Dermot Kennedy

Biography

Dermot Joseph Kennedy (born 13 December 1991) is an Irish singer and songwriter. His music blends folk and hip-hop. He is signed to Interscope Records in the US and Island Records for the rest of the world. Kennedy gained worldwide recognition in 2016 when Spotify added two of his self-released tracks to its influential playlists. His discography includes three albums: Without Fear×Without Fear4 October 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1An Evening I Will Not Forget4:062All My Friends4:073Power Over Me3:274What Have I Done3:375Moments Passed4:316The Corner3:217Lost3:448Rome3:229Outnumbered4:0610Dancing Under Red Skies3:4711Outgrown3:2012Redemption3:4813Without Fear5:1914Glory3:4215Young & Free4:2716Couldn't Tell4:1717For Island Fires and Family4:46 (2019), Sonder×Sonder18 November 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks1Any Love2:142Something to Someone3:183Kiss Me3:494Dreamer3:015Innocence and Sadness4:136Divide3:237Homeward3:398One Life3:579Better Days3:1810Already Gone2:4211Blossom2:41 (2022), and The Weight of the Woods×The Weight of the Woods3 April 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1The Weight of the Woods (reprise)1:042Honest3:393Refuge3:384Funeral4:035Endless3:466Sycamore3:457Often. Lately3:198Turnstile3:509Wasted3:4310Blue Eyes3:3711Trepidation4:0712The Only Time I Prayed4:2913Happiness3:3314The Weight of the Woods3:42 (2026) as well as four 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 "Power Over Me×Power Over Me16 October 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Power Over Me3:272Power Over Me (acoustic)3:203Power Over Me (Ten Ven remix)4:46" (2018), "Outnumbered×Outnumbered13 June 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Outnumbered4:06" (2019), "Giants×Giants24 June 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Giants2:57" (2020), "Kiss Me×Kiss Me23 September 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Kiss Me3:492Kiss Me (acoustic)4:013Kiss Me (piano)3:384Kiss Me (guitar)3:385Kiss Me (acoustic, live from Boston 2022)3:466Kiss Me (Paul Woolford remix)4:05" (2022), and he is featured on "Paradise×Paradise30 October 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Paradise2:47" (2020) by Meduza.

Early life and family

Kennedy grew up in Rathcoole, County Dublin, Ireland, the son of John and Eileen Kennedy. His paternal aunt is Mary Kennedy, an Irish TV personality and former newscaster and the host of Eurovision Song Contest 1995.
Kennedy began learning how to play guitar at age 11, after seeing an older cousin play at a family party. When he was 13, he received 50 Cent's first album, which inspired him to listen to hip hop artists such as Jay-Z and Eminem. By age 15, his father, who supported his music endeavors, was taking him to open mic nights in Dublin. He began songwriting at age 16. Kennedy was accepted to Maynooth University in 2009 based on an application for a classical music program submitted by his mother; he graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Music in 2012. During his studies, he formed a band, "Shadows and Dust", which were together for 4 years before disbanding in 2015.

Career

Kennedy began busking on Grafton Street in Dublin at 16-17 years old.
In 2010, Kennedy self-released the EP Dancing Under Red Skies×Dancing Under Red Skies2010 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1This Woodland Won't Listen2Drop in Low3Each Year Forever4Snow Road5Your Tape.
Kennedy participated in Glen Hansard's annual Christmas Eve busk, aggressively positioning himself near Hansard during the jam. Hansard was impressed with Kennedy's harmonies, and years later, in December 2014, Hansard invited Kennedy to sing for 10 minutes during his show with The Frames at Vicar Street in front of 1,500 people.
In his first career breakthrough, Kennedy won first place in 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×An Evening I Will Not Forget18 November 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1An Evening I Will Not Forget (Acoustic)4:10" to Spotify. In February 2016, Spotify featured that song, and later "After Rain×After Rain1 April 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1After Rain4:54", another song by Kennedy, on its "Discover Weekly" playlist. This resulted in overnight recognition and royalties; Kennedy thanked Spotify CEO Daniel Ek by email.
In June 2017, Kennedy played his first shows in North America, which he self-organized.
After much interest from lawyers, record labels, and management companies, Kennedy chose Olivia Plunket and Ed Millett at TaP Music to represent him in talent management.
"Young & Free", released in March 2018, was his first single to chart; it reached No. 82 on the Irish Singles Chart.
In April 2018, Kennedy digitally released the EP Mike Dean Presents: Dermot Kennedy×Mike Dean Presents: Dermot Kennedy6 April 2018 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Young & Free4:262Couldn’t Tell4:163An Evening I Will Not Forget/Furthest Thing6:244Swim Good3:595Moments Passed (Mike Dean remix)4:24, in collaboration with rap music producer Mike Dean. Kennedy said that the hip hop studio environment completely changed his outlook on his own music.
In August 2018, Kennedy performed for Tiny Desk Concerts by NPR. In September 2018, he performed at WGBH-TV's Fraser performance studio.
Kennedy's breakthrough came with the release of "Power Over Me×Power Over Me16 October 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Power Over Me3:272Power Over Me (acoustic)3:203Power Over Me (Ten Ven remix)4:46" in October 2018; it reached No. 10 on the Irish Singles Chart, and, in the US, it reached No. 21 on Hot Rock Songs and No. 5 on Adult Alternative.
In December 2018, Kennedy was voted by listeners as NPR Slingshot's Best New Artist of The Year. He made the BBC's Sound of 2019 nomination list.
In October 2019, Kennedy released his first complete album, Without Fear×Without Fear4 October 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1An Evening I Will Not Forget4:062All My Friends4:073Power Over Me3:274What Have I Done3:375Moments Passed4:316The Corner3:217Lost3:448Rome3:229Outnumbered4:0610Dancing Under Red Skies3:4711Outgrown3:2012Redemption3:4813Without Fear5:1914Glory3:4215Young & Free4:2716Couldn't Tell4:1717For Island Fires and Family4:46. It includes "Outnumbered×Outnumbered13 June 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Outnumbered4:06", which peaked at number 6 on the UK singles chart, his first appearance on the chart. He was also featured on Paradise by Meduza, which reached number 5 on the UK Singles Charts in November 2020.
Kennedy was nominated for international male solo artist at the 2020 Brit Awards.
In March 2022, Kennedy won the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year 2021 for his song "Better Days×Better Days28 July 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Better Days3:18".
He released Sonder, his second studio album, in November 2022. He described 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×I've told the trees everything15 March 2024 · EPSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks1Two Hearts4:062Lessons3:013Lucky5:384Sunday2:58". The EP’s cover and vinyl inserts feature Kennedy's distinct chirography.
In April 2026, he released his third studio album, The Weight of the Woods×The Weight of the Woods3 April 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1The Weight of the Woods (reprise)1:042Honest3:393Refuge3:384Funeral4:035Endless3:466Sycamore3:457Often. Lately3:198Turnstile3:509Wasted3:4310Blue Eyes3:3711Trepidation4:0712The Only Time I Prayed4:2913Happiness3:3314The Weight of the Woods3:42. It debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart, making Kennedy first Irish artist to have three number 1 albums.

Philanthropy

In early 2020 Kennedy contributed a cover version of "Resolution×Resolution4 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Resolution3:38" by Matt Corby for the album Songs for Australia, organized by Julia Stone to raise proceeds for relief after the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy participated in the Billboard Live At-Home virtual concert to raise money for Housing Works. In May 2020, Kennedy organized his own virtual concert, Sound Waves, in support of the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
In September 2020, in the Soccer Aid celebrity charity match to raise funds for UNICEF UK, Kennedy played for the World XI team against England; he scored a goal and his team won 4-3 in a penalty shootout, with Kennedy named "Man of the Match".
In 2021, Kennedy contributed a cover of the Metallica song "Nothing Else Matters" to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist.

Influences

Kennedy cites David Gray, specifically the White Ladder album, and Glen Hansard as his earliest influences for his folk style, also crediting Ray LaMontagne and Damien Rice. His later influences include Justin Vernon, Stormzy, and Drake. Kennedy has said that he derives his ambition from sports.

Personal life

In 2022, Kennedy purchased a house in Ireland close to his parents' house. He is intentional about maintaining his privacy, saying he has "always been resistant to the idea of celebrity".
Kennedy is an avid football fan and player.
Kennedy is not sure if he believes in God, but says he believes in spirits.
Kennedy is married to Aisling Finnegan and has a daughter.

Studio albums

Without Fear (2019)
Sonder (2022)
The Weight of the Woods (2026)

Festivals

2017 Bonnaroo Music Festival
South by Southwest (March 2018)
Lollapalooza (August 2018)
Austin City Limits Music Festival (October 2018)
Coachella 2019 (April 2019)
ElectricPicnic (August 2019)