Testing Dermot Kennedy's Music Knowledge
4/20/20267 min
Today on Track Star*, we are joined by Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy. Known for his passionate live performances and poetic lyrics, Kennedy often draws inspiration from folk traditions, hip-hop rhythms, and heartfelt narratives.
In this episode, Jack and Dermot talk about Dermot’s music influences citing hip hop legends such as 50 Cent and J. Cole, as well as the introspective songwriting of Tracy Chapman and Bon Iver. The two revisit timeless classics and reminisce about Dermot’s early busking days in Ireland, gaining a deeper look at the moments and inspirations that helped guide his path as an a...
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJack Coyne· Host0:00
We're live- Oh, perfect.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:01
Cool ...
Jack Coyne· Host0:01
and it's happening.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:01
Great.
Jack Coyne· Host0:02
Introduce yourself.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:03
My name is Dermot Kennedy.
Jack Coyne· Host0:04
How you doing?
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:04
I'm quite well. How are you?
Jack Coyne· Host0:05
Good.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:06
Good.
Jack Coyne· Host0:06
And what kind of music do you like?
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:07
Uh, my thing is, like, acoustic, emotional, da, da, da, but I'm doing that the whole time. 90% of the time probably listening to hip hop, 'cause it's different from what I do, so hopefully that's what I'm doing 90% of this time.
Jack Coyne· Host0:16
There you go.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:17
[laughs] It's like being two ways.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:19
Easy peasy.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:19
Call me anytime you do.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:20
You're being nice to me. I'll see if I can. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:23
That was gonna be the hit, apparently. So it was that and In the Club were, like, in contention.
Jack Coyne· Host0:26
That song's underrated now.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:28
It's a nice problem to have if that's- Every song on that album From a songwriting point of view, it's just crazy to me. Like, if he's, has a lyric in that song like Breitling baguette bezel- I'm on the next level.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:36
Breitling baguette bezel. Benz pedal to the metal. Hotter than a ticket-le.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:40
How can you not be drawn to that, you know?
Jack Coyne· Host0:42
Lyrically inspired by 50 Cent.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:44
Oh, man, 100%.
Jack Coyne· Host0:45
Dermot Kennedy. [laughs] Okay, you're one for one.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:47
How many are there?
Jack Coyne· Host0:47
As many as you want.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:48
I keep my head high.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:51
This is J. Cole, right?
Jack Coyne· Host0:52
Yes, it is. You like J. Cole?
Dermot Kennedy· Guest0:53
I'm a big fan, yeah. I don't know, I'm inspired by him as a person too, you know? It's kinda like just how he lives his life. Like, I know you could sort of casually see him around here and stuff. I, I think one of the things I love most about my career is that I still have a very normal life, and I'm very proud of that, so yeah.
Jack Coyne· Host1:08
He's not flashy.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest1:09
No.
Jack Coyne· Host1:09
You don't have, you're not wearing, like, a really blinged out watch, are you?
Dermot Kennedy· Guest1:12
No, I'm not, no. And if I owned one, I just wouldn't wear it.
Jack Coyne· Host1:14
[laughs] All right. Let's do something different.
Speaker 2· Soundbite1:18
It might be over soon.
Dermot Kennedy· Guest1:20
It's Bon Iver. This is my North Star.
Jack Coyne· Host1:23
Yeah?
Dermot Kennedy· Guest1:23
That second album was when I was 19. It was a very formative part of my life, and I remember listening to that second album, and all his stuff sits in my