The Irish singer/songwriter has grit, soul, and a love for hip-hop

Dermot Kennedy’s raw, emotive style was cultivated on the streets of Dublin. Kennedy can turn a gentle, acoustic melody into a gut-wrenching anthem by pushing his raspy howl over the edge, as on the soul-baring “Power Over Me,” from his 2019 self-titled debut. While he may be a folk musician at heart—spilling out his romantic yearnings with poetic precision, like fellow Irish singer/songwriters and busking vets Glen Hansard and Damien Rice—he’s also a hip-hop fan, infusing some of his most passionate pieces with smooth, understated beats and collaborating with revered rap producers like Mike Dean.