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The Old School House: A place where music returns to its roots. Our acoustic sessions are completely stripped back — no electronics, no gadgets, just live instruments, voices, and the stories behind the songs. Inspired by the way folk musicians once gathered around a fire or in a local parlour, these sessions celebrate the joy of sharing music in its purest form.
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Acclaimed songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Dani Larkin has announced her highly anticipated new album Next Of Kin, set for release on January 23rd, 2026. The first single, End Of It All, out September 18th, offers a first glimpse at the stunning progression of her sound, fusing her signature storytelling with bold new sonic textures to create a track that is as urgent as it is unforgettable.
The critical success of her debut, Notes For A Maiden Warrior (2021), garnered Folk Award and NI Music Prize nominations and led Larkin to tour with Snow Patrol, Lisa O'Neill, Glen Hansard, Lisa Hannigan, Rufus Wainwright and Ye Vagabonds as well as collaborations with the Ulster Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Next Of Kin, co-produced with Ruth O'Mahony Brady (Sam Smith, Feist, Gorillaz, The Frames), is an ambitious and deeply emotive body of work. A sonic and lyrical exploration of life's most universal milestones — from the innocence of birth to the acceptance of life's end.
Anchored by Larkin's striking vocals, the album moves through a trilogy-like structure:
Part I journeys from darkness to coming-of-age revelations, including the spirited track David.
Part II dives into adulthood's complexity — love, fear, beauty, courage, doubt, hope — with expansive orchestral arrangements and delicate storytelling.
Part III closes in a place of resolution and homecoming, culminating in the poignant farewell, Danny Boy.
"Next Of Kin is a snapshot of what it means to be human in today's world. A sonic landscape within which contradiction and connection are explored through the fundamental and universal aspects of humanity; love, fear, loss, beauty, doubt and courage. It's intended as a companion through the different stages of life, from birth, with Morning, to greeting death as an old friend in Danny Boy. A pondering on who or what is Next Of Kin. The first single, End Of It All, is offered as a song of the times." says Larkin.
The forthcoming single End Of It All distills the urgency of our times into a bold sonic statement. Marrying Larkin's signature storytelling with industrial drum beats, raw guitar solos, and a haunting reimagining of the children's rhyme Row Your Boat, the track balances playfulness and foreboding — a reflection of modern life's contradictions.
"Hotly tipped singer-songwriter" -Mark Radcliff, BBC Radio 2
"That rich contralto voice she has,only Larkin and Annie Lennox has that sort of richness to their vocal" -Sean Rocks,RTÉ Arena
'Beautiful, powerful…absolutely stunning.' -Anita Rani, Woman's Hour
