Dermot Kennedy has said living in Ireland keeps him grounded, even as he continues to play major shows around the world.
Speaking on The Zach Sang Show podcast, the Dublin singer-songwriter said he has never built his career around celebrity and is glad it has happened that way.
"I've never had a song go crazy," he said, adding that while people have connected with his music, he has never had a breakout hit on the scale of Hozier’s Take Me to Church.
Kennedy said trying to chase that kind of success would be "futile" and would only "corrupt the creative process".
He also spoke about the life he has built away from the spotlight, saying one of the things he values most is being able to go home to Ireland and still live normally.
"Any time I flirt with the idea, I’m like, no, I can’t," he said of moving away.
Kennedy said having family close by matters deeply to him, describing Ireland as "a beautiful place" and saying it gives him "the best of both worlds".
Elsewhere in the interview, he spoke warmly about former President Michael D Higgins, calling him "magical" and "so loved by everybody".
He also reflected on the smaller moments in his career that have stayed with him most, including spotting a young fan at his Marlay Park show wearing the jersey of the football team he used to play for.
Kennedy said it is those personal moments of connection, rather than the scale of the occasion, that really bring home what his success means.
