ØXN

ØXN is an Irish avant-folk and folk group made up of Katie Kim, John Murphy and Radie Peat. The group is pronounced “oxen” and describes itself as a doom folk project.

Formation and identity

The name refers to castrated draft animals, which the group frames as figures that are “sometimes worshipped, sometimes doomed for domestication”. ØXN is the first act signed in 18 years to the revived Irish traditional label Claddagh Records.

Members and background

Katie Kim performs as a singer, keyboardist and guitarist. John Murphy is also known as “Spud” Murphy and is described as a producer with an interest in drone. Radie Peat is a member of Lankum. In the group’s earlier line-up, Eleanor Myler of Percolator also appears as the drummer.

Style

The group works in a dark, experimental strain of folk rather than a gentler acoustic style. Its sound is associated with doom folk, avant-folk and Irish folk elements, drawing on the backgrounds of its members in experimental rock and traditional-rooted music.