Dermot Kennedy Life & Music: From busking on streets to sold-out stadiums

Updated On: November 08, 2023 by   Ciaran Connolly

Dermot Kennedy is an Irish singer-songwriter hailing from Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. Rathcoole is a suburb village in the South West outskirts of Dublin city, only a stones throw away from the Wicklow mountains . Kennedy started to play guitar and write songs at a young age.

Dermot gained popularity as a solo artist after the release of his 2017 EP ‘Doves and Ravens’. His album Without Fear reached #1 in the Irish and UK charts, and has been streamed online over 1.5 Billion times.

Dermot Kennedy features on our list of the best Irish musicians of all time. Who else do you think is on the list? Let us know in the comments below!

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In this article you’ll find:

• The Road to Success – the Early career of Dermot Kennedy
• Kennedy’s Biggest Influences
• Discography
• A Timeline of Dermot Kennedy’s Career Highlights
• Official Music Videos
• Appearing on the Late Late Toy Show 2020
• A live performance in New York
• Wicklow Mountains – a source of inspiration

The Road to Success

What may seem to an outsider as overnight success, Dermot Kennedy’s rise to stardom was actually close to a decade of hard work. From the age of 17 Dermot began to busk and perform at open mic nights.

During his youth Dermot loved everything soccer, a Manchester United fan who idolised Roy Keane, a fellow Irish man who played midfield for the Red Devils. When he got his first guitar at age 10, a new passion began to form.

Kennedy’s paternal aunt is Mary Kennedy, a famous former newcaster and TV host for RTÉ.

Kennedy went to Maynooth University for 3 years to study classical music, combined with his ongoing busking and open mic performances, he was constantly honing his craft.

Before his solo career Dermot Kennedy was part of the band Shadows and Dust, performing alongside a group of 4 including Micheál Quinn who is the current drummer for Dermot. The sound of Shadows and Dust is reminiscent of Dermot’s iconic poetical lyrics.

The band went their separate ways and not long after Dermot’s solo career would take off. Some of his success can be accredited to his popularity on streaming services such as SoundCloud and Spotify. Dermot was featured in Spotify’s discover weekly playlist early in his career which helped to grow his audience, especially overseas.

Dermot gained popularity as a solo artist after the release of his 2017 EP ‘Doves and Ravens’. His album Without Fear reached #1 in the Irish and UK charts, and has been streamed online over 1.5 Billion times.

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Kennedy’s Biggest Influences

Dermot Kennedy’s style is a mix of traditional acoustic folk with a fresh hip hop sound.

A major influence on Kennedy’s unique style was Mike Dean an American hip-hop producer, best known for recording and mixing songs for some of hip hops greatest; Kanye West, Tupac and Jay Z to name a few. Mike Dean had won 5 Grammys working with Kanye West as a producer, mixer and songwriter.

Dermot released a mixtape called ‘Mike Dean Presents: Dermot Kennedy’ in 2018. The collaboration with the acclaimed producer feature elements of his recognisable hip hop and synth style. It did not stop Kennedys work from being primarily folk inspired; instead it elevates the music and allows the songs to transcend genre.

Kennedy credits Belfast musician Van Morrison as one of his biggest inspirations, even going so far as to perform the icons hit Days Like This for RTÉ’s The Late Late Show

Kennedy often cites other Irish artists as well as international hip hop performers as his main influences; it makes sense that a genre merging artist would have varied tastes, from Hozier, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and Bon Iver to Stormzy, J Cole and Kendrick Lamar.

Discography

Without Fear (2019)

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Songs included in the complete edition are:

• 1. Giants
• 2. An Evening I Will Not Forget
• 3. All My Friends
• 4. Power Over Me,
• 5. What Have I Done
• 6. Moments Passed, The Corner
• 7. Lost
• 8. Rome
• 9. Outnumbered
• 10. Dancing Under Red Skies
• 11. Outgrown
• 12. Redemption
• 13. Without Fear
• 14. The Killer Was A Coward
• 15. Temptation

Live performances and Dermot Kennedy’s features on Medusa’s Paradise and Bugzy Malone’s Don’t Cry are also included in the complete edition.

Sonder (2022)

Dermot’s latest album Sonder will release on the 23rd of September 2022, and we can’t wait to listen to the next chapter in the Irish musician’s discography!

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A Timeline of Dermot Kennedy’s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the highlights of Dermot Kennedy’s impressive career.

2017 highlights

In 2017, Dermot released his EP Doves and Ravens to much acclaim.

2018/19 highlights

The Major highlight of these two years was the release of Dermot’s first album ‘Without Fear’ to commercial and critical success.

Releasing the mixtape ‘Mike Dean Presents: Dermot Kennedy’ in 2018, further realised Dermots unique style, which merged genres while still feeling very stripped back and lyrically focused.

Touring the United States, Australia and Europe to sold out audiences was a major career highlight for the Irish singer. Performing at Lollapalooza in 2018 as well as Coachella and Glastonburry in 2019 were major venues every artist strives to perform on.

2020 highlights

An extremely difficult year for artists because of the Covid 19 pandemic, Dermot saw continued success, being nominated in the ‘Best International Male’ category at the BRIT awards in 2020. In the same year he hosted one of the biggest ever selling live streamed shows of all time, performing with a full-band in the Natural History Museum in London.

A regular philanthropist, Kennedy combined his love of football with raising money for charity. He did so by playing for Soccer Aid which raised money for UNICEF UK. He was praised for his performance, winning man of the match.

2021 highlights

Kennedy was the winner of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2021 for his hit single ‘Better Days’, a hopeful melody in the wake of the pandemic.

Kennedy collaborated on the Metallica tribute charity album The Metallica Blacklist, appearing alongside artists such as Sam Fender, Miley Cyrus and Pheobe Bridgers. He covered ‘Nothing Else Matters’ for the collection.

2022 highlights:

As life after Covid began to flourish Kennedy finally began headlining shows throughout Ireland, including locations such as St Anne’s Park in Dublin as well as Cork, Kerry and Belfast in 2022.

Touring the USA and Canada was another major milestone in Dermot Kennedy’s career as his audience continues to grow overseas.

The release of Sonder, Dermot’s second studio album in September to high anticipation.

Outnumbered – Official Music Video

Don’t tell me this is all for nothing

I can only tell you one thing

On the nights you feel outnumbered

Baby, I’ll be out there somewhere

Outnumbered Lyrics

Power Over Me – Official Music Video

You got that power over me
My, my
Everything I hold dear resides in those eyes
You got that power over me
My, my
The only one I know, the only one on my mind

Power Over Me Lyrics

Giants – Live performance on Irish National Television

We used to be giants
When did we stop?
Say the word, and I’ll be yours
You know I never forgot
We were the song in the silence
But time catches up
Just say the word, and I’ll be yours
You know I never forgot

Giants Lyrics

Better Days – Live From NYC Holiday Busking 2021

Better days are comin’
If no one told you
I hate to hear you cryin’
Over the phone, dear
For seven years runnin’
You’ve been a soldier
But better days are comin’
Better days are comin’ for you

Better Days Lyrics

Have you enjoyed our article on the life and discography of Dermot Kennedy? Which Irish artist would you like to see next, Let us know in the comments below! For information on shows, merch and much more you can visit Dermot Kennedy’s official website.

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If you would like to find out more about Co. Wicklow which is home to the eponymous Wicklow mountains, a source of inspiration to Dermot Kennedy, we have plenty of guides including, the spectacular views of Bray Head , Wicklow National Park, the Kilmacurragh National Botanic Gardens, Kippure Adventure Centre, and even the Haunted Wicklow Gaol.

For more articles about Irish music and culture why not check out:

The Best Irish Musicians of all Time | The best Irish Actors of all time | Famous Irish People who made History in their lifetime | Famous Irish Traditions.