jamie duffy

From TikTok virality to sold-out concert halls, Jamie Duffy is rewriting the rules of modern Irish music. At just 23, the Glaslough-born composer and pianist has captivated millions with his hauntingly cinematic sound, rooted in tradition, yet undeniably forward-thinking. Blending Irish folk, neo-classical minimalism, and contemporary influences like Lana Del Rey and Ludovico Einaudi, Jamie’s music is both intimate and expansive. But behind the millions of streams and viral moments is a grounded, thoughtful artist with a story to tell. Ahead of his highly anticipated EP For the Moon and European tour, GNI MAG sat down with Jamie to talk about musical alchemy, creative vulnerability, personal grounding—and what comes next for one of Ireland’s most exciting young talents. >>>

Thanks for taking the time to chat Jamie, you are somewhat illusive. I stumbled across your music on Spotify and fell in love though im keen to find out more about you and share with our audience. First off, how would you describe your upbringing and family life?

I am very privileged to have had a wonderful, rural upbringing, I could not have wanted anything better. The home I grew up in is in Glaslough, only a stroll away from the village which is one of the most beautiful places in Ireland. My childhood was filled to the brim with music, my family headed the local musical society which put on these wonderful productions in the village each year and everybody would get involved. My mother who was a designer for years used to make dozens of intricate and beautiful outfits for the stage and my grandfather was the musical director. They were small community shows, but it felt like Broadway, it was joyous!

How has growing up in Glaslough shaped your artistry and worldview? Do you still draw creative energy from home?

Glaslough is a little village filled with a lot of magic, I think it has it all really. There are these beautiful lakes, fields, and forests which create the backdrop for the village, a little bit of paradise really, and then nestled amongst that all you have a place that has got an enormous heart and sense of community at its core. The people there have really shaped me into the person and musician I am today, particularly the older members of the community. I was always very involved in village life growing up and indeed I still am, from Tidy Towns to musical societies and I am sure all of it will have a lasting and positive influence on my music and my perspective as I go through life.

You studied International Relations before music took over, does that part of your life still influence how you see the world or express yourself?

Yes, it does. I have always had a very deep interest in politics, and if music were not my life right now, I imagine I would currently be working as a political journalist or for the Department of Foreign Affairs. I grew up right smack-bang on the border, so I guess it’s only natural that I am fascinated by how different that part of the world was just a few years before I was born. I do believe politics can oftentimes be the match to music’s fire though, something I based my Ted Talk at Stormont in January 2024 around, and I believe music to be one of the most powerful mediums for political change. I remember that I played quite a rousing tin whistle piece at the very end of my speech in Stormont and the very next day the power sharing executive was restored, quite hilarious timing obviously, but there’s power in music!

When you’re not writing or performing, what brings you joy or keeps you grounded?

(Books, TV, weird hobbies—spill!)

I moved to Dublin last year, so when I am off the hook from touring or recording, I love nothing more than to just go out with friends, which probably happens a lot more than it should. I somehow (very fortunately) stumbled across the cheapest rent in Dublin and live in a lovely gaff in a fabulous part of the city, the downside however is that I’ve got a bit of a box room so any excuse to get out and about works for me! Most of my mates have 9-5’s alas so my newest hobby is the gym next door which I am finding painfully intimidating but nonetheless refreshing.

What’s something you’re really passionate about outside of music that people might not expect?

Growing up I always loved cars, and recently I went and bought a VW Beetle which I had always wanted. I used to cringe at seeing people go mad for their cars and now I kind of get it. I actually recently took a road trip down to West Cork and it was glorious. I know some people hate them but I am lowkey obsessed.

Your debut single Solas went viral almost overnight, can you take us back to the moment you realised your music was connecting with millions?

It was a pretty crazy experience. I remember that I had posted a little bit of Solas before going to sleep, which at the time was complete, on the spot improvisation. The next morning, I woke up and it had blown up, the first time that had happened for an original piece of mine. Seeing it have that immediate impact was a rare and beautiful thing, and its lasting impact was that those few seconds of magic opened a door for me to make music my entire life. I very easily could have decided not to post anything that night which would have meant I never would have composed that piece, so in a way that also demonstrated to me how you must make your own luck and create your own opportunities in this life!

Your sound blends Irish traditional music, cinematic neo-classical, and pop influences, how did that style evolve, and who or what inspires it today?

I don’t think that I am ever too overly aware or conscious of making music in a certain style or sound, nor do I try to emulate anything else. All my compositions come from moments of improvisation which I then develop, and I think that these naturally reflect the music and the influences I have grown up around but create a sound that I feel is quite distinctive and unique. If we are talking names though, I would like to think that if Enya, Ludovico Einaudi, and the country of Ireland had a lovechild it might look and sound something like me.

You’ve cited artists like Lana Del Rey, Einaudi, and Enya as influences. What’s a song or artist you love that would surprise people?

One of my favorite artists of all time is Joan Baez, her voice is just so distinctive and filled with passion. Her cover of The House of the Rising Sun introduced me to her music, and it had a huge impact on me when I first heard it. I think I was about 12 years old and remember that my parents were away when I heard it on an MTV show, I can vividly recall rewinding and listening to the song about 20 times, she is an icon.

You’ve collaborated with stunning musicians like Patrick Dexter and Peter Sandberg. Who’s on your dream list for a future project, any genre, any era?

In the coming couple of years, I want to explore more vocal and electronic elements, perhaps delving into a completely different world that will run separate to and alongside my neoclassical work, but I must figure that out yet! There are a couple of definite side quests and projects I am eager to jump into asap once my album is out so definitely watch this space. My top three dream collabs however would right now consist of CMAT, Patrick Watson and Enya of course!!

Scoring films and composing for orchestras, are those long-term goals for you, or are you more interested in touring and recording?

I just scored my first ever film actually, which just so happened to be quite a large production and have a plot that I formed a huge connection with. It’s a truly beautiful film starring some of my favorite actors, so it was a wonderful pinch me opportunity and also a very insightful experience for me, considering this was my first time ever scoring anything! Hopefully it will be out in the near future, and I can talk a little more about it, and hopefully it will lead to a couple more projects as I really loved the process of writing and recording music for screen! But yes, being able to have both a healthy artistic career and a healthy screen composer career would be the dream goal!

You’re venues, what’s one “pinch-me” moment that still doesn’t feel real?

There’s been quite a few over the past while supporting Andrea Bocelli in front of thousands of people at Hyde Park was special, my trailer backstage was beside Hans Zimmer’s who was a special guest at the show which was incredibly cool to say the least. That was an experience like no other and it has since fueled a fire in me to get to that level of success in the future myself!

1You’ve got a strong presence on platforms like TikTok, do you see that as just a tool for visibility, or is it a part of your artistry in its own right?

Social media is something I am always careful with. It is so important not to get too hung up over numbers or statistics as that will ultimately get in the way of your artistry and creative processes. I treat social media as a window into people’s lives which I can put things in, and if people like it great, if it flops sometimes - also great, that is life and that is normal. All that matters to me is that I stick to my music and my melodies and let the rest follow, using social media to show people me, my music and the world behind it all!

Your music has this beautiful emotional honesty, has that ever felt exposing, or do you see it as a kind of strength?

There is nothing more personal than music, yes sometimes it can feel terrifying handing something you painstakingly designed and perfected over to somebody else, but there is so much beauty in that, and to be honest I think that having those things you created, (in my case music) absorbed, loved and creating meaning in someone else’s world is the greatest feeling. That trumps the scary parts!

Tell us about your prior EP For the Moon includes poetry from your grandmother, and what fans can expect next?

My recent EP for the moon was a collection of late night compositions which was recorded on a very delicate and soft piano. For this project, I included a little poem which I recorded my granny saying as she sat by the fire at her home in

Glaslough and it was a little impromptu reflection on life which was really beautiful to record! Looking forward though - it’s a busy time ahead for me at the moment, my debut album is up next and she is coming out in mid October, the first single off that is called Rising, a big sexy tin whistle piece!

I am also really excited to get back touring soon across Ireland, the UK and Europe and I am buzzing to perform all of this music live and create some lovely memories in the process!

Interview by Daniel May

Jamie Duffy is more than just a rising star, he’s a genre-blurring force of nature, quietly reshaping the emotional landscape of modern music. Whether he’s weaving the poetry of his grandmother into a cinematic score or sending TikTok into a spiral with a single piano phrase, his artistry speaks directly to the soul.

And while his sound may often feel ethereal, his vision is crystal clear: stay rooted, stay honest, and keep pushing forward.

As Jamie steps confidently into this next chapter, it’s clear he’s not just composing music, he’s composing a legacy.

Visit www.jamieduffymusic.com to pre order Jamie’s debut album. You will also find links here to all upcoming tour dates including Belfast's Ulster Hall on Sat 27th Sep which had availability at time of print.