Meath soul singer and songwriter Toshín on why Berlin is making her a better artist

Toshín on swapping Ireland for Germany: ‘I needed to move – and in Berlin, I feel invincible’

The soul singer, ahead of playing Cork Jazz Festival, on why needed a change

Toshín can't write songs quick enough since moving to Berlin. Photo: Alicia Auclair

It was one of the moments of last year. In January, in Dublin’s National Stadium – at a concert honouring the life and work of American singer-songwriter Janis Ian – Toshín performed one of Ian’s most powerful songs, Resist .

“I got a standing ovation when I finished,” she says now. “I’ll never forget it. It was 2,000 people going crazy. When Janis Ian first suggested it, I didn’t think I could do the song justice, because it is kind of folky rock. So I challenged myself and I did it.”