Gemma Dunleavy

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Gemma Dunleavy | birth_place = [[Dublin]], [[Ireland]] | genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[UK garage|garage]], [[Grime music|grime]], [[Electronic music|electronic]] | occupations = Singer-songwriter, poet | instruments = Vocals, keyboards }}

'''Gemma Dunleavy''' is an Irish singer-songwriter. She is best known for her song "Up De Flats", which was an underground hit in Ireland.<ref name="thetimes"/>

== Early life == Dunleavy was born in [[Dublin]] and grew up on [[Sheriff Street]] in a working-class neighborhood. She lived in the Phil Shanahan Flats, a public housing complex which was demolished in the late 1990s. Dunleavy characterized the community as "like one big family", with close ties between neighbors.<ref name="inquirer">{{cite news |last1=Donnelly |first1=Dave |title=In Sheriff Street, a Musician Draws Inspiration from Her Surroundings |url=https://www.dublininquirer.com/in-sheriff-street-a-musician-draws-inspiration-from-her-surroundings/ |access-date=14 August 2025 |publisher=Dublin Inquirer |date=22 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

As a child, she enjoyed singing but felt she had no outlet. “I used to try and sing over stuff I had taped on my radio. No one around me was into art, it wasn’t a normal thing in my family or around my road.” She trained in dance until suffering a debilitating leg injury.<ref name="irishtimes">{{Cite news |last=Mullally |first=Una |title=Gemma Dunleavy's love letter to Dublin's inner city |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/gemma-dunleavy-s-love-letter-to-dublin-s-inner-city-1.4465282 |access-date=2025-08-14 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=2021-02-06 |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==

In 2015, she was featured on the single "Jasmine" by electronic producer Murlo, published by [[Mixpak Records]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Murlo - Jasmine |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/7659341-Murlo-Jasmine |publisher=Discogs |access-date=15 August 2025 |language=en |date=10 February 2015}}</ref> That year she also performed a set at [[Boiler Room (music broadcaster)|Boiler Room Dublin]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gemma Dunleavy Boiler Room Dublin Live Set |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSkaJYPH0LI |publisher=Boiler Room |access-date=15 August 2025 |date=24 July 2015}}</ref>

In 2017, she appeared as a guest vocalist on two songs on the album ''Ojalá'' by Lost Horizons, a project by former [[Cocteau Twins]] member [[Simon Raymonde]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lost Horizons - Ojalá |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/11117021-Lost-Horizons-Ojalá |website=Discogs |access-date=15 August 2025 |language=en |date=3 November 2017}}</ref>

In 2018, she released a poem "I Was Never Young But I’m Not Yet Old" and accompanying video about her life in Dublin.<ref name="irishtimes"/>

In 2019, she released the [[Grime music|grime]] single "Better 4 U" and an accompanying music video.<ref name="irishtimes"/>

In July 2020, she released an EP, ''Up De Flats''.<ref name="inquirer"/>

In 2022, she appeared in the documentary ''North Circular'', which examines the history of music in Dublin and its connections to socioeconomic changes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Corscadden |first1=Jane |title=Review: Film shows importance of community and culture in working-class Dublin |url=https://www.irishstar.com/culture/entertainment/north-circular-shows-importance-community-30507440 |access-date=15 August 2025 |publisher=Irish Star |date=19 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024<ref>{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Hannah |title=Kneecap take to Belfast stage after death of member's father: Tonight is for him |url=https://www.offalyindependent.ie/2024/12/22/kneecap-take-to-belfast-stage-after-death-of-members-father-tonight-is-for-him/ |access-date=15 August 2025 |publisher=Offaly Independent |date=2024-12-22}}</ref> and 2025,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Costa |first1=Imasha |title=Kneecap review: Belfast rappers rock Cork City Hall |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-41571706.html |access-date=15 August 2025 |publisher=Irish Examiner |date=13 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Dunleavy supported [[Kneecap (band)|Kneecap]] for shows in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

== Political views == Dunleavy is a critic of [[classism]] in Ireland. She remembers family members using fake addresses on job applications since many employers refused to hire people from Sheriff Street. As a child, her dance teacher told her to "speak nice" and hide her working-class accent.<ref name="inquirer"/> She has criticized [[gentrification]] and its effects on Dublin.<ref name="irishtimes"/>

In May 2025, she and more than 40 other British and Irish music acts signed a letter opposing the UK government's counterterrorism investigation into the Irish rap group [[Kneecap (band)|Kneecap]] and expressing solidarity with Palestinians amid the [[Gaza humanitarian crisis|humanitarian crisis in Gaza]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kneecap row: Paul Weller and Primal Scream lead musicians in signing open letter in support of rap trio |url=https://news.sky.com/story/kneecap-row-paul-weller-and-primal-scream-lead-musicians-in-signing-open-letter-in-support-of-rap-trio-13358969 |publisher=Sky News |date=2025-05-01 |language=en |access-date=15 August 2025}}</ref>

== Discography == === Extended Plays === ''Up De Flats'' (2020)

== Recognition == In 2020, her single "Up De Flats" was shortlisted for the [[Choice Music Prize]] Irish Song of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Choice Music Prize: Best Irish Song of 2020 shortlist revealed |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/choice-music-prize-best-irish-song-of-2020-shortlist-revealed-1.4469193 |publisher=The Irish Times |access-date=12 December 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, Dunleavy was a recipient of the Decade of Centenaries Markievicz Award, a €25,000 government grant for artists.<ref name="thetimes">{{cite news |last1=Demolder |first1=Kate |title=Meet Gemma Dunleavy — the voice of Sheriff Street |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/meet-gemma-dunleavy-the-voice-of-sheriff-street-rfxtf538q |access-date=15 August 2025 |work=The Times |date=29 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dunleavy, Gemma}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Musicians from Dublin (city)]] [[Category:21st-century Irish women singers]] [[Category:21st-century Irish singer-songwriters]]