Dermot Kennedy is just hours away from his Debut Album Release....but don't let that fool you Kennedy has been hustling for years.
Born and raised in Dublin, Kennedy was often found singing and performing on the streets of Ireland. Wanting to spread his music, but not looking for fame, Kennedy accumulated the money that he made to get just a few hours in a real music studio, where he recorded his first songs release "An Evening I Will Not Forget" including the titled track, "Shelter" and "After Rain" in 2016.
* Dermot Kennedy "An Evening I Will Not Forget" Original Spotify Album Cover
Deciding to release the recorded songs on Spotify, he quickly topped the Spotify Charts appearing on one of Spotify's first "Discover Weekly" Playlist. In what seemed like an overnight success, Kennedy mentioned that fans started coming up to him saying that they attended one of his concerts after hearing him on Spotify. When Kennedy logged into his Spotify count, he noticed that his Daily Plays climbed from 40 a day to 50,000.
Reeling from the online success, Kennedy released more music in Spring 2017 with his first official EP: "Doves & Ravens" featuring newly released songs including "Glory", "All my friends" , "A closeness" and "Boston." His first EP highlighted the poetry and prose woven into his lyrics. The base drop in "A closeness", the belting in "Glory". It was no wonder that Dermot Kennedy quickly made his way onto Taylor Swift's Spotify Playlist highlighting "Songs Taylor Loves" with Kennedy's "Boston."
Kennedy notes that he draws from influences from Bon Iver to Drake. You can hear Iver's tones from Circles on "Doves & Ravens" and laced throughout his music. Kennedy's music focuses on nostalgia and struggles between lightness and darkness, his belting voice hits you in your core, you can feel the emotion in every word he sings.
Glory - Live in Dublin
From the release of his EP, Kennedy went on Tour in the Fall of 2017 hitting a small number US cities, although he frequented smaller venues, he sold out every show including Chicago's Wicker Park, Subterranean. As his followers grew, so did his music output. In just the 3 years after he was discovered on Spotify, Kennedy has released 13 Original Songs with still no major studio album - until now. Dermot Kennedy's first Studio Album "Without Fear" comes out in just a few hours featuring his Hit Single "Outnumbered" and catch him on Tour this Fall.
(Fun Fact: Ed Sheeran featured Kennedy's single on his IG Story a few weeks back....guys he has officially made it on Eddy Sheerz's radar.)
Dermot Kennedy might seem like an overnight success, but don't let it fool you. He has put in the work - growing a following online that started from just a few singles he released on Spotify recorded from the cash he collected performing on the street. Never give up on your dreams, kid.
check him out on all platforms.
and that's the sitch.
EL DE's Pick List:
1. After Rain (2016) the first song of Kennedy's to go viral on Spotify, he closes every concert with this song
* starting at 5:50 - prepare for a broken heart.
2. For Island Fires and Families (2018) drawing on family nostalgia, Kennedy gives you a look into his Irish Roots
3. Power Over Me (2018) Kennedy's first single to perform on US Late Night/Day Time Talk Shows
4. All My Friends (2017) - Drawing on old friends that have come and gone, this song will remind you of simpler times
5. Shelter (2016) - Kennedy's roots, simple but powerful songwriting set to just a piano, chills every time
Best Dermot Kennedy Covers:
1. Heartless - Kayne West
2. Temptation - Joey Bada$$
3. Lover / Flashing Lights - Taylor Swift / Kanye
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