem that’s as unexpected as it is electrifying.
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Stream: “Shalalala” – Cian Ducrot
Cian Ducrot has always known how to make us feel.
Whether it’s the sting of heartbreak or the ache of what might’ve been, his songs have become emotional lifelines for a generation fluent in vulnerability. With his new single “Shalalala,” he trades sorrow for joy, not the fleeting kind, but the hard-won, soul-shaking, gospel-choir-backed kind that lifts you off your feet.
Loud, luminous, and utterly life-affirming, this song doesn’t just mark a new chapter in Ducrot’s career: It kicks the doors wide open on a whole new sound.
Wherever you go, I’m with you
As long as the ocean’s still blue
We’ve had it harder than most
A nuclear war and fools
with guns in fancy clothes
They’re cutting the trees
to make the paperwork for loans
While, out on the street,
there’s people dying without homes
And I’ve been to Hollywood,
I’ve seen the Devil close
The one at the party
everybody wants to know
From the moment the song begins, “Shalalala” breaks every mold Ducrot has previously worked within. It kicks off with his unmistakable voice, soaring, urgent, full of familiar intensity, but that’s where the resemblance to his earlier work ends. Within seconds, you’re hit with booming percussion, surging piano chords, and a choir of voices that seem to lift the track into the sky. The effect is visceral: Part Elton John extravagance, part Sunday church revival, and entirely a rebirth of Ducrot’s musical identity.
“Shalalala” is, in every sense, a departure. And it feels earned. Rather than retreat into melancholy or introspection, Ducrot embraces something bolder, braver, and, perhaps most surprisingly, joyful. The song pulses with light and energy, radiating the kind of communal spirit that transcends genre or geography. It doesn’t just want you to listen; it wants you to feel it, sing it, and believe in it.
So, if your heart’s been broken, sing,
“Sha-la-la-la” (Sha-la-la-la)
And if your love’s been cheated on,
“Sha-la-la-la” (Sha-la-la-la)
I guess that’s just the state of things
And wе don’t know what life will bring
With our voices, we can sing, “Sha-la-la-la”
At the heart of this euphoric anthem is a deceptively simple chorus: “Shalalala.” Wordless, universal, and chant-like, it works as both a musical hook and a spiritual mantra. In a world overrun by noise, division, and doubt, this simple refrain becomes an act of defiance, a joyful noise that drowns out despair.
“This song is about hope and solidarity in times where the world feels like it needs it most,” Ducrot tells Atwood Magazine. “It’s about holding our friends, loved ones and strangers close and remembering we are all part of the same world, the same community, the same purpose. Love is the only answer, and beauty is there where you look for it.” It’s a sentiment that pulses through every drumbeat and harmony, offering not escapism, but a kind of emotional rallying cry.
Co-written with a stellar team, Anton Göransson, Isabella Sjöstrand (RAYE), Bill Maybury (James Bay), and Theo Hutchcraft (Calvin Harris, Måneskin), “Shalalala” is a masterclass in collaboration. Göransson’s production is thunderous yet delicate, allowing Ducrot’s vocals to shine without losing the sheer scale of the arrangement. The gospel choir, swelling and soaring behind him, adds emotional gravity, creating a sonic architecture that feels built for stadiums, not just headphones.
This song is also a vivid signpost for where Ducrot is heading next. Alongside recent singles “Who’s Making You Feel It” and “Little Dreaming,” “Shalalala” is a clear indicator that Little Dreaming, due July 11th, won’t just be a follow-up to Victory. It’ll be an evolution. While Victory introduced us to the wounded poet, Little Dreaming appears ready to unveil the visionary performer, one who’s no longer content to dwell in darkness but intent on lighting up the stage with hope, passion, and purpose.
Sonically, the album promises to channel the grandeur of ‘70s and ‘80s pop legends. Think Elton John’s piano-driven drama, Michael Jackson’s rhythmic punch, Queen’s theatrical ambition, all filtered through Ducrot’s unmistakable modern lens. It’s a sound that pays homage to the past without getting lost in nostalgia. Instead, it carves out something fresh and ambitious, anchored by his hallmark vulnerability and lyrical honesty.
I mеt a girl who tried to make her mother laugh
And I met a boy who wants to be just like his dad
He said he’s a hero planting forests on TV
I guess that, sometimes, it ain’t so hopeless to believe
And if your heart’s been broken, sing,
“Sha-la-la-la” (Sha-la-la-la)
And if your love’s been cheated on,
“Sha-la-la-la” (Sha-la-la-la)
Guess that’s just the state of things
And we don’t know what life will bring
And, with our voices, we can sing,
“Sha-la-la-la” (Sha-la-la-la)
And yet, despite the gloss and glam, “Shalalala” doesn’t lose touch with what has always made Ducrot stand out: His sincerity. Even at its most jubilant, the track carries emotional weight. The joy here isn’t naive; it’s defiant. It comes from staring into the chaos of the world, climate crises, social divisions, personal loss, and choosing to sing anyway.
This evolution feels especially poignant in light of Ducrot’s recent accolades. With over 1.4 billion streams to his name and a recent Grammy win for co-writing SZA’s “Saturn,” he’s no longer just a rising star; he’s a force to be reckoned with. But rather than rest on chart success or industry recognition, he’s using his platform to say something bigger. And “Shalalala” says it loud and clear: Connection, unity, and joy are not just artistic choices, they’re necessities.
If your heart’s been broken, sing,
“Sha-la-la-la” (Sha-la-la-la)
And if your love’s been cheated on,
“Sha-la-la-la” (Sha-la-la-la)
Guess that’s just the state of things
And we don’t know what life will bring
And, with our voices, we can sing,
“Sha-la-la-la”
What makes “Shalalala” stunning isn’t just its sound, though the production is undeniably bold and masterful. It’s the fact that a song so euphoric, so wide-open and wild-hearted, could come from an artist so closely associated with quiet sadness. It’s as if Cian Ducrot is inviting us not only to witness his transformation, but to join him in it.
With “Shalalala,” Ducrot doesn’t abandon the emotional depth that brought him here. He builds on it. He explodes it. And in doing so, he gives us not just a song, but a moment, one that feels necessary, now more than ever. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest times, we can still sing. We can still hope. We can still shout ‘shalalala’ into the void and dare it to sing back.
“Shalalala” is a roar of hope as Cian Ducrot finds joy and strength, releasing an uplifting anthem for uncertain times.
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:: stream/purchase Shalalala here ::
:: connect with Cian Ducrot here ::
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Stream: “Shalalala” – Cian Ducrot
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