Folk Artist Darren Kiely Inks With UTA
Pictured (L-R): Josh Garrett (UTA), Beth Morton (UTA), Scott Clayton (UTA), Darren Kiely, Brendan Rich (Rich MGMT), Sarah Paravia (Rich MGMT), Buster Phillips (UTA), Sarah Casey (UTA), Sydney Bryant (UTA). Photo: Courtesy of UTA
Irish singer-songwriter Darren Kiely has signed with UTA for worldwide representation in all areas.
Kiely is the flagship artist for Sony Nashville’s new non-country label Free Flight Records, and hails from a quaint town in Co. Cork, Ireland. His folk-infused pop sound originates from his inherited love of traditional Irish music, intertwined with modern influences such as The Lumineers and Noah Kahan. At just five years old, Kiely learned the tin whistle, and at eight, he picked up the fiddle, eventually teaching himself to play guitar as well. He began singing in 2019, quickly garnering attention for his raw and fervent vocals and emotive delivery.
After winning numerous honors at a national level in Irish traditional music, Kiely moved to New York in 2022 to continue developing his own music and sound. Since then, he’s worked with producer David Baron (The Lumineers) and has entered Ireland’s top 50 viral charts three times with his debut singles “How Could You Love Me,” “Ella” and “Time To Leave.”
Kiely’s song “Mom & Dad” debuted in the top 40 on the Irish Singles Chart and put him in the top five on the Irish Homegrown Chart. The singer-songwriter also recently landed a No. 1 on the Official Irish Homegrown Chart with new track “Sunrise” from his recently released EP Lost.
In January 2024, Kiely began his expanded 33-date headline North American tour, “The Lost Tour,” selling out rooms in Chicago, Toronto, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and more. He will be embarking on the second leg of the North American tour in early March 2024.
