It's a long way from Tipperary, as the old song doesn't go, and Gemma Hayes has come a long way in a short time.

Growing up in Ballyporeen in Tipperary, she was surrounded by music of all kinds.

"I've really never known a day without music," says Gemma. "My dad is in a band, my sister plays fiddle and there would be AC/DC blaring from my brother's bedroom - so there was always music there."

This mixture of early influences is evident on her debut album Night On My Side, which ranges from the gently acoustic to powerful rock.

"I would just stay in writing what you would call folk songs but I didn't really know what category they were, I just wrote songs."

The process of trying to get a record deal was initially very frustrating, revealing the stereotypes still rife in the industry.

"I was 18 or 19 and I think a lot of people thought: 'Oh, here's a young Irish girl who we can mould into a pop thing'. I was very wary but some of it wasn't paranoia, it was justified."

Eventually, Gemma signed to Source, a record label best known for French dance music such as Air but which is also home to Turin Brakes.

Her debut album was recorded in America with highly-respected record producer Dave Fridmann.

"I was so nervous. I walked in with a notebook full of what we were going to do on each day and the producer just laughed and said: 'Just go in there and play your songs and I'm just going to press record'."

The result has been hailed by critics as one of the best debut albums of the year and Gemma is happy that it faithfully represents her diverse songs.

"It's definitely the raw truth. There's an aggressive side and a nice side. Anything else would have been a lie."

Gemma returns to Brighton as part of an acoustic tour to promote her new single Let A Good Thing Go.

"I played the Hanbury Ballroom in March, which was brilliant. I was laughing to myself thinking: 'Who is going to show up?' but Brighton was brilliant."

As to what audiences can expect on this tour, Gemma explains: "What I'm hoping to do is create an atmosphere in the room and let people chill out and daydream."

Preview by Peter Simmons, features@theargus.co.uk