- 2026-02-21
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MUSIC
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Dermot Kennedy Releases New Song “Refuge”
Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy released the second single called “Refuge” from his upcoming third studio album “The Weight of the Woods” on February 20, 2026.
The song follows the lead single “Funeral”, which was released last month.
The album is set to be released on March 27, 2026 via Interscope Records.
“Refuge” represents a tender moment of reflection and introspection before taking flight, backed by gentle acoustic guitar.
It was written by Dermot Kennedy, Mikky Ekko, and Gabe Simon, who also produced the track.
The track features Gabe Simon on guitar, bass, mandolin, accordion and percussion, Sam Westhoff on piano, Colm Mac Con Iomaire on violin, Muireann Ní Shé on uilleann pipes, Carrie Karpinen on drum kit, and Noah Levine on electric guitar.
Dermot Kennedy said of the song, “I like the ‘died trying’ lyric, because it reminds me of 50 Cent’s ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin.’ On stage, I’ll feel supremely confident…Nobody can shake me. I think the people who are close to me will view me as solid and strong, but it’s not always the case. Gabe brought the vulnerability out of me. Instead of asking what I wanted to write about, he took my notebook and started reading it. All of my feelings were on display.”- The new album comprises 14 tracks that draw inspiration, energy, and strength from Ireland itself, and Dermot Kennedy recorded it with producer Gabe Simon in a studio down the road from his home in rural Ireland. The two also recorded portions of the record together in Nashville.
Dermot Kennedy said of the album, “To me, the album is a beautiful homegrown thing with Irish instruments and an Irish story. There’s a forest behind my house, which is a haven for my sense of wonder. It’s a peaceful place where I can escape. I’ve entertained the idea of living somewhere else, but I don’t think I’d be happy anywhere else.”
He added, “If I get up in a pub with just a guitar or a piano, I’m certain that I can sing to a room full of people. It’s where I’m the most comfortable. I wanted that element to be front-and-center on this album.” -
Photo by Silken Weinberg
Background photo by Joel Stagg - source : Apple Music
