Hype List 2026: Basht.

New year. New noise. Hype is back on the hunt, digging through the chaos, the chatter and the late-night tip-offs to find the acts who aren’t just next up, but about to detonate.

Dork’s Hype List is our annual spotlight on the artists who’ve started to really stand out – not because they’re destined for instant superstardom, but because there’s something in what they’re doing that feels fresh, deliberate and worth keeping close tabs on.

It isn’t about calling winners or demanding overnight breakthroughs. Consider it a guide to the acts shaping the edges of what’s next: the ones we’re excited about, curious about, and confident enough to back as they take their next steps.

Basht. are the kind of band whose sound makes more sense the moment you understand where each member came from. Jack Leavey (vocals, guitar), Lughaidh Armstrong-Mayock (lead guitar), Ryan McClelland (drums) and Louis Christle (bass) bring four entirely different musical upbringings to the table.

Leavey describes an early life surrounded by creative influence. “Both my parents are art teachers,” he says. “My dad also ran the Music Centre in Temple Bar for years.” Armstrong-Mayock’s beginnings were shaped by tradition and craft. “My mother is an Irish trad fiddle player and my father was a sculptor,” he explains. “I used to play in a few local bands.”

McClelland’s path is more chaotic and charming. “Santa Claus very kindly gifted me a toy drum set and guitar as a three-year-old,” he says. That gift became persistence. “I spent a lot of time watching Kerrang! and trying my best to mime along.”

Christle speaks of self-directed discovery; his parents loved music but didn’t play. “They left that decision to me, which I really appreciated. My mum was into a lot of ABBA, Blondie and Queen. My dad introduced me to Daft Punk before I could even talk.”

These four stories collide on their breakthrough EP, ‘Bitter & Twisted’. Leavey talks about its origins with quiet pride. “It feels great to have it out in the world,” he says. “The EP itself was born in a time of immense uncertainty, but through a love for what we do, we managed to make it through.”

Follow-up single ‘Vain’ digs deeper into self-examination. “‘Vain’ is still a warning,” Leavey says, “and its subject matter is something I’ll carry with me for a long time.” Importantly, he frames it not as a wound but a direction: “That’s what guides me now, and I see it as a positive thing and an opportunity for progression.”

Lately the band’s writing has broadened its field of vision. Leavey explains that “everything we experience feeds into the music we make,” and that recently they’ve been responding to “what’s going on in the world around us.”

Their sense of belonging is proudly rooted. “It’s amazing to see such an obvious stream of talent pouring out of Ireland,” Leavey says. “We take a lot of inspiration from where we come from, and we’re extremely proud to be considered even a small part of an Irish wave.”

Armstrong-Mayock looks toward next year with uncomplicated optimism: “More tours, festivals and new music!” The band collectively mention that their debut album is coming.

Their ambitions remain disarmingly honest. Leavey jokes that the dream is “six seasons and a movie!” First-time listeners, meanwhile, can expect something visceral – the band want their music to evoke “butterflies and ego death.” It’s a fitting description: the kind of sound that hits your stomach as much as your ears. ■ 

Taken from the December 2025 / January 2026 issue of Dork, out now.