Dani Larkin joy as she returns to play Cork

Since the release of her debut album, ‘Notes For A Maiden Warrior’, Belfast-based multi-instrumentalist and singer Dani Larkin has been praised and encouraged by some of the leading lights in the Irish music industry and further afield. Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol described her as “one of the finest songwriters of our times”.

Since that record release in 2021, she has been on tours with artists such as the aforementioned Snow Patrol, Lisa O’Neill, Glen Hansard, Lisa Hannigan, Rufus Wainwright and Ye Vagabonds, as well as collaborationing with The Ulster Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Her follow-up album, ‘Next Of Kin’ came out in January of this year, and was described as a “transformative experience” in Mojo Magazine. Co-produced with Ruth O’Mahony Brady (Sam Smith, Feist, Gorillaz, The Frames), Dani has described ‘Next Of Kin’ as an exploration of life’s most universal milestones. Ahead of her upcoming concerts in Cork, Dani reflected on separating that praise from her creative output. “Of course it’s such a wonderful thing to be so well received in terms of being an artist, and, of course, the record itself, which is arguably the most important thing, but honestly, those things are quite separate for me.

“The day-to-day of making records and putting them out into the world and touring and all that comes with it, they kind of almost exist in parallel worlds, because for me, I exist in the music… but yes, it’s great that people love it.”

For her, the ability to focus on her second album is quite a milestone. “My first record put me on the kind of map, so to speak, both in terms of an internationally touring artist, but also meaning that I could give myself over to being a musician and artist full time. Releasing this second record has been a bit different; it’s a second body of work that I’ve done now. It’s always about the music, it has to be for me. I have to trust what I think, feel, hear, know and believe; be curious about it and what shows up in it. I really love this record so much, and that’s what the success of it is to me. I’ve created something that I’m so proud of, and I hope that other people enjoy it too.”

She deliberately tries to separate her record-making process from the outside world. “That sort of pressure or worry or concern doesn’t help the work, and it’s not constructive. For me, it’s all about honouring the song, honouring the work, and trusting in that, and then from that everything else will come. For many of us, for many artists, there are different times when we feel pressure, definitely. But what I always come back to is ‘I write songs, and I sing them’, and if I’m happy with that, then that’s the goal.”

Dani lets the music she creates come to her organically. “Music is one of the most present mysteries that we have on the planet. Where does it come from, and how does it happen? And most importantly, how are we so moved by it? I think within that, there’s an element of almost time travel. Some of the songs that are on ‘Next Of Kin’ were written five years ago, and there were so many things that happened between those songs and now.

“It taking this long to be released is not something that I’m in control of, but it seems to have come at a time where it really is making sense on another level. For me, it feels like it’s representative of the times that we’re living in.

“While there is a darkness within the album, there’s also hope within that too, there’s a testament to us carrying on in a new way within that, especially in the track ‘Love And Liberation.’ So, we will move along the path and see where it takes us.”

Getting to come back to Cork brings back fond memories for Dani.

“I did my very first tour just before covid happened, in late 2019, and the very first shows on that tour were in Cork. It’s just been a long love affair since then.

“I remember going to Clonakilty and thinking ‘oh my goodness, I need to live here… now!’ I think there’s a real connection – not necessarily specifically Belfast – but between aspects of the North and parts of Cork. I feel very strongly connected to both. There’s an essence of community; not being the underdog but being the outsider in many ways, and all of those things personally connect me to Cork.”

She has returned here many times over the years.

“I’ve had the very fine pleasure of playing with people like Lisa Hannigan, Ye Vagabonds and Declan O’Rourke, all in Cork. And of course, the Murphys is good, and Cafe Izz is my favourite cafe on this entire island. I’ve really enjoyed my times in Coughlans and Levis as well, they’ve really looked after me over the years, and to keep coming back is a pleasure and a privilege.”

While many people will have seen her solo when supporting larger acts here, Dani will have accompaniment for her upcoming gigs. “For these shows, it will be a duo, so there’ll be another player with me. What’s really cool about these shows is I’m kind of trying to recreate that feeling of a studio record in the live setup. Whereas previously, any of the gigs that I would have done would have been either solo or with a full band, I would have been focusing on playing them as I felt them live. But with this tour, there are so many elements of the record in terms of guitars or instrumentation or music production that I’m bringing into the live setting, so for me, it’s less about who’s involved, and more about what can we do to communicate the record in each place that we visit.”

Dani Larkin plays Coughlans, Douglas Street, on Friday, March 20, and Levis in Ballydehob on Saturday, March 21.