Dermot Kennedy

December 13, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Dermot Kennedy, an Irish singer and songwriter, was born on December 13, 1991. He is popular for his 2019 single titled ‘Outnumbered’ and his feature on Meduza’s 2020 single ‘Paradise.’ He was signed to Interscope Records in the U.S. and to Island Records. His first major label studio album called “Without Fear” was released in October 2019. Today, we are going to celebrate this talented artist’s birthday with insights into his life!

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Dermot Joseph Kennedy

Birth date:

December 13, 1991

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Sagittarius

Height:

5' 10.86"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$5 million

Background

Dermot Joseph Kennedy was born and raised in Rathcoole, Dublin, Ireland. The young singer-songwriter started playing the guitar at age 10 and composing songs at age 14. He didn’t take music seriously, however, until he was about 17. Both his father and mother supported him in his interest in music. He once said he was particularly grateful to his father for often taking him to downtown Dublin to perform at open mic nights when he was still a minor. His mother, on the other hand, enrolled him at the prestigious Maynooth University in County Kildare where he studied classical music for three years.

In addition to his solo career, Kennedy started a band called Shadows and Dust with three friends during his years at Maynooth University, including Micheál Quinn, his current drummer. The band disbanded in 2015 — this, he regretted because he really enjoyed being a part of it.

In 2018 and 2019, he held concert tours in the United States, Australia, and Europe — tickets were sold out and all venues were filled to the rafters. He also played at festivals such as Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, South by Southwest, and Austin City Limits Music Festival. He played at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2019. In 2018, he was named National Public Radio (N.P.R.) Slingshot’s New Artist of the Year and appeared at N.P.R.’s Music Tiny Desk Concert in a 14-minute live acoustic session and at W.G.B.H.’s Fraser performance studio in a 20-minute live session.

Career timeline

2009

The Beginning

Inspired by great names in contemporary Irish folk music, Kennedy starts playing music in the streets of Dublin.

2019

His First Album

After many singles and E.P.s, Kennedy finally releases his first album titled “Without Fear.”

2021

His Hit Single

Kennedy’s hit single ‘Nothing Else Matters’ is included on the charity tribute album “The Metallica Blacklist.”

2022

Another Album

Kennedy releases the album “Sonder.”

Why We Love Dermot Kennedy

His humble beginnings
Like songwriters Damien Rice and Hansard, Kennedy rose through the ranks, so to speak. He officially started his career when he was a teenager busking for many years around Dublin.
He’s down-to-earth
He doesn’t really like to think about fame. He says there are a lot of things about fame that can pull him away from what he really loves to do — making music.
He’s committed
He says he’s lucky in the sense that everything he has was something right before it started (and still is). But that doesn’t mean everything was easy; he has made numerous personal compromises in regard to his career, like being away from his family for long periods.

5 Surprising Facts

Glen Hansard inspired him
Kennedy was inspired by his fellow countryman, who is the frontman of the Irish rock band, The Frames.
He’s compared to another songwriter
He has often been compared to singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.
A fan of a folk band
He is a huge fan of Bon Iver, an American indie folk band formed.
His famous aunt
His aunt is the veteran RTE newscaster and writer, Mary Kennedy.
Kennedy’s music style
Kennedy often mixes folk music and hip-hop in his compositions and performances.