Irish indie artist Maria Kelly has just returned with ‘Drive’, her first single since releasing her debut album ‘The Sum of the In-Between’ in 2021. 

‘Drive’ - which will also be featured on the trailer for new film ‘Ezra’ starring Robert De Niro and Whoopi Goldberg - is “about longing for closure, and grappling with the reality that it may never come. It’s a rose-tinted story of ‘what-ifs’, fuelled by the desire for forgiveness, and the need for permission to finally move on.” 

We caught up with Maria to learn more about her music and background.

1. What’s the music that you listened to growing up, that you still listen to today?
A comfort album to me will always be ‘Like I Used To’ by Lucy Rose. It was the soundtrack of my later teenage years, and started the wheels turning of what playing with a full band could feel like.

2. In three words, describe the minute before you walk on stage.
High-pitched-voice. (My speaking voice seems to jump 3 octaves when I’m nervous, so I sound like some sort of terrified mouse in the moments leading up to performing!)

3. How do you wind down after a gig?
Curling into bed, dark room, 'Brooklyn 99'. 

4. What’s the one song (by another artist) you wish you’d written or recorded first?
Olivia Barton - 'I Don’t Sing My Songs'. It found me during a time where I was debilitated with the feeling the song described, but couldn’t get it out of me in the usual ways. This song captured it perfectly and put simple words to something I couldn’t find words for.

5. What is your pet peeve?
Arrogance. 

6. Name one record, one book and one film that everyone should hear / read / see. 
Record: Angie McMahon - ‘Light, Dark, Light Again’. A particularly great record if you’re in a part of your life where you’re finding it difficult to let go and surrender.. one big exhale of an album. 

Book: ‘Notes To Self’ by Emilie Pine. I loved this book so much that I was reading it while walking to and from places (I don’t recommend this, I did walk into a pole). But I just could not put it down. 

Film: ‘Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret’ - 10/10 film, and I think it is an important watch at any age. I had never seen a film that detailed this part of womanhood in such a delicate, touching and comedic way. You’ll laugh and sob at the same time.

7. Pick the director and lead actor(s) for a biopic about your life.
There is a running joke amongst my friends that I am terrible with films, because I forget the names of everyone as soon as I leave the cinema but… Greta Gerwig…and Ongo Gablogian, with my haircut.

8. You’re ordering take-away, what do you get?
Tofu spice bag, everytime. 

9. Describe your perfect day off.
Somewhere by the sea, with hours to write or read a book, with nobody looking for me!

10. Tell us, in one sentence, why we should come to your next gig (whenever it may be.)
‘A Night of New Things’ on June 6th in the Bello Bar, Dublin! And you should come because it will most likely be my only headline show this year (full of new things, old favourites, and some very special guests)

BONUS QUESTION: Recommend a podcast and tell us why we should subscribe to it. 
‘Growing Up’ by Keelin Moncrieff - refreshing, detailed and hilarious takes on childhood, psychology and growing up!

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Maria Kelly plays Dublin's Bello Bar on June 6th. 'Drive' is out now.