Dermot Kennedy (Irish singer‐songwriter)

Dermot Joseph Kennedy (born 13 December 1991) is an Irish singer and songwriter. He is signed to Interscope Records in the US and Island Records for the rest of the world. Kennedy was relatively unknown until 2016, when Spotify added two of his self-released tracks to its influential playlists, which led to recognition and recording contracts. He has since released three albums: Without Fear (2019), Sonder (2022), and The Weight of the Woods (2026) as well as 4 EPs: Doves & Ravens (2017), Mike Dean Presents: Dermot Kennedy (2018), Lost in the Soft Light (2020), and I've Told the Trees Everything (2024). He has achieved commercial success with his singles "Outnumbered" (2019), "Power Over Me" (2019), "Giants" (2020), and he is featured on "Paradise" (2020) by Meduza. Kennedy grew up in Rathcoole, County Dublin, Ireland. Kennedy began playing guitar at age 10, and songwriting at age 14; however, he states that he did not begin to take music seriously until the age of 17.[better source needed] His parents were supportive of his musical study, and he credits his father for frequently driving him into Dublin to perform at open mic nights when he was underage. His mother submitted an application for him to study classical music at Maynooth University in County Kildare. He remained at university for three years. His paternal aunt is Mary Kennedy, an Irish TV personality and former newscaster. Kennedy began busking in Dublin at 17 years old. Through busking, mostly in Dublin, he was able to develop his sound. While busking, he met Glen Hansard, who invited him to be the opening act for his show at Vicar Street. Outside of his solo career, Kennedy began a band named Shadows and Dust with three other members during his studies, which included Micheál Quinn, who is Kennedy's tour drummer. Although he enjoyed the experience, the band split up in 2015. In his first career breakthrough, he won first place in the The South County Song contest, hosted by St. Finian's GAA in Newcastle, County Dublin. In November 2015, Kennedy uploaded the self-released song "An Evening I Will Not Forget" to Spotify. In February 2016, Spotify featured that song, and later "After Rain", another song by Kennedy, on its "Discover Weekly" playlist, which resulted in overnight recognition. In 2018 and 2019, he toured the US, Australia and Europe to sold-out audiences. He played festivals including Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2017, Lollapalooza in August 2018, South by Southwest in 2018, and Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2018. He played Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival both weekends in 2019. Also in 2019, Kennedy played the main stage at ElectricPicnic. In 2018, he was voted by listeners as NPR Slingshot's Best New Artist of The Year, appeared on NPR's Music Tiny Desk Concert in a 14-minute live acoustic session, on WGBH's Fraser performance studio in a 20-minute live session. He made the BBC's Sound of 2019 nomination list. After releasing singles and EPs, Kennedy released his first complete album in late 2019, titled Without Fear. The album consists of many of his past works, with some even dated eight years prior to the album's release. The track "Outnumbered" on this album peaked at number 6 on the UK singles chart, his first appearance on the chart. He was also featured on Paradise by MEDUZA. Paradise reached number 5 on the UK Singles Charts on 12 November 2020. Kennedy was nominated for international male solo artist at the 2020 Brit Awards. In 2021, Kennedy contributed a cover of the Metallica song "Nothing Else Matters" to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist. In March 2022, Kennedy won the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2021 for his song "Better Days". He released Sonder, his second studio album, in November 2022. He describes the album title as "the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own." In March 2024, he released the four-track EP, "I've told the trees everything". The EP’s cover and vinyl inserts feature artwork by illustrator Nicholas Moegly, overlaid with Dermot’s own distinct chirography. In April 2026, he released his third studio album, The Weight of the Woods. By debuting at #1 on the UK Albums Chart, he became the first Irish artist to have three albums reach that spot. In early 2020, in collaboration with other artists, Kennedy contributed his vocals to Songs for Australia, covering Matt Corby's "Resolution". The album, organized by Julia Stone, was created to raise proceeds in aid of organizations helping Australia recover from their bushfire crisis. In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy participated in the Billboard Live At-Home virtual concert to raise money for Housing Works. Following that event, Kennedy organized his own virtual concert, Sound Waves, in May 2020 in support of the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. In September 2020, Kennedy played for the Soccer Aid charity match for the first time, joining other celebrities in raising money for UNICEF UK. Playing for the World XI team against England, he helped them win their second match in a row, scoring one of their three goals. The team ended up winning in a penalty shootout, turning their 3-3 score, to a 4-3 score victory, with Kennedy named Man of the Match. In his music, Kennedy has tried to bridge his two genres, folk and hip-hop, together. This is a change from his past works, which were more acoustic. Unlike some songwriters, he does not write with specific moments or events in mind. He writes them naturally when listening to the track, as specific memories and emotions are triggered through the music. GQ magazine described Kennedy as a "singer with a rich, reverbant voice, [with] epically emotive songwriting skills (think Ed Sheeran, but darker, more melancholy)". The New York Times, of his 2018 South by Southwest Festival performance, said he has "a grainy, melancholy voice that can crest with a howling rasp..." He cites Ray LaMontagne, David Gray, Damien Rice and Glen Hansard as inspirations for his folk style. His recent work included hip-hop influences, reflected in his collaborative work with Mike Dean on the EP Mike Dean Presents: Dermot Kennedy, which Kennedy has also described as a "mix tape". Kennedy purchased a house in Ireland in 2022. He is intentional about maintaining his privacy, saying he has "always been resistant to the idea of celebrity". He says he does not desire to impose his political views on his supporters. Kennedy is an avid football fan and player. Kennedy is married to Aisling Finnegan and has a daughter. Studio albums Without Fear (2019) Sonder (2022) The Weight of the Woods (2026) "Dermot Kennedy Artist Bio". Interscope Records. Henry, Keryce Chelsi (9 November 2018). "Acoustic Singer Dermot Kennedy On His Hip-Hop And 'Def Poetry Jam' Inspirations". Forbes. "Artists". Island Records. Paine, Andre (16 September 2019). "'The album is exceptional': Island talks global ambitions for Dermot Kennedy". Music Week. Johnston, Kathleen (28 October 2018). "Could Dermot Kennedy be Ireland's answer to Ed Sheeran?". GQ. Bush, Erica (21 December 2018). "YouTube Music's Dermot Kennedy on FaceTiming Travis Scott". Metro. Chang, Ailsa (17 December 2018). "Dermot Kennedy, NPR Slingshot's Best New Artist". NPR. "Mary Kennedy praises her nephew, Dermot Kennedy". RTÉ News. 24 November 2019. Clayton-Lea, Tony (13 July 2020). "Dermot Kennedy: 'I won't let anyone take advantage of me or my music". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Gokhman, Roman (29 October 2018). "Dermot Kennedy busks his way from Dublin streets to the mainstream". RIFF Magazine. O'Regan, Nadine (6 May 2018). "Spotify the difference: Dermot Kennedy". Business Post. "Dermot Kennedy On Mike Dean Collaboration". Grammy Awards. 11 September 2018. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Schlanger, Talia (23 August 2018). "Dermot Kennedy On World Cafe". NPR. 93