Ahead of her ambitious new album Next Of Kin, acclaimed songwriter Dani Larkin joins us for our latest “Off the Shelf” feature. Moving from the sweeping orchestral landscapes of her music to the intimate corners of her home, Larkin shares ten personal objects—from a vintage film-set lamp to a hand-carved stool—read the stories behind her choices.
Acclaimed songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dani Larkin is set to release her ambitious new album, Next Of Kin, on January 30th, 2026 (pre-order). Co-produced with Ruth O’Mahony Brady, the record serves as a deeply emotive exploration of the human experience, tracing a path from birth to the acceptance of death.
Structured as a sonic trilogy, the album moves from the “coming-of-age” energy of Part I into the complex orchestral landscapes of adulthood in Part II. The journey concludes with Part III, a poignant homecoming that settles into a peaceful resolution. The work balances contradiction and connection, exploring universal themes of love, fear, and courage.
Following the critical success of her debut, Notes For A Maiden Warrior, Larkin’s latest project cements her reputation as a master storyteller, a skill that leads perfectly into our latest Off the Shelf feature: a form of storytelling, but through objects. Below, Dani Larkin selects ten objects from her home to talk about.
Before that, here is Dani performing an acoustic version of one of the album tracks, High King:
Off the Shelf with Dani Larkin
Lamp
I bought the body of this lamp in an offshoot film set sale. You know, the kind of thing where, when a film comes to an end and all of the stuff from the film is sold off at ridiculous prices. I think it’s from the late 1920s. It took me a full year before I found a lampshade that would fit it, and I just can’t get enough of this velvet mustard. Coincidentally, I also have a velvet mustard electric blanket and footstool, so you could say this lampshade started a theme for the sitting room. The light is soft, and the lamp sits on top of a writing desk that I got for free on Freecycle. I haven’t yet delved into any correspondence at the writing desk, but I sure am in love with the romantic nature of it all.
Hedge Stool
I made this stool myself using traditional methods, no power tools. It took a day and I had a really great and quiet time. I love working with wood and the person running the workshop was full of tree and tool knowledge. A great way to spend a day focusing on something and seeing a tangible result.
George Benson & Jack McDuff Record
I only got a vinyl player when I made my first record, Notes For A Maiden Warrior, in 2021. I needed to listen to the test pressing before giving the go-ahead for the record to be pressed. Little did I know that this would encourage what I imagine will be a lifelong love of collecting records. I bought this record at a second-hand vinyl shop for something like £5. I had no idea what it was, only that it was jazz. It was one of the first in my collection and I absolutely love it. It’s on repeat on Sundays alongside a good pot of coffee.
Garlic Crusher
I’ve had this garlic crusher for about seven years. I lived in an incredible house share for about three years and made long-life friendships. I was introduced to many things during that time, but perhaps most transformative of all is this garlic crusher! I had no idea what a garlic crusher was before this, but this was the beginning of me learning to cook both for myself and for large groups of people. I don’t really use this garlic crusher very much anymore; I’ve since upgraded, but I’ve kept it with me in every house move since.
The Thermos
A great companion for life on the road. I also carry a roll-out canvas that includes cutlery, straws, chopsticks and napkin. This Thermos is new, but there’s really nothing like some hot, homemade food when in the back of the van.
Candlesticks
Another profit from a house-share! A friend of mine bought these for £2 and left them when she moved. I almost left them when I moved out, but as you may have guessed, I love a slightly art deco feel and so they came with me. The candles are handmade by another friend of mine. I’ve come to really appreciate candles as a way of taking time for myself. Whether that’s at home or on the road. I’ve now come to measure time in candles!
Dancing Fingers
This is a button on an organ that I have – the wurlitzer funmaker. It’s great fun having an organ in the dining room. When people come into the house, they gravitate towards it and instantly start pressing buttons. The Dancing Fingers button is the most popular as it does it all itself really. It’s worth finding a snippet on YouTube for sure. Sadly, the organ is currently broken and I can’t find someone to fix it. Any takers?
Two Pictures
Technically, this is two objects, but they came to me as one. My friend Bonnie gave me these. Bonnie told me that these were made by artists who self-describe as, ‘fat, lesbian, artists’. I love them. Bonnie’s in her 70’s and we’ve been friends for almost ten years, which is such a wonderful gift.
A Queer Anthology on Arab Art
This book is new to me, and in fact, new altogether as it has only just been published this year. It’s an incredible body of work. The result of a collaboration between three Lebanese artists, whom I had the chance to meet at Outburst Arts Festival in Belfast. Well worth getting your hands on a copy (you can order a copy here).
Cairdeas featuring Tove Jansson’s al fresco (Party In The City 1947)
Technically, two items, but they sit atop each other on the fireplace in what we affectionately call, ‘The Creative Room’. Cairdeas means friendship in Irish. It was a gift when I left my last job before playing music full-time. I was working as a playworker, which meant picking kids up from school, bringing them to an after-school club. This particular after-school was bilingual, Irish and English, and it’s where I learned my Irish. I was going through a really hard time when I was working there, but the team really rallied around me and the brutal honesty that kids have really pulled me through. That, and the majority of the job was colouring in, playing games and singing songs, which is a remedy for almost anything in my book. I’ve been enchanted with Tove Jansson since my Mum introduced me to the Moomins as a child. When I had the chance to tour in Finland, I jumped at it and visited where she lived, her studio and went to museums to see her work. It’s rare that I obsess over an artist in this way, but more than just the Moomins, all of her work has resonated with me.
Live Dates
15.01.26 Celtic Connections, Glasgow, Drygate Theatre
20.03.26 Cork, Coughlan’s
21.03.26 West Cork, Levis’
22.03.26 Kilkenny, Cleere’s
26.03.26 Galway, Roisin Dubh
27.03.26 Belfast, Rosemary St.
28.03.26 Derry, St Augustine’s
02.04.26 Dublin, The Grand Social
04.04.26 Limerick, Dolan’s
09.04.26 Sheffield, Cafe9
10.04.26 Glasgow, Hug & Pint
11.04.26 Newcastle, Cumberland Arms
12.04.26 Nottingham, Grove
15.04.26 Brighton, Folklore Rooms
16.04.26 Bournemouth, Wight Bear
17.04.26 London, St John on Bethnal Green
19.04.26 Birmingham, Kitchen Garden Cafe
More: https://www.danilarkin.com/