I was just listening to an interview with Dermot Kennedy where he mentioned how glad he is that his success comes from his music rather than from "being a celebrity."
It’s such a refreshing take, especially now when it feels like so many artists have to be influencers or professional "personalities" just to get their songs heard. Dermot has always felt like one of those guys who just lets the voice and the songwriting do the heavy lifting without the need for constant stunts or curated drama.
It got me thinking 🤔 who are some other artists you think can actually claim this?
I’m talking about the ones who are massive, but you barely know anything about their personal lives, or they just seem completely disconnected from the "fame" side of the industry. Hozier immediately comes to mind for me, maybe someone like Bon Iver?
Who else is out there just for the craft?
Florence Welch immediately springs to mind - she's massive but keeps her personal life pretty private and the focus stays on the absolutely incredible music she creates. The woman's a proper artist through and through.
Phoebe Bridgers is another one, though she's got more of a social media presence than some others mentioned. Still feels like the music comes first with her though.
2
thejazzman75Mar 28, 2026
+2
honestly so refreshing to hear this from him. feels like half the artists i follow now spend more time on tiktok than actually making music lol.
2
ArrowinthebottomMar 28, 2026
+1
John Cusack once said that celebrity is the worst thing that can happen to an actor. He himself comes from a family of actors, all of whom are easily recognised by people who are fans of their work, but they would be completely missed by the general public because their work is generally at least a little niche. John's most commercial role was as the "ghost" of the narrator's deceased big brother in Stand By Me. Even Grosse Pointe Blank is niche enough that it could not turn anyone into a celebrity. It is also the most accurate piece of nostalgia film about the 1980s.
Basically, what I am getting at is that the biggest professionals, the ones who not only have a lot of experience but can also draw upon familial experience, avoid celebrity like the plague. Carrie Fisher and Liza Minelli never tried to become the name above the film's title on posters, either. They are remembered better by dedicated fans today than The Rock will.
3 Comments