On Our Radar Q&A - Daire Heffernan: “I wouldn't be where I am today without loss”

What sparked your early passion for songwriting?

I started writing songs in a little notebook I had when I was nine-years-old, and I was not able to play any instruments at that time. I was just writing silly little lyrics and I would sing them for my friends in my class. I’d go up to the top of the class and sing a little song for everybody which is really embarrassing looking back now. I think that’s what sparked it from the start.

What inspired your upcoming single ‘Harry’?

It’s the guy that I’m with currently, Harry, and when I stepped in to write the song, it was really weird. All the songs I had written before were grim tales of being 15 and being heartbroken and hating life. I love those songs because they’re very honest to me and to my life, but being able to sit down and write this from a place of happiness was something so freeing. It took me an hour tops to write because it all came so easily, it was just the story of me and him. I’m just so happy I have a happy song to play at a gig for once. I’m really excited in the direction I’m going and I think this song is definitely the first step into that new era of being a bit more joyous and living life to the fullest.

You sing very candidly about your experiences with love and loss in your music. How has loss shaped who you are as an artist and as a person?

I definitely would not be where I am at all without that loss. It took so much away from me losing my dad at such a young age. He was the person who taught me how to play the guitar in the first place and inspired me to go the way I’m going now. Without all those things happening, I wouldn’t be the person I am today and I wouldn’t have the songs that I have. I’m studying music in college right now and the way I’m pursuing music makes me feel very connected to my dad. I would definitely not be in the place I am without that loss happening.

What else do you have in store for 2023?

At the moment I’m very stuck in my writing. 2022 was a year gearing up for releases, like for my EP Wasters. It was a long time of having that in motion and getting it ready for release and planning gigs and stuff around it. Of course, I’d like to do a few gigs this year as well, but for the most part I’m going to take my time writing what I can, hopefully being able to write my debut album this year. Fingers crossed.

‘Harry’ is out now.