The stasis of lockdown was an unexpected time for Irish indie-pop to dramatically reinvent itself – with artists like Kynsy setting the standard right from the release of her captivating debut single, ‘Cold Blue Light’, in 2020. She’s since established herself at the forefront of a new movement of young genre-challengers and boundary-pushers, informed by both an international outlook and a distinctively homegrown independent spirit.

The Dublin artist – also known as 24-year-old Ciara Lindsey – has continued to approach her craft with an emphasis on raw authenticity, releasing her debut EP, Things That Don’t Exist, last year. As she’s hinted in her music all along, she’s not afraid to allow things to get unapologetically “weird” – something she’s exploring more than ever on her new EP, Something To Do With Love.

“Personally, I’m more fulfilled when I’m just being a bit more honest with what I want things to sound like,” Kynsy reflects – joining me outside Fegan’s 1924 café in Dublin, ahead of a writing session. “And if that’s something I think no one will like, I’m just going to do it anyway – because at least I stood my ground, in my excitement behind that idea.

“Because of external pressure in the industry, it can be a bit of a rat race,” she adds. “Even Irish acts fall into that. And that just doesn’t make you happy.”

She co-produced Something To Do With Love with BRIT Award-winner Charlie Andrew, famed for his work behind-the-scenes with alt-J.

“He’s so cool,” Kynsy enthuses. “I was in alt-J’s studio, where he works from, and I was just surrounded by all their awards and gear and stuff. He’s a big inspiration, but I was definitely a bit overwhelmed and intimidated by him at the same time. But I that’s the best way to be, because it pushes you out of your comfort zone.

“I’d be kind of worried before working with producers that they’d want to maybe make it more poppy, or think about it more commercially,” she continues. “But Charlie really cared about the art of it. He wanted to push my authenticity.”

Given that her rise to prominence happened largely under the shadow of the pandemic, 2022 has been her first proper festival circuit – including a lauded appearance at Electric Picnic, after which she stopped by the Hot Press Chat Room.

“It’s been a big learning experience,” she says of her busy year so far. “Even the amount of travel, and socialising – it was really intense, because things have been so quiet in the last few years.

"I’m beginning to realise that cliché: ‘Once you start taking something seriously, there is an element of joy that gets taken out of it.’ No matter that it is, even if you’re doing the best job of your life. So there is something to be said for trying to protect the joy in it somehow, which I’m trying to figure out a bit more for myself at the moment.

“Because at the same time, I’m also like, ‘Oh my God, I’m finally doing what I want to do…’”

Something To Do With Love is now.

Kynsy plays Fall Right Into Place, Claregalway Castle, Co. Galway (September 17); Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds (November 4); Broadcast, Glasgow (5); Winthrop Avenue, Cork (17); Upstairs at Dolan's, Limerick (18); The Loft, Galway (19); The Workman's Cellar, Dublin (December 2).