The Ocelots

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Everything, When Said Slowly is a joy to listen to—a haunting and majestic album” – KLOF

“Steeped in classic singer-songwriter Americana, invoking everyone from vintage Neil Young to Sufjan Stevens. ” – UNCUT

“Blending folk, indie and rock with confidence – a melancholic undercurrent of country-folk adds to its allure” – Songlines Magazine

“Rich in spellbinding harmonies, The Ocelots’ second album, Everything, When Said Slowly, takes indie-folk in a compelling new direction. Overall, an impressively honest and poignant piece of work.” – Hot Press

"Take a step back, and that deep breath - that is what folk music of a modern variety has fixated on, and few are doing it better than The Ocelots…" Cult Following

The Ocelots are clearly a band to watch, and you can see them developing quite an audience with younger listeners.” - Americana UK Live review

The Ocelots are twin brothers Ashley and Brandon Watson from Wexford. Building on the folk-rock essence of their debut, the duo released their highly anticipated second album, ‘Everything, When Said Slowly’, in February 2025. The album unveils a richer, more expansive sound, masterfully produced by long-time collaborators Cillian and Lorcan Byrne (Ailbhe Reddy, Susan O’Neill). The narrative woven throughout the album explores themes of Irish migration, the perception of time, love, and the simple joys of cycling.

Blood harmonies are the centre of The Ocelots' sound - imperfections of a voice breaking or a tempo shifting. Recorded live in Orphan Recording Studios, by Gavin Glass (Lisa Hannigan, BellX1, David Keenan, John Grant, Villagers), the band’s performances help form a driven, energetic scrapbook, coloured by flutes, synths, harmonica and harmonium. The twin brothers blend absurdity and sincerity in an array of literature-inspired musings. Open tunings and clawhammer banjo bring country-folk contemplation, but the imagery is very much urban, living outside of the romanticised glaze of wood cabins and cottage-core nostalgia.