Amble

Instruments in hand, three friends gather in a circle and sing the kinds of stories typically reserved for classic literature. They not only channel the power of the bond between them, but they also tap into the serenity of the landscape around them. Irish trio Amble harness a rare magic threaded into the fabric of their novelistic folk. Originally hailing from the West Region of Ireland, the group— Robbie Cunningham (lead vocals/guitar), Ross McNerney (mandolin/bouzouki), and Oisin McCaffrey (vocals/guitar)—have unassumingly gone from quitting their day jobs in rural Ireland to the doorstep of an international breakthrough buoyed by over 100 million streams and sold-out shows around the world. Their relatability, intimate storytelling, and authenticity marry seamlessly with no-frills acoustic instrumentation, calm-inducing soundscapes, and heavenly natural harmonies. Now, this spirit courses through their 2025 full-length debut LP, Reverie [Warner Records]. “In the studio, we’re all sitting in a circle and playing together around a microphone,” Robbie sets the scene. “Basically, everything is recorded live. You can feel the energy when you get the right take. If there’s even one mistake, we’ll start over. If you listen to Reverie, you’re truly hearing who we are.” “It’s very stripped-back,” Oisin elaborates. “Even though the shows have gotten bigger, we wanted our first body of work to sound like we did in the very beginning. There’s no proper production. These tracks are just us in a room.” “The music captures us both individually and as a collective,” Ross observes. “It highlights our respective stories. All of this came together to make Reverie.” Back in 2022, Ross worked as a middle school teacher in County Longford, while Robbie taught elementary in Dublin. Oisin was a data scientist and musician who had just moved to Dublin from the Northwestern coast of County Sligo. Robbie harbored ambitions to play music, yet he had never sung publicly. Impressed by Oisin’s Instagram videos of covers and pub performances, Robbie reached out to simply jam. Not long after, the pair received an offer for a gig in Robbie’s hometown of County Letrim, and Oisin invited Ross to join them. Their live introduction proved to be a rousing success, inspiring them to keep going… “The next day, we were like, ‘We need to officially form a band, make an album, and do ticketed gigs’,” recalls Robbie. “We kept working for a year while doing Amble, but that show was the beginning.” Throughout 2023, they unlocked uncanny creative interplay with each member penning songs and pouring life experience into the lyrics. Amble fueled buzz with breakouts “Mariner Boy” “Mary’s Pub” and “Lonely Island,” but life changed when the band received a call from Warner Records in Los Angeles with an offer. Signing to the label, 2024 saw them release The Commons EP and they emerged as a captivating live presence. The trio played to packed houses not only in Ireland, but now on both sides of the Atlantic, with 100,000 tickets sold worldwide to date. Along the way, they recorded what would become Reverie at various studios across Ireland in addition to logging one session in Los Angeles. The title spoke to the vibe. “‘Reverie’ is almost like a daydream in your head,” Oisin goes on. “You can put on your headphones and be transported somewhere else.” Audiences had already grown accustomed to the band’s organic style and arresting narration via previously released fan favorites such as “Little White Chapel,” “Tonnta,” “Mary’s Pub,” “Of Land and Sea,” “Mariner Boy,” and “Lonely Island”—which they included on Reverie. Meanwhile, the opener and latest single “Schoolyard Days” pairs softly strummed chords with deep vocals, grasping onto the last vestiges of blissful childhood memories. It culminates on a disarmingly catchy, yet mournful realization, “My brother, those days are gone.” “I wrote the lyrics around the idea that the schoolyard days were so innocent and pure,” Ross reveals. “At that age, the world was such a lovely place. You’re hanging out with your best mate and enjoying everything. Eventually, life comes in, and you go your separate ways. Maybe you’re no longer friends today, but you’ll always be connected by the schoolyard days.” The title track “Reverie” revolves around delicate acoustic guitar and poetic lyrics uplifted by bouzouki and a gentle lead, while “Treehouse Wings” has a breezy sway that uplifts evocative melodies about “a story of man that was never told.” “It was a bit of a ‘dual’ song,” Oisin remarks. “I wrote the first couple of verses, and Robbie swooped in with the chorus and another verse. It came to life around the time we got signed. ‘Treehouse Wings’ is a bit of a ‘fuck you’ to anyone who ever said we couldn’t do this. It’s our ode to them.” Reverie concludes with “Swan Song.” The tune unfolds like a lullaby with lithely plucked notes and plainspoken observations, “We carry on, oblivious to our swan song.” Oisin says, “It started as a poem. You never know the last time you’re going to see someone or do something. It doesn’t have to be about life or death. You just don’t see when your ‘Swan Song’ is coming. It could be anything—like the last time you saw a friend. It’s also bigger than that. The earth and everything you see will be gone someday. ‘Swan Song’ was the perfect closer.” In the wake of the record, Amble will launch their most extensive global tour to date, including an entirely sold-out headline run as well as major dates in stadiums and arenas with fellow Irishman Hozier. However, Reverie hints at the scope of their vision. “We’re unapologetically ourselves,” Robbie leaves off. “The sound is refreshing. When you listen to it, we’d love for you to hear a level of originality.” “Hopefully, it feels timeless,” concludes Oisin. “Our ambition was to make an album that would be great 100 years from now or 100 years ago. We’re proud of the fact we’re just a group of regular guys from West of Ireland. We aren’t superstars. We had normal jobs, and this happened organically. It’s a big part of our story. We realize how lucky we are, and we’re very appreciative of the opportunity. So, we made a genuine album we’re proud of. We can’t wait to share it.”