The Cork five-piece are on their way
Cardinals are a five-piece from Cork, Ireland, making guitar music that pulls from post-punk, classic indie, and more atmospheric songwriting traditions. Fronted by Euan (vocals, guitar) and Finn (accordion) Manning, their cousin Darragh (drums, tambourine, glockenspiel) and their former schoolmates Oskar Gudinovic (guitar) and Aaron Hurley (bass), they’ve been building steady momentum with a sound shaped by their surroundings. There’s a literary quality to their work, too, with influences like Irish writer Kevin Barry informing the tone.
Cardinals released their debut album Masquerade in February via So Young Records, produced by Shrink (Sam Breathwick), marking a clear step forward and expanding on earlier singles and EPs into a more cohesive, immersive approach. The record is already starting to connect with a growing audience—one clearly hungry for guitar bands saying something real. With a U.S. tour underway and a clear artistic identity taking shape, Cardinals feel like a band stepping into something bigger.
We caught up with accordionist Finn Manning to talk about the record, the band’s early days, and what’s ahead.
Thanks for doing this! To start, what first brought you together as Cardinals—and when did it start to feel like a real band?
I guess there was no band in our city making the music we wanted to hear, so we decided we’d start to write and play together. We enjoyed each other’s company and had similar outlooks when it came to writing and playing music/creating art.
The name Cardinals is so good. Were you surprised it wasn’t already taken?
Looking back, yes, it is surprising. There is Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, but we didn’t know who they were until after we named ourselves. Hopefully we can hold onto it. I know there’s a big American football team with that name—I think it’s football anyway, could be baseball.
Does Cork—its architecture, people, or politics—find its way into your songs? If so, how?
Ya, it does, but we don’t try to jam it in as ungracefully as some do. At this moment in time, the city is a reflection of us. Our moods move with it; it has shaped our outlook on many things. It needed mentioning on the record for it to be an honest record.
Was there a shared influence—artist, scene, or moment—that shaped this album?
We all pull from different areas to write our parts. I think we all like Kevin Barry, the Irish author, and he was certainly a direct inspiration for the mood of the record.
Is there a sound, riff, or texture the band is collectively obsessed with right now?
I can’t say for the whole band, really. A few of us are really enjoying the Maria Somerville record Luster.
I recently found out about Microsoft Talkit, a text-to-speech program from the ’90s. Seeing how far that sort of stuff has come now, it feels so strange and uncanny. I’ve been trying to use it in new songs.
What’s been the most surprising thing that’s happened since Masquerade was released?
It’s surprising to have people coming up with the record and asking us to sign it, telling us which song is their favourite, and that the record means a lot to them. We’ve always aimed to affect people in that way, so seeing it happen is wonderful.
The Masquerade album cover is great. How did you connect with the artist, Oda Sønderland?
There’s a producer we like called Whitearmor. Darragh pointed out that one of their album covers was done by Oda, so we checked out the rest of her work. We were quite flattened when we saw the piece Fristeren—it had a very touching effect on us all; we could feel it physically. We contacted her and were naturally overjoyed to discover she would let us use the piece for the album cover. It’s an essential part of the record, as far as I’m concerned.
What are you most looking forward to on the American tour in May? Is there a city you’re especially excited to see?
Looking forward to getting back to New York. I want to give LA a proper go this time, as I felt a little lost when we first visited last September.
We all love Alice in Chains, so our first time in Seattle will be something of a religious pilgrimage.
What would the perfect tour package look like for Cardinals—who’s on the bill?
We’d love to play a show with Iceage—they’re one of our favourite bands. Also Echo NorthStar—he’s a talented guy.
What’s the biggest challenge for artists in 2026—and how are you navigating it?
Having little to no money is a universal experience for artists. We all still struggle with that, but things are starting to look up, thankfully.
What’s an album or song that still reminds you why you do this?
I’m sitting in our van doing this interview, and “Heroes” by David Bowie is playing on the radio. I’ve always found that song to be extremely uplifting and beautiful, so I’m going to say that.
Live images by @ciannwwood | Photo credit: Steve Gullick
Follow Cardinals on IG at @cardinalsband_ | Tour dates and more at www.cardinals.band
Cardinals - “Barbed Wire”
Masquerade
