Global music star Dermot Kennedy chatted about his new album “Sonder” and his upcoming show at Madison Square Garden in June of 2023.
Kennedy was nominated for the “Best International Male” BRIT Award in 2020, and he has now amassed nearly four billion streams across platforms and has the best-selling debut album in Ireland of this millennium.
Without Fear, Dermot’s impassioned debut album has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide to date, making him a platinum-selling artist in over 12 countries. Notably, his singles, “Outnumbered,” and “Power Over Me” as well as his collaborations with Meduza on “Paradise,” and “Power” with Kevin Gates have all now been certified gold, with “Paradise” alone streaming over 500 million times.
His song “Kiss Me” is Dermot at his pop-finest. A true storyteller, he combines touching lyrics about love’s intensity with an infectious, hook-laden melody that immediately draws the audience in. It was co-penned by Kennedy, Dan Smith, KOZ, and Steve Mac, and it was also co-produced by Mac and KOZ.
‘Sonder’
On the song selection approach for his new album “Sonder,” Kennedy said, “It was not easy. I did that with great deliberation. I had to pick my favorites and I felt that the introduction and the outro are very important and key. Those two songs are really important and right in the middle, you need to have ‘Innocence and Sadness,’ and that feels like it props up the whole thing. I was toying with the idea of calling the album ‘Innocence and Sadness’ so it almost feels like I needed to have these cornerstones scattered throughout the album.”
“The theme for this album is human connection, I think it’s important that we have empathy for one another and that we think about each other’s stories and realize that we are not the only people living them. I would love for that to come out of this album,” Kennedy said.
His distinct ability to unify and heal through his music is a special connection he shares with his audience. He has been an open book about his own struggles with anxiety and imposter syndrome, thus helping others feel seen about their own mental health journeys.
‘Innocence and Sadness’
Speaking of “Innocence and Sadness,” Kennedy listed it as his personal favorite song on the album. “I recorded it live, and the version on the album is the live performance. When I wrote that song it felt like all thoughts of ambition and career disappeared. I just wrote the song simply to write a song and that just felt important to me. It showed up at a time when I really needed it so that was good,” he said.
“I love getting in the studio and messing around with big productions and big arrangements, but yeah, it was important,” he said.
He hopes that people take their time while listening to this album and that they really absorb it. “That’s important to me, and that they really sit with this album. As artists, we put too much time into these albums for them to be just skimmed through. It’s not just about certain songs and the singles, it’s about a story from start to finish,” he acknowledged.
‘Paradise’
Another song he is proud of is “Paradise,” where he collaborates with Meduza. “That was fun,” he admitted. “I was sent that song in the middle of lockdown, and it was so good, I had no choice but to record it.”
The digital age
On being an artist in the digital age, Kennedy said, “It’s interesting for me because I feel like I exist in both worlds. Streaming is very important for me but so is playing shows and getting in front of people in the actual real world. I hope that stays important for a very long time. The digital age has been good to me. I went from doing nothing to doing something thanks to streaming so it has helped me a whole lot. I can’t speak down on it because it gave me the foundation.”
For Kennedy, there is no difference when he sings in the studio vs. performing live. “To be honest, I try and bring it both times,” he said. “In the studio, I am a bit more carefree because I know that I just need to get it one time and then it exists whereas live, I know that I have an hour and a half of singing ahead of me so I would need to preserve something. I am not very good at being cautious when I get out there.”
He prefers singing in the studio because he “feels more relaxed.” “The studio feels more safe for me,” he admitted.
Advice for hopefuls in music
For young and aspiring singer-songwriters and artists, Kennedy encouraged them “not to stop.” “I can’t point to one thing that I did,” he said. “I didn’t do anything in a special way. I just did not stop and for 15 years, nobody has been able to tell me ‘no’.”
Madison Square Garden
Kennedy noted that he is looking forward to performing at New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 14, 2023. “I am excited and looking forward to it, that’s a crazy venue,” he exclaimed. “I want to do something that is worthy of a venue like that. I want to put on a show that deserves to be in that venue. I have had so many special moments in New York, and I know that people from New York and people from outside of New York share that same kind of excitement with me. I don’t want to put on a normal show for them, I want it to be very special.”
His pre-show rituals include him warming up his voice, as well as drinking some whiskey. “I could not sing without doing my warm-ups and scales,” he said.
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Kennedy said, “Relentless.”
Dream duet choices in music
Kennedy listed Justin Vernon from Bon Iver as his top dream duet choice in music, and he would also love to collaborate with Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine. “Even if we didn’t write a song, I would love to be in the studio with him. That would be crazy. To witness Justin working would be a special thing,” he said.
“Florence and I both try to sing with passion and power, and I think it would be a good mix. Her voice is crazy,” he added.
Career-defining moments
On his career-defining moments, Kennedy said, “To be honest, probably before I had a career, I truly do remember the first time that I played in the street and I opened my case up for the first time and I got in everybody’s way, and it was awkward and I was nervous. That taught me to not care much about what other people think of me. It taught me how to play in front of people and just not worry about being judged. That, to me, is a defining moment.”
Superpower
If he were to have any superpower, Kennedy revealed that it would be “to fly.” “Flying just feels good,” he said. “I used to play football/soccer a lot when I was a kid, and that was the only time where my head felt truly empty, free from any worries at all so to fly would be pretty sweet.”
When asked what he would go on “The Masked Singer” as, he noted that he would dress up as “Mr. Blobby” from England.
Success
On his definition of the word success, Kennedy said, “Being happy in life.” “It’s not about selling a certain amount of records or playing for a certain number of people. Although those things may be good and they might bring me some fulfillment, they would not make me fully happy. I think that success needs to come from within for me to be fully happy. Peace of mind is definitely success,” he said.
For his fans, Kennedy concluded about “Sonder,” “I just want them to feel like they can relate to what I am singing about. I want their story to live inside these songs in the same way mine does because music is cathartic and therapeutic for me. I want the fans to feel that too.”
“Sonder” is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
To learn more about Dermot Kenndy, visit his official website, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
