By Michelle Crean

Reading through old copies of Hot Press Magazine in school - singer-songwriter Donal Lucey could only imagine back then that he'd one day make their pages.

His dream came to fruition last week when the young popular musician from Muckross Road was named in the '#hotfor2022 list!' in the iconic magazine.

Donal, son of Danny and Joan Lucey in Muckross, is currently writing and recording an EP which he hopes to release this summer. The third year student in MTU Cork School of Music has dreams to hit the big time but for now is concentrating on getting back gigging now that places are opening up.

He explained that the last two years have been tough with no live gigs to help him master his craft but is now, after releasing 'Another Love Song' in 2019 and 'Politics of the Heart' in 2021, he's looking forward to the future.

His musical frame of reference is diverse: he has been heavily influenced by modern singer-songwriters like Ed Sheeran and Dermot Kennedy; by hip-hop artists Eminem and Jay-Z; and by indie rockers like Bon Iver and The Lumineers.

Donal, who turned 21 on Wednesday, was featured as 'A New Local Hero' which was part of a feature of Irish Music Month a programming initiative for the month of October, which saw Hot Press join forces with 25 radio stations.

"I was on the train home from college when I heard I'd made the list," Donal told the Killarney Advertiser.
"I waited until I got home and kept it a surprise for my family. They were delighted."

English class in The Sem inspired him to one day make the iconic magazine's pages.

"The back of Seamus Grealy's English class in The Sem there were lots of old Hot Press magazines. There would be big names on it such as U2. I always dreamed that one day it'd be me."

For now he's happy to be listed as one to watch but is dreaming of gracing the front cover one day.

"I have another year in college and I've met so many who are like minded and are helping me with my EP. Things are working out. I'm hoping as things open up I can push on with it. Hopefully when I finish college I can play abroad or big venues. I've supported my brother [Tom Lucey] in the INEC but to play my own gig there would be huge. Any gig at all is huge for me. The whole Hot Press thing is a stepping stone and also a bit of hard work has to go behind it."