Musician Kate Nash on Her Irish Heritage and the Reality of Touring

Résumé détaillé

The musician and actor on being stranded alone in Mexico and why travelling with her band is like being part of a circus.

The musician and actor on being stranded alone in Mexico and why travelling with her band is like being part of a circus.

Flora Neighbour: Your new album is influenced by your Irish heritage. Did a particular place inspire one of the songs?

Kate Nash: My family are from Galway, Sligo and Cavan, so I really wanted to explore these places in my artistry. But the track Christmas Eve is actually about my granny and grandad meeting on O’Connell Street in Dublin on Christmas Eve. I’ll always have an affinity with Dublin as that’s where their journey started.

KN: It’s quite a dense record, with some heavy topics, but I want it to be empowering. I also hope that people feel a lot of happiness. Irish music is innately joyful, so I hope it’s uplifting to listen to as well as quite emotional. Nowadays, people are much more open to exploring their heritage, so I think now’s the right time to release this music.

KN: I’d send people to the west coast and tell them to drive up the Wild Atlantic Way. Visit Spiddal in Galway, as it has great places to eat and drink. There’s somewhere right next to my studio, actually, called Builín Blasta Cafe & Bakery. It serves delicious traditional Irish food and overlooks Spiddal Beach.

I’d also tell people to take a road trip through County Clare. Driving through Burren National Park, with its wild landscapes, is one of the most amazing things you can do. I often stop off en route at Homestead Cottage — a Michelin-starred restaurant that serves a seasonal menu and is set in a 200-year-old house.

FN: Your US tour starts in November. Are there any places you’re excited to visit?

KN: I love Boston. It has the best dive bars, coffeeshops and just good people. I also love visiting Los Angeles. I lived in Mount Washington and then Atwater Village for around 10 years, so it’s fun going back. Just being outside in nature was healing. There were incredible hikes close to my home and a mountain at the end of my street!

KN: Being a musician is like being part of…

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