Music: Celtic sounds ring out

Noriana Kennedy is fresh from touring Australia's folk festivals together with her Trio band with Nicola Joyce and Noelie McDonnell. In New Zealand, she and Nicola join Pauline Scanlon and Eilis Kennedy to make up the Celtic Divas. Noriana took some time out of her schedule to answer a few questions about her life as a travelling musician.

WHO INSPIRED YOUR LOVE OF MUSIC?

I never thought I'd be a professional singer but from when I was 9 my life was woven with singing and instruments. My biggest influence was my older brother. I wanted to do everything he did, so I loved all the music he loved and he loved a lot of music. Our little cabin in my parents' back garden became a mecca for friends and musicians. We'd have sessions there until the wee hours, sometimes squeezing 20 folks into that small room. Unlike the rest of the divas, and being from Dublin, my rooting in Irish music isn't as strong ... my musical styles weaved their way through hip-hop, soul, reggae to folk and, finally, in my late teens to Irish traditional music.

WHAT ABOUT FAMILY LIFE?

I didn't leave a pining boyfriend behind me in Galway, if that's what you mean. I'm as single as they come and I have my Mam's heart broken. The right guy just hasn't turned up yet and touring from place to place doesn't really lend itself to getting to know anyone for long.

IS IT HARD BEING AWAY FROM HOME?

Not really. One thing you might miss when you're touring is your alone time, routine and exercise but there are plenty of pros like eating out all the time, visiting so many new places and meeting heaps of new people. We're all very lucky. This tour couldn't be more brilliant - the musicians who I'd miss most from home are here together with me.

WHAT MUSICIAN DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?

I don't think I could nail it to one as it changes all the time, but if I had to answer this week, it'd be Feist. Her voice pierces the soul, her songs are clever and relevant to who I am and the production and arrangements are new and old combined. I've been blown away similarly by folk singers such as Joni Mitchell, Sandy Denny, Gillian Welch, Delores Keane and Cara Dillon. Who knows who it'll be next week? My tastes keep changing, what means to me in music bends and folds depending on who I'm with and what I'm doing. The main thing is to keep listening to music because all of it has something to give.

WHAT, TO DATE, HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT?

My biggest achievement was probably getting the guts to record my own solo album. Having your solo album and taking centre stage is a whole new game. To date, it's been nice being in a band, sharing responsibilities and the decision making - but with a solo career, all is left up to me. I've had to step my game up, be a little more confident in what I do and a bit braver in terms of direction and ambition, something that comes with a push from good friends and family who believe in you.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD A CAREER IN MUSIC?

I never thought I'd be a singer. It was always something I loved, but I studied environmental science and afterwards worked doing water monitoring with an environmental consultancy in Galway for five years. With the tough economic times in Ireland the company went belly up and I lost my job in 2010. When my job went it kind of made the decision for me to really embrace singing and my true passion, I recorded the album and went hell for leather at music.

WHEN IT'S PARTY TIME WHAT SONG ALWAYS COMES TO MIND?

At parties it's always nice to sing one that everyone can sing along to. I love American old-time music for this reason, with its repeating choruses and easily learned lyrics.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF NEW ZEALAND MUSIC?

Well, I've been in Wellington for the last three weeks and have been blown away with the talent in such a small town. We caught the Eggs at The Matterhorn, who were amazing, and I'm a fan of Fat Freddies Drop and went to see them two years ago when they played in Ireland.

We've had sessions at our house in Newtown the last two Fridays and met so much talent like Mel Parsons.

I also really like Bic Runga, who I've learnt is of Asian heritage like myself.

WHAT IS THE TOURISTY THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO IN NEW ZEALAND?

Go to Kaikoura and swim with dolphins ... yes, please. It's on my bucket list. I did a skydive in Taupo seven years ago so that ones already scratched off. It's a shame I won't get to do as much touring as I'd like this time around, but we do plan a pit stop in a hot spring of Rotorua on the way to Hastings.

TELL US THREE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WILL SURPRISE OTHERS

My father was a priest and my mother was a nun when they met in the Philippines. I'm 32 - everyone thinks I look 23.

In my previous life I was a specialist at identifying freshwater macro invertebrates.