Irish singer songwriter Dermot Kennedy has said that he had "a very fruitful time" writing new music in Nashville over the summer and that he has made a third album he is "very proud of".
The yet as untitled record is the follow-up to 2019's Without Fear and 2022’s Sonder and speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, the 32-year-old Dubliner said, "Nashville was a good time, and a lot of good music got made.
"I think people will be happy. I’m reluctant to say I’m going back to the beginning because I don’t want to do that because then what’s the point in having the journey I’ve been on?"
He added, "You learn certain things and you have to go somewhere to come back from it. I think nowadays as well, one thing that is a downside is that people hear things, and you’re entirely defined by that moment. I think musicians should be allowed to try new things and get out of your comfort zone."
"I’ve learnt so much and it puts me in a certain position to make a third album I’m very, very proud or and then a fourth album I’m very proud of."
Kennedy also spoke about his recent decision to take back control of his fan data so he can communicate directly with his audience.
"It’s funny because I didn’t have an awful lot of awareness about how important it is to have that data," he said. "Everything gets put in this chokehold by the music industry and it’s quite a tricky place for artists to navigate.
"That may sound rich coming for me, I’m fine, I’ll be grand but if I was 21 and trying to start a career in music, it would be so difficult. I don’t even know where you’d start and so I think it was important to get my data back because it’s just absurd to think I wouldn’t have it.
"To have worked so hard to build a fanbase and then to go to any city in the US or Europe and the room is packed with people and I haven’t got a clue about any of them but I am glad they’re there.
"I’m not trying to be Machiavellian about it or be clever but the connection isn’t there if I don’t know anything about the people in the room. I’ll learn about it as I go."
Last week, Kennedy announced his new global Irish music and culture festival, Misneach, which will take place in Boston and Sydney next St Patrick’s Day.
"I wanted to set up this festival to celebrate Ireland and our culture," he said.
"I think we’re all so proud of Irish music and always have been. Our culture reaches so far across the world so I wanted to do something that celebrates Ireland and our culture.
"We have always generated music and artists who punch well above their weight."
Kennedy, who has enjoyed massive success in Ireland, has also handpicked three Irish acts from this year’s Ireland Music Week line-up - Cork five-piece Cliffords, Dublin hip hop artist Fynch, and Dublin's Big Love - to appear at Misneach.
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