It's no secret that most musicians have suffered over the pandemic, but Kildare-native Lea Heart has done the near impossible: launched her entire music career in lockdown.

"I just can't wait to play my first live gig," she says excitedly over Zoom. "For the past year, I've been releasing music and doing so much online, but it's just been at home. I'm excited to be able to get out, and properly play."

Heart's debut self-titled EP is no small feat. Over 5 tracks, she charts the grieving and moving on processes of going through a breakup.

"Every song I recorded was so much fun," she says. "I think my favourite part of the whole process was recording the vocals. They're all my children at this stage."

The pop music packs a serious punch, thanks mostly to Heart's relatable songwriting style.

"I find that a lot of people will ask, 'did you write it about somebody?' I've listened to each track so many times, but when I do listen to them, I'm reminded of a different situation or brought back to a different time of my life. When people hear the lyrics, I love that they can relate them to whatever they want, and make it theirs."

It was also produced by Irish superstars Ryan Hennessy and Jimmy Rainsford - you may know them from a little band called Picture This.

"I started working with them this time last year," Heart says. "And obviously when I first met them, I was a massive fan of theirs. They're so successful. When they reached out and said they'd love to meet up, I couldn't believe it."

Despite being initially starstruck, the trio hit it off.

"They're just such down-to-earth, sound lads," she gushes. "It just felt like talking to normal people. It's grown into a really good friendship, and they've really taken me under their wing, supported me and shown me the ropes - because, obviously, they've done it all. They started where I am, and have grown to where they are now."

It probably helped that all of them are from Kildare. "Kildare people stay together," Heart laughs.

But really, Heart has always had an affinity for the kind of music Picture This excel at.

"I've always loved pop," she says. "I love fun, upbeat music, and my sound reflects that. I grew up listening to summery pop songs in the car with my friends as a teenager."

Growing up, Heart listened to a bit of everything, but she cites Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Adele as her biggest influences. In fact, it was a Dua Lipa concert that made Heart decide to really pursue music. "I remember seeing her when I was only 17. That was a really big moment for me.

"Everyone thinks I have a musical family - it's the polar opposite, actually. I really don't. Both my parents can hold a tune at karaoke night, but they're far from singers. From age six or seven I've loved singing, and they always knew that."

Depite the fact that the music industry can be a volatile place, Heart knows that success isn't measured by how much money she makes. She also knows that her parents are behind her one hundred per cent, having watched her grow up with a deep love for her craft.

"I just surrounded myself with it, growing up, so it was no shock to them at all," she laughs. "They're so happy that I'm doing what I love. They're the best support.

"I'm right where I want to be," Heart continues. "I think they know I have my head screwed on and they know I'll make the right decisions for me."