Wexford-born twin brothers Ashley and Brandon Watson, known as The Ocelots, have released their highly anticipated second album, Everything, When Said Slowly, on Friday, February 7. Now based in Leipzig, Germany, the duo expands beyond the folk-rock foundation of their debut, introducing a more textured and ambitious sound.
Produced by Cillian and Lorcan Byrne—noted for their work with Ailbhe Reddy and Susan O’Neill—the album explores Irish migration, time’s fluidity, love, and cycling’s simple joys. The title comes from an elderly Wexford man’s reflection on how time stretches or compresses depending on life’s experiences. “It’s about saying goodbye to a place and realizing how time’s passage depends on your perspective,” says Ashley.
At the album’s heart are The Ocelots’ signature “blood harmonies”, capturing the raw imperfections of live performance. Recorded at Orphan Recording Studios by Gavin Glass (Lisa Hannigan, Villagers), the album blends flutes, synths, harmonica, and harmonium. Country-folk elements like clawhammer banjo intertwine with urban imagery, avoiding romanticized rural clichés.
Although the album’s core was recorded in an intense three-day session, the brothers spent months refining overdubs in Leipzig. “We experimented a lot, and it was worth it,” says Brandon.
The Ocelots perform live at The Record Room, Commercial Bar, this Thursday, February 13.
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