first class rebel

First Class Rebel is quickly establishing himself as one of Ireland’s most compelling emerging psych-shoegaze voices. The brainchild of Irish musician Ian Burke, First Class Rebel is a one-man force — writing, performing, and shaping a towering wall of sound built from layered guitars, hypnotic rhythm, and distortion that feels both cinematic and confrontational.

Blending the atmospheric swirl of psych rock with the hazy intensity of shoegaze, his sound draws from influences such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, Oasis, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Mogwai — balancing raw immediacy with immersive, hypnotic depth.

Since emerging in 2025, momentum has accelerated rapidly. Debut single Shadows Fade introduced a dense, shadowy intensity, while follow-up Alive expanded the vision into a euphoric, rising surge of sound — earning strong press support, national airplay, and growing international attention.

Now, with his third single Control (released 27th March), First Class Rebel sharpens his sound further — delivering something more direct, urgent, and emotionally charged. Built on punchy guitars and a driving pulse, the track evolves from tension into release, culminating in a euphoric, arms-outstretched crescendo that captures the moment where confrontation gives way to catharsis.

Recorded at Darklands Audio and produced by Dan Doherty (Fontaines D.C., The Jesus and Mary Chain), First Class Rebel continues to build a sound that is immersive, powerful, and unmistakably his own — with each release pushing further into new sonic territory and signalling an artist firmly on the rise.