THAT GIRL
Photo by Su Mustecaplioglu.
Ahead of appearing at The GALAS as the musical guest, Ailbhe Reddy spoke to Nicole Lee about her latest album Kiss Big and highlights from her 2026 tour. The Irish singer-songwriter shared insights into her latest projects, inner mantras and maintaining authenticity in her writing.
Ailbhe Reddy’s talent for blending vulnerable, introspective lyrics with gorgeous imagery is unmatched. Her latest album Kiss Big healed me because it’s technically a breakup album, but it feels hopeful. I had the pleasure of chatting with Ailbhe before her performance at The GALAS!
Kiss Big is full of intimate and expansive lyrics. Before the album release, you invited fans to share their worst kiss stories on Instagram, and you performed hilarious songs about them, including a rap about burping pesto. Seeing an artist share their silly creative side is so refreshing. What inspired you to do that?
Labels tell musicians they have to engage with TikTok and Instagram, but the self-seriousness of it feels icky to me. The songs are sincere, but to do a campaign that’s also serious? I’m not that person. I have a good sense of humour – I’m not just constantly crying and reading poetry – so it made sense to have fun and make up little songs for people to interact with.
I love how the album moves through the emotions of ending a relationship. ‘That Girl’ was looping in my head while my ex and I were on a holiday together this summer; “I’ve never been further from you than I am now.” Do you have a favourite from Kiss Big?
People loved ‘Graceful Swimmer’. It’s one of the quieter songs, but whenever I play it live, people are really into it. Same with ‘Untangling’; that one always gets a good response. My favourite is probably ‘Align’ because that’s the thesis: everything will be fine. I have little inner mantras to recentre myself. One is “Everything and everyone will be fine”.
The other is, “You are an adult who is capable of difficult conversations”. I’ll go into difficult interactions like, “Face this, get through this, and in a week, it’ll be less painful. In a month, it’ll be all right. And in like a year, it could be a funny story”. Even with your holiday thing, you’re able to tell it now and jeez, that sucked. But you’ll be telling that story in a few months, laughing.
Absolutely, that’s the evolution of the experience.
Sometimes you end up with people who are not good for you, for whatever reason. But we’re just two good people who are trying our best with the information we have. When someone behaves poorly, you can hold on to that. Sometimes we hurt each other. Sometimes we shut down and treat people badly or get anxious. Everybody does this when they’re in survival mode, but I just hold on to: I know you’re trying.
Wow, I related to all of that, so much wisdom. I’ve lived in Ireland for six years now, and I love my life here, but I still long for the younger versions of myself. Do you feel that living in London?
That’s part of what ‘That Girl’ is about. You’re getting further away from the version of yourself you were when you were with that person, which is real melancholy. It’s sad because of the passing of time, but also kind of exhilarating.
When you perform songs from earlier albums, do you relive those emotions?
Someone sent me a song I wrote when I was 24, and I don’t know who she is. That kid has potential, but my singing voice is so different. I would never write that way now. It’s like reading an old diary and just thinking, “God, that poor kid”.
It’s a total trip whenever you are playing old stuff. I don’t think most people live back in those emotional moments on the regular. ‘Personal History’ is the oldest song I play now, and I usually just think about the next chord, but sometimes you can just find yourself in a headspace where you’re a bit more vulnerable. Everything’s a bit closer to the surface.
That is one of the coolest things about writing, I think. Did I hear that you are writing a book?
Yes, I’m working on a novel! I’m in the middle of the edit, and I’m being very slow, but it’s in the grapevine.
How is the process of writing a novel different from songwriting?
It’s like writing an album and also recording it, producing it, mixing it, mastering it and playing all the instruments. And then an editor comes in, but it’s still on you. If they suggest a change, like “Make Dave in chapter four a unicorn”, you’re the one left to work that into the book.
I can’t wait to read it! To end, do you have a highlight from this year so far?
The album launch party in Dublin! I played in Rough Trade the day it came out, and that was a great experience. I had an amazing tour with Marissa Paternoster, who used to be in a band called Screaming Females. We went on the road together all around the East Coast. And then she came over to Ireland, and we did a few shows together.
With 2026 marking a great year for Ailbhe, we can’t wait to see what she releases next!