Fresh from a 27-show North American tour supporting The Darkness, Irish rocker Mark Daly kicks off 2026 with his new single “In the Dark.” The high-energy rock anthem pairs massive guitars and thunderous drums with a story about letting your guard down in love, showing a more vulnerable side to Daly’s explosive live persona. Hailing from Cork, he’s toured with Richie Kotzen, Geoff Tate, Candlebox, and Mr. Big, building a loyal following in the U.S. and beyond. With that in mind, we caught up with Daly to talk about the single, the music video, and what’s next for him this year.

You’ve just released your news angel ‘In The Dark’ - what was the inspiration behind the song?

I actually started writing In The Dark a few years ago at home but ended up forgetting about it. At the time, I thought it sounded a bit too pop for my usual style, so I moved on to other ideas. My wife heard the demo back then, and a couple of years later, she started singing it around the house. I asked how she still remembered it, and she said the lyrics and melody had stuck with her. That made me revisit the track—I fine-tuned the arrangement in my studio and jumped on a call with my good friend and fantastic songwriter Dave Lichens in LA. We finished the whole thing in minutes. I love how it turned out; it has a nostalgic 2000s feel but still fits perfectly with the sound we’ve been developing over the last few years.

You grew up in Cork, how and when did you first discover you had a talent for singing and what inspired your love for rock music?

When I was a kid at St. Fin Barre’s School in Cork, the choirmaster from the nearby church came in one day and had all the pupils sing. Soon after, my parents got a letter saying I had “exceptional singing talent” and should join the choir. Little did I know every other kid in my class got the same letter—haha! That was my first real introduction to singing and a bit of music theory, and I absolutely loved it. In my teenage years, I picked up a few instruments and started joining bands. I eventually moved to Spain, started my first band The Voodoos, and became a full-time musician. I’ve been bluffing my way through ever since!

You’ve just finished touring the US & Canada with The Darkness - how was it? Did you get any advice from the band?

It was honestly the best tour I’ve ever done—I loved every second of it. Touring with The Darkness was incredible; they have such a tight-knit, family vibe on the road, and we felt really welcomed. Watching how professional they are, both on and off stage, was hugely inspiring. I didn’t ask for advice directly, but I made sure to watch their set every single night. Justin Hawkins is an unbelievable frontman—his stage presence, crowd interaction, and energy are something else. I definitely picked up a lot just from observing him.

What do you love about playing live and where would you dream to play one day?

As cliché as it might sound, I honestly love absolutely everything about playing live. That feeling of being on stage with the band, discovering new venues, meeting amazing people, and getting completely lost in the music—it’s magic every time. Before each show, we do a group huddle and say, “Every gig is Wembley.” Whether we’re playing to 12 people or 12,000, we give it everything we’ve got. So naturally, Wembley would be the ultimate dream stage for me.

What inspires you the most when writing music?

I like to write from personal experience—about love, loss, travel, family, and all the things that make music feel genuine and connect emotionally with people. Recently, I’ve been experimenting more with perspective. For example, on our last record I wrote You Lie, which came from putting myself in someone else’s shoes and writing from their point of view. For the new album we’re about to record in Texas, I’ve taken that a step further and written some songs in a more cinematic, story-driven way—almost like writing a movie script in my head first and building the songs around that concept. I’m really excited to share where that’s going.

If you could collaborate with any artist who would it be and why?

This answer always changes for me—it depends on which artist I’m currently obsessed with and have on repeat, haha. Right now, it would have to be the late, great Warren Zevon. I’ve been studying his lyrics lately, and the way he paints such vivid pictures with his words is just incredible. I would’ve loved the chance to collaborate with him. If we’re talking current artists, I’d say Justin Furstenfeld from Blue October. He’s a huge inspiration for me—the honesty and raw emotion in his vocals are unreal, and his lyrical storytelling really hits home.

If you had to create the dream festival headliners who would feature on it?

That's a tough one because there are so many incredible artists, but I’d have to include a mix of the classics and the modern ones that inspire me. I’d start with Led Zeppelin, E.L.O., and Aerosmith—absolute legends who shaped the sound of rock for me. Then I’d add Foo Fighters, Highly Suspect, and Mammoth WVH for that modern edge. And of course, no dream festival would be complete without some of my grunge heroes—Alice in Chains, Candlebox, and Pearl Jam. I think that lineup would be pretty hard to beat!

What would you like to achieve by the end of 2026?

After a couple of really busy years and building toward these new releases, my goal for 2026 is to keep up the incredible momentum we’ve built with our fanbase, especially through playing more shows across the U.S. I also want to finish our next album—we’re heading into the studio next month to complete it—and finally break into the festival scene. I’ve always felt we’re a festival band with the energy we bring to the stage. More than anything, I just want to keep growing, getting our name out there, and staying lucky enough to keep performing.