RCP Finds His Sound From the Very Beginning on Debut Single Seen

By Chris Kennedy | Published 6th Oct, 2026

Some artists spend years honing their craft, releasing music and experimenting with different styles before eventually discovering the sound that feels like their own. Then there are those rare artists who seem to come straight out of the traps with an identity already taking shape. Cork singer-songwriter RCP, aka Ronan Power, falls firmly into the latter camp.

Despite being only 19, Power has already spent a number of years writing songs, helped in part by growing up around a creative background. That early experience comes through on his debut single, Seen, a track that feels considerably more assured than you might expect from an artist making his first introduction to the world.

RCP Finds His Sound Early

Taking inspiration from artists including Declan McKenna, Fontaines D.C., Mac DeMarco and Post Malone, RCP pulls from a particularly varied musical palette. Rather than allowing those influences to compete with one another, however, he takes elements of indie, alternative pop and R&B and folds them into something cohesive. There are hints of the haziness associated with Mac DeMarco, the melodic instincts of modern alternative pop and a touch of Post Malone’s genre-blurring approach, but Seen ultimately works because Power already appears interested in establishing his own space between them.

It is something the young artist himself is conscious of.

I feel at an advantage as I feel I have found my sound upon my first release rather than taking years into a career to find the right sound for me. I tried rapping many years ago. I now realise Indie/Pop/Alt/RnB is the best way to showcase my talents. - RCP

After years spent songwriting behind the scenes, Seen is the point at which RCP finally steps out from behind the notebook and announces himself properly.

Seen Blends Dreamy Synths With Laid-Back Production

The track begins simply, with a couple of isolated beats creating a brief moment of space before the production opens up and Seen slips into full gear. Power’s vocals arrive surrounded by layers of synths, immediately establishing the dreamy, chilled-out atmosphere that becomes the song’s defining characteristic. There is a softness to the production without it becoming sparse, with melodic notes dipping in and out of the arrangement and sitting comfortably behind the vocal rather than fighting for attention.

That restraint suits Power’s delivery. Seen is not a song interested in overwhelming the listener with huge production tricks or an unnecessarily dramatic vocal performance. Instead, its appeal comes from atmosphere. The synths create a warm haze around his voice while the beat gives the song enough movement to keep it from drifting too far into the background. There is a laid-back confidence to the whole thing, and for a debut single, the production feels remarkably settled.

The story behind the song gives that dreamy exterior considerably more weight.

The Cork Encounter Behind Seen

Seen was inspired by a real interaction on Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork, where Power was approached by a man asking for money. Rather than simply walking past, the singer stopped and attempted to help, searching his pockets and even checking his banking app before discovering that he had nothing he could give him.

What stayed with Power was the man’s reaction.

Seen is about an interaction on Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, where a less fortunate man begged me for change and money. I tried to help him, searching my pocket and publicly checking my bank account app. Only to find I couldn’t help him. I had no money. - RCP

Despite being unable to give the man what he had originally asked for, Power found that the simple act of stopping had meant something.

Despite this, the beggar was exceptionally grateful that I stopped, gave him the time, tried for him and saw him. It made me think...Not all beggars want money, some just want to be seen.

It is a simple observation, but one that gives the song its emotional centre. Seen becomes less about that single encounter and more about the basic human desire to be acknowledged. In a city environment where it can become almost instinctive to walk past the people sitting in doorways or asking strangers for help, Power focuses on something much smaller: the significance of simply recognising that another person is there.

Final Verdict | RCP Seen

With Seen, RCP delivers a polished and emotionally grounded debut that feels well beyond his years. Dreamy synths, understated melodies and relaxed production provide the backdrop for a thoughtful piece of songwriting inspired by a brief but meaningful encounter on the streets of Cork.

Plenty of emerging artists spend their earliest releases trying to work out exactly who they want to be. Ronan Power appears to have skipped a few steps. Seen may be his introduction, but it already sounds like an artist who knows where he wants to go.

The single, Seen, is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: Ronan Power