We're still in the early months of 2025, yet it has already been an extraordinary year for Cian Ducrot, the Cork singer-songwriter and viral sensation. In February, the 27-year-old received his first Grammy for ‘Saturn’—a SZA single he co-wrote that has surpassed a billion streams. The next month, he confidently took to the microphone at Aviva Stadium in Dublin before an audience of over 50,000, showcasing his dual French-Irish nationality by performing the anthems of both nations ahead of their pivotal Six Nations match. With a robust social media presence, Ducrot has gathered hundreds of millions of views from his flash-mob style videos, where he and a choir surprise passersby with impromptu performances. The 'I'll Be Waiting' artist has also supported major acts like Ed Sheeran and Teddy Swims during their large arena gigs across the UK and Europe.
In the latter part of the year, he will embark on a tour to promote his forthcoming album ‘Little Dreaming,’ slated for release on August 1st via Polydor Records. The tour—comprising 26 dates—will kick off next month with two shows in Cork and will feature him headlining several iconic venues throughout the autumn and winter, including the O2 Academy Brixton and L’Olympia in Paris. It will wrap up on December 20th in Dublin with his largest headline performance to date at the 13,000-capacity 3Arena.
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His mother, Sabine Ducrot, is a well-regarded concert pianist and flautist who has performed with major orchestras such as the Orchestre de Paris and Orchestre National de France. She has spent the last thirty years in Ireland, where she continues to teach both instruments at the Cork School of Music. In a video interview with CLASH, he reflects on growing up in a home where music was always seen as a valid and esteemed profession.
“When you’re surrounded by something like music, and it’s the norm in your family, it’s not really questioned,” he explains. “Many people don’t have that experience. I had friends who were into music, but their parents pushed them to pursue degrees in medicine or law, or to follow a more 'conventional' path. It was always unfortunate because those talented musicians often regretted not following their passion later on.”
“For me, that scenario was never a concern. I always saw various avenues into music and the potential for a viable career. I know people who studied music, went on to become instrumental teachers, played in orchestras, or taught at conservatories. I’ve always viewed music as a standard job.” Although Ducrot left school before graduating to pursue his pop music aspirations, he earned a full scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he also studied classical flute.
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When asked about how his classical training influences his current music projects, Ducrot states, “It's certainly made me a more well-rounded musician, and I'm deeply involved in every aspect of my music because of it. Unlike many artists who rely on others to write and produce their songs, I'm very hands-on with how I want my songs to sound.”
He adds, “My creative process is largely driven by me. While I occasionally collaborate with other songwriters because I enjoy it, I handle the majority of the writing and much of the production myself.”
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Expanding on this, Ducrot shares how his musical education influences his live performances. “I’m heavily involved in the musical direction of my shows. The musical director for my performances is someone I attended the Royal Academy with, so we communicate using the same musical language.”
“When I’m performing, I pay close attention to everything my band does. If I hear something I like, I’ll suggest they do more of it. And my musical involvement is definitely rooted in my classical training, as that's where I learned everything I know about music.”
Towards the end of 2022 and into early 2023, Ducrot's social media presence surged with a series of videos on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, featuring surprise choral performances of his breakout single ‘I’ll Be Waiting’ in various public locations such as parks, trains, coffee shops, and shopping malls.
This viral campaign generated over 500 million views and included collaborations with students from the Royal Northern College of Music, who later joined him on stage for several live performances, including one at KOKO in Camden. “It started as a spontaneous idea, merging a prank-style concept with my love for harmonies. I’ve always enjoyed harmonizing with friends, bands, or while creating group vocals,” he explains.
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“Growing up, my brother and other musically trained friends would hear a pop song or something from the TV, and we’d challenge each other to sing it in three or four-part harmony for fun.”
“I found joy in stacking vocals on my songs to create
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We are not yet halfway through 2025, and it has already proven to be a significant year for Cork singer-songwriter and viral star Cian Ducrot. Earlier this year,