Singer Kerry Fearon tells RSVP Country about growing up around music, coming onto the scene later in life and the best advice she ever received
Kerry Fearon
What’s your earliest memory of country music and where did your interest come from?
My dad was a singer and he had his own band locally. I released my first song in 2015 and things spiralled from there, but I had never sang in public beforehand. My dad was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, so he lost the ability to speak and he had to write everything down. I don’t have the voice he had, but I decided I needed to use it. Once I started singing one thing led to another and my career is in memory of my dad.
Would he have sung to you growing up?
We used to watch Eurovision together back when the songs were of a really good standard and he would tell me he was going to write me a song so I could enter. I’m 44 now, so I’m very late coming into all of this.
Is it harder coming into the scene later in life, or is it easier because you have some life experience?
A bit of both. People have a lot of the ground work done if they have some life experience, they know what’s what and who’s who. I started on radio the same time I got into music, so I knew how the artists sent their music to the radio stations to get air play. I wouldn’t be fooled as easily now as my younger self could have been.
In a way, your career is based on a tribute to your father. Is it nice to have him with you?
It’s lovely. I’m not sure he would believe that I’m actually doing this. I did Glór Tíre and I’m not sure what he would have thought of that if he had seen it. Me performing is like a legacy to him. I got married two years ago, but I kept my maiden name for my music.
Are you still in radio?
I joined Downtown Country when it first launched in 2015, I was working on the station as well as the main Downtown Radio. I stayed there for four years, but I left in 2019 because I had more of an interest in Americana and more roots based music rather than just Irish country music. I wanted to branch out. I took a leap of faith and joined Dundalk FM to set up my own show, The Boots ’n’ Roots Show, and it’s now six years old. The show airs on 30 different stations worldwide including Canada, America and even South Africa.
How does it feel to have a global voice?
It’s great and it’s fun. I focus a lot on promoting small and independent artists. I feel like I’m helping them.
Is it hard to balance life on the road with your work?
My last single was named as ‘Track of the Day’ by Hot Press back in June 2020 and I had a full album ready to go. But I never got back to the producer and he was busy as well, so we’re only getting to release it now. I don’t do the touring I did before Covid and since then I’ve also taken on a permanent teaching job.
Does that suit you, not working in music full-time?
I get the best of both worlds!
Who inspires you?
I’m a big fan of Nanci Griffith and Emmylou Harris. I listen to new music all the time, so my favourites tend to change. I like artists who stick to their guns and do their own thing. I admire people who are authentic.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
I was told to follow my own path, not to worry about what anyone else is doing and not to compare myself to others.
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