The art of the second album usually involves an artist finessing their creative identity, with the process often accompanied by lofty external expectations. It’s no wonder sophomore slumps are so common.

Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly certainly had her difficulties to overcome in making her new record Waiting Room. Commencing work on the album after 2021’s The Sum Of The In-Between, she found herself reckoning with some major personal challenges.

“I’m always writing, and it turns into a project at some point down the line,” says Kelly. “But this album really came from a period where I spent a lot of time in an actual waiting room. I dealt with a lot of chronic pain in my mid-twenties, and I was in a cycle of figuring out the cause. I spent a lot of time in that world, so it seeped into what I was writing about.

“But then it became a sort of dream-like waiting room to me, where I realised I was in all these different cycles in my twenties. I was in limbo about my identity and I was trying to figure out where I wanted to go. So this idea of the ‘waiting room’ became a broader theme.”

On such tracks as ‘His Parents’ House’, Kelly addresses the housing crisis, with a relatable story about having to move in with her partner’s family to save money. Although she was grateful to have the option, the singer felt she was sacrificing some of her independence. It all prompted a reflection on the ups and downs of adulthood.

“I think that part of your life is a sort of Saturn return, as they say, where you change into this new version of yourself,” says Kelly. “There’s a lot of uncomfortable growth and you’re really aware of all these things in your life, but maybe not able to change them yet. For people my age, we’re stuck in these systems that force us to wait in terms of housing, healthcare or job opportunities.

“I was really stuck in the sadness and misery of not feeling I could take a step forward or find my voice. It became this overall theme across everything I was writing about, and I suppose writing about it was a way to try and close the gap.”

Now, though, Kelly sees Waiting Room as a cathartic experience.

“I’ve been sitting on this release for so long,” she reflects. “Ironically, a lot of things delayed the release of this album, which I thought was funny in hindsight. I was waiting for permission from the industry at the time. I had issues with my vocals, and my pain stood in the way of being able to do certain things. This album was definitely a lesson in letting go of expectations.

“Now that I look back at it, it’s funny, because I just turned 30, and I feel I’ve entered a new chapter. I don’t feel as stuck as when I was making the album – I feel very connected. Making this album has definitely helped me move on to another stage in life, which is a really beautiful thing to see.”

Waiting Room is out now. Maria Kelly plays the Unitarian Church in Dublin (April 11) and the Sunflower Public House in Belfast (April 18)