On Our Radar Q&A - Ferna: "A big aspiration of mine would be to play the Other Voices church one day in Dingle"

How did you first get into making music?
I remember listening to the song ‘After The Ball’ on the Celtic Women album as a six-year-old and the story of it - unnecessary heartbreak, big twist at the end - absolutely blew my tiny mind. From that day on, I wanted to be a lyric writer - it was the words that really hooked me.

How did the experience of moving to the US to complete your masters influence your music? 
It definitely influenced the subject matter – I was living near Detroit and learning a bit about the Civil Rights movement, so there are a couple songs on the album loosely inspired by Coretta Scott. Sonically, it is far more adventurous than my previous material, mixing electronic and organic sounds, big fat synths and modern classical orchestration. Living in the US definitely made me braver artistically.

How do you feel about the upcoming release of your debut album?
To be honest, the main feeling is one of relief - it’s been such a big, time-consuming project. Getting it out there will feel like that moment at the top of a rollercoaster, after you’ve been slowly climbing up notch by notch. I can’t wait to finally have a body of work I can point people to, and feel I can stand behind 100%.

What’s next for you?
I’m working on putting together a five-piece live band that can do the album justice, play some headline shows and tour. I’ve been playing solo for the last wee while, but I can’t wait to get a band behind me, and hopefully go on my first tour around Ireland and the UK in 2023. A big aspiration of mine would be to play the Other Voices church one day in Dingle – it always looks so dreamy and magical.

• Ferna supports Benjamin Amos in Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart (December 17) and Joshua Burnside in Duncairn Arts Centre (January 20). 

Read the full A&R Department in the new issue of Hot Press, out now.