“Obviously my career has moved on a lot, but I think I kind of took my own advice with this one and so by time I signed a record deal or anything else, I already had such a strong idea of the type of artist I wanted to be, and the music I wanted to make. “

It´s impossible not to fall for Dermot Kennedy´s voice. The Dublin based singer-songwriter is no longer a secret tip, – you might have once passed him by while busking in Dublin, but latest when one of his songs got picked up by Discover Weekly on Spotify his career took off internationally. He already supported Lana del Rey on tour and worked with Hiphop producer Mike Dean and after a really successful last year, 2019 starts with a sold out UK tour and eager plans for his debut album. We spoke to the talented and handsome artist about his musical beginnings, finding balance at home and poetry.

Hey Dermot! You said you were inspired by your cousin to go into music. How old where you back then?

I think I was 9 years old around that time. I remember I was at a family party and at the end of the night he was playing some songs. He played “Dancing In The Moonlight” by Thin Lizzy and it was awesome, and I knew at that moment that I wanted to be able to do that too.

Do you remember the very first lyrics you wrote and what they were about?

I don’t remember the very first lyrics I wrote, but I do remember the first song I wrote. It was called “Lost In The Sun” and was probably mostly about nothing!! But was probably influenced by The Hobbit or something like that in some way! I was obsessed with books like that, and hadn’t really had much life experience yet, so that’s what I drew from!

You want your lyrics to mean something and if what you are doing makes people feel something you want to give this to them every time. Do you have a specific place or mood where you can write the best?

I don’t think there’s one single place where I can write best. I’ve had some of my favourite ideas at home, and that’s probably where I’m most comfortable, but I’ve also had some great ideas in studios all over the world, in and out of my comfort zone. That moment where something clicks just shows up in its own time, I think.

Love your new song and video For Island Fires and Family. It´s such a beautiful landscape and was filmed in Inis Mór, an island on the west coast of Ireland. You said this song is specifically important to you and also the place you chose for the video. Can you tell us your story behind the song and your memories on that place?

Thank you! Yea, so my auntie actually lives on the island. And so for a long time, it’s become a really special for my family and I. We kind of gather there a couple of times a year, and it’s always such a great time, and so it holds a lot of precious memories for me. It felt really nice to do the video there.

“I’ve had some of my favourite ideas at home, and that’s probably where I’m most comfortable, but I’ve also had some great ideas in studios all over the world, in and out of my comfort zone.”

„Growing up somewhere quite remote influenced everything I do, and it’s incredible to take all of those memories around the world and live out my dream.“ Our last issue was about places and home. What means home to you?

Home has become extra precious in the last couple of years, cause I’ve been travelling so much. And it just represents a place to kind of ground myself and to be with the people I love. It’s a really good place to find balance again after you’ve been on tour for a few months or something like that.

Take it as far as you can before other people get involved is your advice for young artists. How has your life changed now that other people are involved in your music and everything just gets bigger and bigger?

Creatively, I wouldn’t say my life has changed a whole lot, and if it has it’s all positive. Obviously my career has moved on a lot, but I think I kind of took my own advice with this one and so by time I signed a record deal or anything else, I already had such a strong idea of the type of artist I wanted to be, and the music I wanted to make. People could see that too, so I just continued down the same path, with a team who wanted to help make my vision a reality, so it’s perfect.

What are you most excited about on your upcoming tour 2019?

I’m so excited to return to cities where we’ve already had great shows before, and to visit some new places too. The venues are bigger again, which feels awesome, and I’m just excited. Plus, I’ll have a lot of new music to play on the next tour, so that’ll be fun. The live side of things is such an important part of my career. People keep showing up for me, so I appreciate that so much and try to pay them back with the best show I can.

I read that once you were busking back then, a group of young guys threw a little milk carton at you. If you would meet them again today what would you tell them?

Haha I don’t know, I would hope by now they’ve maybe learned to have a bit more respect for someone trying to do a good thing. It’s all good though, I forgive them!!

“Important values in other people for me are loyalty above everything. Kindness, a sense of humour, ambition.”

Can you quote a line out of one of your favourite poems?

“And I know you’d prefer a broken neck to another broken heart.
Broken parts that litter the night sky like stars.
But remember, even the beauty of birth leaves its own scars.
And know that you will find your home right where you are.
We will find our homes right where we are.”

“She Said, I Prefer A Broken Neck…” – Amir Sulaiman.

What values are important for you in other people?

Loyalty above everything. Kindness, a sense of humour, ambition.

What movie character would describe you the best?

That’s a hard one. Jack Black in Nacho Libre! Just kidding, but that is one of my favourite movies of all time. I watched it once when I was sick, and I think it was so funny it actually cured me.