Kingfishr: "Hoe Ierser we worden, hoe beter mensen erop reageren"

Dat de band ook buiten Ierland zo aanslaat, blijft bijzonder. "It's crazy to think that outside of Ireland we're having this kind of traction. The Dutch people have just been so warm and welcoming. This is our third or fourth year coming over to Dutch festivals and it's been a bit silly now." Na afloop van hun optreden bleef het publiek zelfs Caroline nog minutenlang zingen. "We were off stage for like two or three minutes and people were still singing the song. It's just insane."

Ierse trots

Volgens Kingfishr duurde het even voordat de band hun Ierse invloeden volledig durfde te omarmen. "I guess we've been afraid of it. We were worried maybe there's a caricature of what it means to be Irish. We wouldn't really be seen as people, more as just leprechauns jumping around the stage."

Toch blijkt juist die eigen identiteit goed aan te slaan. "Every time we've been true to who we are as people, everyone has responded to that. There's a touch of pride about it."

Geen voet van het gas

Ondanks een druk tourschema werkt Kingfishr ondertussen al aan nieuwe muziek. "It's in the works at the moment. We get little pockets between certain things. We were in London for a couple of days recording. I don't think any of us have any intention of slowing down or taking the foot off the gas."

Ook op het volgende album verwacht de band dat de Ierse invloeden vanzelf weer naar boven komen. "The worst thing you could do is try and make it a thing because you want it to be a thing. The best things happen when you're paying no attention and they just kind of fall out."

Doel gevonden

Nog niet zo lang geleden verruilden de drie hun baan als ingenieur voor een bestaan als muzikant. Een spannende stap, maar wel eentje waar ze geen moment spijt van hebben. "Taking the leap to quit your job and get a band was very scary, to be honest. The fact that the music has resonated so strongly with everyone has given us a strong sense of purpose. This was the right thing to do. This is where we're meant to be."

En dat gevoel is na iedere show alleen maar sterker geworden. "I hope we never lose the sense of gratitude. We're four or five years in and it just keeps getting better and better. Everyone just seems to be enjoying us more and more, and we're the same. It's amazing."