Stephanie Rainey is Ireland’s answer to Christina Perrie and Katie Melua. In true Corkonian fashion, the Glanmire girl has pursued her singer-songwriter ambitions since her playground days. However, from studying music in college to touring America and Canada, it took Rainey time to find herself. “It took me a long time to figure out what I actually wanted to do, and what I wanted my sound to incorporate,” she reflects. “I was constantly bettering myself and perfecting my musicianship.”

Rainey’s music has a real emotional resonance – unless you’re especially blackhearted, you will be brought to tears. An EP released in 2014 was only the start for the singer, as her profile has since skyrocketed with the single ‘Please Don’t Go’. Timeless in nature, ‘Please Don’t Go’s aching lyrics and vulnerable melodies resonated with audiences globally. “I get choked up every time I play it,” says Rainey. “It is so personal to me, I wrote it nine years after I lost my nephew. Baby Fionn was just short of his first birthday when he passed away from meningitis. The pain that I went through was indescribable, but it increased my empathy massively. I wanted to do this song as a testament to all those beautiful people.” With an ethereal feel, Rainey’s fragile lyrics and soft melodies will leave you yearning for more.

Record deal offers came in by the bucketload following the singer’s overnight success, as she acknowledges. “I had nonstop calls from these huge corporations and I was sat on couch in Glanmire!” laughs Stephanie. “It was really intense and I had a lot of big decisions to make, but now I have an amazing team around me. It’s hard but I’m a realist and I know that if I don’t put in the work, this could all end very quickly.” It won’t be ending any time soon, as Rainey has clearly defined goals. “I want two albums behind me and a lot of travelling done,” she says. “Of course, I wouldn’t be averse to having a Grammy in hand also!”

See: Her ‘Please Don’t Go’ video on YouTube.