Interview with Pauric O'Meara

Interview with Pauric O'Meara

Let's just say if The Voice of Ireland was judged on first auditions, I would already have my winner. Pauric O'Meara's simply breathtaking performance of 'Maniac 2000' blew the nation away, including myself.

I recently chatted to the up and coming Tipperary native about that audition and what he hopes to gain from the show!

Firstly though, I'm always curious when I interview artists who part-take in music competitions as to how they went about auditioning - Pauric's family were a clear influence!

"For the last few years my parents and my sister have been urging me to go for it, so this year my sister didn't give me an option. I wasn't hesitant because I've been gigging for the last few years and saw this as a great platform to build myself as a musician."

"To be honest, I only remembered how the audition really went when it was on TV because I was in a genuine state of shock while I was on stage. Words can't describe how I felt after each chair turned. I walked on stage knowing no matter what the outcome would be I would be proud of myself for getting to this stage, and I knew I'd give it my best. I'm not one to suffer with nerves, but when the chairs started turning I got a bit nervous because they were all looking at me perform!"

If you haven't already seen the performance, trust me, you are missing out, so I would advise you to check it out here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoDfPv94bIc. After his audition, with all four judges (Kian Egan, Una Foden, Rachel Stevens and Niall Breslin) turned, Pauric opted to go for Bressie.

"I chose Bressie because of his abilities as a musician and his song writing skills. My long term goal is to be a successful singer/songwriter, and most importantly to be my own artist and have my own style, and I think it's fair to say Bressie will help me strive towards this dream and make it a reality"

I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that the internet literally 'blew up' here in Ireland after Pauric's audition was aired on RTE last Sunday week. People were quick to take to social media in order to share the video with their friends and praise his outstanding performance.

"If you ask anyone who knows me, it's hard to shut me up, but the reaction and support I received left me speechless. I had a feeling I was going to get some sort of a reaction because of the song choice, but I had no idea it was going to be extreme as it has been. The last week has been one of the best of my life so far and I'd like to thank everyone who has made it like this. From YouTube views to Facebook shares, words can't describe how much it means."

Next up on The Voice is the 'Battles' and Pauric hopes that he will receive the same level of support from the general public but admits that he is remaining grounded and living in the moment.

"Next up is the Battles. I'm not really one to look past what's laying in front of me, so I'm taking each day as it comes and enjoying it to the last, I've wanted this for a long time and I'm not going to let it pass by me easily. If I get through the battles, the live shows will begin then where I'll hopefully be looking to everyone to support me with votes, but we'll deal with that when it comes to it! I'm loving the experience so far and just hope it keeps on getting better and better for me. I'm excited for people to hear more from me, some people have been saying that I'm a one trick pony and the song choice is what saved me, but all they have to do is stay tuned to the show and they won't be disappointed."

He certainly comes across as a charismatic and determined artist but this is what he feels he can bring to the competition.

"A personality and ambition that few people have. I'm the type of person who stays grounded at all times and doesn't over think situations, I'd like to think I'm a calm person who helps keep the mood positive. As for my ambition and long-term goal for this show, I don't want to be a carbon copy of another artist that already exists. I want to be known for the type of artist and musician that I am. I'm a risk taker and will work hard to ensure that my risks pay off."

I know who my money is on already.

EOIN!

Interview with Scoops

Interview with Scoops

With their eagerly anticipated debut EP 'Scenes of Joy' set to be launched in less than two weeks, trust me when I say that big things are waiting around the corner for this band.

I recently caught up with one half of Scoops (Stephen Cooper and Stephen O'Rourke,) to talk about how the band got together, what they have planned for the future and of course, what fans can expect from the EP.

Cooper: "I started off firstly as a solo artist. I just finished college, started doing my own thing, writing my own songs and trying to get my sound right. I then got a couple of support slots with the likes of Walking on Cars and acts like that. Then Stephen [O'Rourke] joined me not too long after I started getting heavily into the original stuff and Steve has been with me for the last two years?"

O'Rourke: "Yeah, almost two years now. We actually met in San Diego of all places and I really liked Stephen's original stuff. We continued to work hard and then in the last while, the other two lads have come on board and we created the full band."

I always find it interesting when a band is formed after one of the members has kind of set the ball rolling as a solo artist. So I put the question do the guys; for Cooper, did he find it difficult adapting to other people coming on board and for O'Rourke, was it weird becoming a part of it.

Cooper: "To be honest, when I wrote the songs, I always imagined them being filled out and different instruments by different people being added like an extra guitar or drums and stuff. So it was relatively easy to adapt to it. It just felt natural."

O'Rourke: "I had played in different cover bands and stuff before I met Stephen in San Diego but from that moment I really loved what he was doing and for me, it was really easy to join a band when you love the music. And as well as that, I felt as though I could bring a lot to the band."

As I mentioned in my intro, the band are set to launch their EP 'Scenes of Joy' to a SOLD OUT Whelan's, Dublin on January 21st. And the guys are understandably extremely excited.

Cooper: "We finished recording 'Scenes of Joy' at the end of August, then of course it was all mixed and mastered and went live online on the 2nd of November. Really, it was a pretty long process. From the recording of the first song to now obviously the release, it took quite a while but we really can't wait for January 21st to come around."

O'Rourke: "Yeah I think the process was so long because we had to change songs from a solo song to a two piece song and then into a song that the whole band could perform so there was a couple of months in the studio getting our sound right and getting the songs structured the way we wanted them and we are thrilled with the end product!"

I was chatting to the guys after they supported Keywest in the Grand Social back in December, a performance that would have been worthy of their own headline show. But the lads were very grateful to Keywest for giving them the opportunity.

O'Rourke: Yeah when we heard that Keywest were looking for support on their tour, we got in contact with them and showed them our stuff and thankfully they really liked it! We have gotten on really well over the past while and they have been nothing but good to us and we have really enjoyed getting our music out there, not only here in Ireland but also over in the UK too!"

And people have obviously been impressed by what they have heard from Scoops because the EP Launch is sold out and the guys promise that it will be a night to remember!

Cooper: "Doors will open around 8pm and we will have a support act on around 8:30pm and then we will hit the stage about 9:30, and fingers crossed the place will be hoppin'"

O'Rourke: Yeah we have a few surprises lined up too. I mean, it's not just going to be your average gig. It will be exciting and fun. It's not just a gig, it's a launch night, a debut launch night and we want to really make it memorable for ourselves and the people who come along"

I hope to make it to Whelan's for the launch of the EP! But if you won't be there, I have a copy of the EP to give away, All you have to do is send me a message on Twitter with a screenshot of this blog to be in with a chance to win!

You can keep up to date with all Scoops' activity in the following ways:

Facebook: Scoops Music
Twitter: @scoopsmusic
Website: www.scoopsmusic.com
YouTube: Scoops1989

EOIN!

One To Watch: Picture This

One To Watch: Picture This

Have the pen and notepad at the ready to take down the name of these guys, because trust me, 2016 is going to be a massive year for Picture This.

Comprised of Jimmy Rainsford and Ryan Hennessy, both from Athy in County Kildare, their unique sound is incredible and blew me away upon first listen.

And it's clear that I'm not the only fan of their music! Their debut track 'Take My Hand' has clocked up over 260,000 (and counting!) views on Facebook and almost 50,000 views on YouTube since October. 

They also came up with an outstanding Christmas song entitled 'This Christmas' which received a phenomenal amount of airplay across the radio stations here in Ireland, with an exceptional response from the public. You can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtXL4qUW4bA

Their page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BandPictureThis/?fref=ts is close to 5,000 likes and is rising rapidly each day, with fans commenting and posting on the page about how excited they are for the guys to release more material in the near future. 

Personally speaking, I believe there is a huge niche in the music industry for the style that Picture This have. Not only are the lyrics exquisite but the contrast in Jimmy and Ryan's voices, especially in the harmonies is nothing short of brilliant - it's no wonder they have almost 1,000 subscribers on YouTube!

This year promises to be one hell of a year for these guys so as they say, watch this space!

EOIN!

Gig Review - RTE 2FM Charity Gig in Aid of ISPCC @ 3 Arena, Dublin

Gig Review - RTE 2FM Charity Gig in Aid of ISPCC @ 3 Arena, Dublin

Hands down one of the gigs of 2015 for me, made even better due to the fact it was all in aid of such a great cause. Bringing together the incredible talent of Irish music and putting on a superb performance in front of thousands of people, this gig certainly won't be forgotten anytime soon. The acts included:

1. The Riptide Movement

This rock band formed back in 2006 got the night's entertainment up and running with a superb, energetic performance. Their first time performing at the iconic venue and it was clear from their stage presence that they loved every second of it. Their song "All Works Out" which has received a great response and a huge amount of airplay recently was the pick of their songs, with the crowd up on their feet dancing and singing along. Great opening act. 

2. Gavin James

Need I say more about this guy? I recently reviewed his headline gig in Scala, London and I have him tipped as my number 1 artist for 2016. Gavin James performed second before rushing off to headline his own gig in Whelan's. His songs were met by rapturous applause with 'For You' and 'Bitter Pill' being sung along to by virtually everyone inside the venue. James is doing incredibly well and has just announced that his three shows in The Olympia Theatre next January have now all sold out. Well deserved. 

3. Little Green Cars

These guys have always been a band I've wanted to see live and I have to say they didn't disappoint! Singer, Faye O'Rourke was actually the only female performer on the night so her vocals really stood out. They had a couple of huge fans standing around where I was standing! Personally, Harper Lee was my favourite song of theirs and I have since played it on my radio show! 

4. Ryan Sheridan

I actually cannot stress how good Ryan Sheridan was at this gig. He absolutely blew me away. I have always been a fan of his music but never seen him perform in front of a live audience but his energy and engagement with the crowd was phenomenal. 'Jigsaw' went down a treat but the stand out moment was his cover of Coldplay's outstanding track 'Fix You' as the audience held up the lights on their phones. Goosebumps. 

5. The Coronas

I don't think guest appearances get much better than this. The Coronas weren't originally down to play at this gig but when their name was called on stage, the screams were deafening. They performed some of their best hits both old and new and the crowd knew every word. Lead singer Danny O'Reilly said he was honoured to be involved in a gig for such a great cause. These guys are back in the 3 Arena on New Year's Eve where they will be joined by Ryan Sheridan, Kila, Little Hours and Fatboy Slim. 

6. Hudson Taylor

Second last act of the night were the incredible duo of Hudson Taylor. Their excitement to be on stage was palpable and the audience clearly fed off that vibe. Performing tracks such as 'Chasing Rubies' and 'Battles', these guys also put in a stellar performance to cap off what has been an extremely impressive year for them. Onwards and upwards as they say! 

7. Hozier

The largest cheer of the night came for the headline act, Hozier. A guy who really has represented Ireland globally over the last 12 months in incredible fashion. He said himself that he was delighted to be home and he gave a performance that will long live in the memories of the audience. I don't think I would be exaggerating when I say I think everyone knew every word to every song! An honour to see him live for the first time. 

EOIN!

Interview with Sive

Interview with Sive

The word "captivating" is thrown around quite a lot in the music industry these days, often carelessly. But trust me when I say that Kildare native, Sive, is exactly that. 

I first came across her music when she performed in Alice's Restaurant in Naas as a guest at Keith Plunkett's EP Launch and then again in Judge Roy Beans at an event that I hosted and on both occasions she blew me away, so much so that I had to get an interview with her!

"When I was really young I used to love pop music and when I think back to it, I always noticed the harmonies in songs and sing along with the backing vocals which I guess was a strange thing for a kid to do! I played the keyboard and then when I was 14 I began learning how to play the guitar and I suppose that's probably when I started to get madly into music!"

Her love for music continued to grow and she joined a band as a backing vocalist and admitted that she was terrified when asked to sing and often pretended her microphone didn't work to get out of it! But isn't it strange how she is now a solo artist?

"When I was in college in Ballyfermot I was writing my own songs so I kind of started singing out of necessity more than anything and I remember my friend Janet encouraged me to go for it and I thought to myself 'Okay, I'll give it a shot, and I did"

Sive is currently self employed, meaning she is not signed to anybody and she believes that there are both pros and cons to that.

"It can be hard to promote yourself especially when you're not in a band, like how do you make yourself sound cool and appealing? It's also hard to keep the momentum up. I mean, it's one thing to keep writing and recording music but then there's also the other side to it like the promotions and the releasing and stuff, it can be pretty tiring. That said I do really enjoy the freedom and I love the recording and performing and having people listen to my stuff!"

Well people will have an opportunity to listen to her new music in the New Year because she hopes to release a new album in 2016, if all goes according to plan.

"I have some of the songs fully recorded and others half recorded. All of them are written, just some need a little more time but hopefully I'm going to be finished by next February and then release it some time during the year. The hardest thing at the moment is actually choosing which songs to put on the album. I've written quite a few and had narrowed it down to 12 and then it crept back up to 13 but I would like to keep it at 12 because I find if there are too many songs, people won't listen to the last few!"

As I mentioned in my intro, the second time I seen Sive perform was at a gig I hosted - A Song For Jack and Jill Charity Album Launch in Judge Roy Beans. This was an album jam packed of Irish artists in order to raise funds for the Jack and Jill Charity. Sive explains how she got involved in the album:

"Mike Gleeson asked me about a year ago if I was interested and at this stage it was really only an idea, we were trying to find other artists to come on board too so obviously that took a bit of time but I was delighted to be a part of it and raise money for a very worthy cause!"

2015 was a pretty busy year for the Kildare artist and 2016 promises to be just as, if not busier. She has so much planned for the year ahead, with the album of course taking the number one priority.

"After Christmas the focus will definitely be on the album and getting that released as soon as possible. At the moment I don't have any gigs planned for the start of the year but I'm sure that will changed after the release of the album!"

So.. Exciting times ahead for Sive! You can follow her journey in the following ways:

Website: www.sivemusic.com

Twitter: @sivemusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siveband/?fref=ts

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sivemusic

And of course, keep an eye out for the album next Spring!

EOIN!

Interview with Kim Hayden

Interview with Kim Hayden

Kim Hayden has certainly done quite a lot in her music career to date - performing as a solo artist, competing on The Voice of Ireland, working on an EP with new band Liir and competing to represent her country in the Eurovision Song Contest with the same band. 

I recently caught up with Kim to talk about, well, all of the above really!

"I was a strange enough child, instead of playing in my room I use to run around the garden singing to myself like a little leprechaun, my first public performance was my school confirmation , I was 12 that was my first taste of the stage, then I just wanted more &more it's all I ever wanted to do, it didn't matter whether where I was singing just once I was singing I was happy, I start writing at a young age also and it's my other passion. I get such a buzz when I finish writing a song and then when you see people actually like what you've written that's the prize. My influences growing up was and still is Christina Aguilera, Elvis, Justin Timberlake, Alanis Morissette, now I am in love with Lana Del Rey, Ed Sheeran, & Hozier the list goes on I love all genres of music."

Hayden made it to the last 8 of the Voice of Ireland back in 2012 with some incredible performances but she admits that a lot has changed since then.

"The Voice was an interesting experience, it was great to be able to perform in front of a large audience live each week. My performances on the show wouldn't of shown how I see myself as an artist now, it was 4 years ago and a lot has changed since then."

One of the things that has certainly changed since then is the fact that she has joined a new three piece girl group called Liir, originally just to compete for a place to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest Live Finals last year. However, the girls seemed to have clicked as artists and have a lot more planned for the future.

"We were disappointed we didn't get to represent Ireland in 2015 who wouldn't love to represent their country, We had a great song I'd like to think we could of done really well in it. However when we got together we clicked instantly and we were really happy and comfortable singing together we all have a very similar vision of what we wanted for the group we then decided we needed to get in studio write rehearse and record which haven't stopped doing since,  We worked with an exceptional producer called Eberhart on Liirs EP he got the sound straight away and we cannot wait to start sharing some original music with you. It's exciting."  

So it all seems to be happening quite fast for the band! What exactly have they been getting up to in the last while?

"It has been nonstop in and out of studio, rehearsing, writing and performing, we recently recorded our first video for our version of Nirvana's Smells like Teen Spirit and Britney Spears' Toxic which were both uploaded on our social media recently so can people can get a flavor of how we sound before we release any of our original material."

I have always said that there is a huge niche in Ireland for girl groups so I feel as though these girls could be on to something if they release good quality music. And that appears to be what their main focus is for the time being.

"For the moment we are continuing to work hard on our music and hopefully you will be hearing a lot more from Liir in 2016. We will be doing a number of live performances in the coming months check out our Facebook page for details , Liir Music on Facebook, Twitter @liirmusic / Instagram @liirmusic."

EOIN!

Gig Review - Gavin James @ Scala, London.

Gig Review - Gavin James @ Scala, London

This guy is undoubtedly my tip for 2016. Although he has begun to enjoy notable success this year, I feel things will get a lot bigger and better for Gavin James over the next twelve months.

I first came across his music in 2012 and have since seen him play live 6 times, with the crowds gradually getting larger and the gig in Scala, London on December 8th was no different - his first headline performance in the English capital and he sold it out and it was clear from the reaction of the crowd, that he was an instant hit. 

Performing songs from his debut album 'Bitter Pill' which is available in Ireland but also to pre-order elsewhere and covers of songs such as Billy Jean, I Cant Feel My Face, You Dont Know Me and What A Wonderful World, the Dubliner certainly made it a night to remember at the packed venue - especially because of the fact that he covered You Dont Know Me by Ray Charles, unplugged, amongst the crowd, which added to the intimacy of the gig. 

Although some of the crowd may not have understood him when he was talking because he felt as though he sounded like a "leprechaun on speed", his vocals and lyrics when he sang made up for it and swoons could be heard from the pit when he hit those high notes!

I have to say, Gav's performance that night was the best I have seen of him so far - suggesting that he is going to continue to improve. His album is doing extremely well here in Ireland, and recently peaked at number 4 in the charts just last week - with songs like For You and Bitter Pill receiving a huge amount of airplay nationwide, including in my radio station, KFM. 

Speaking to some people after the gig on Tuesday, they said that they are excited for the release of the album in the UK and feel as though he could become quite big in the country.

Also performing on the night was fellow Irish artist and good friend of James', Orla Gartland, who also gave a fine showing of her own, playing songs from her EP 'Roots' which went down very well.

 

Gartland is another artist who I believe will have a very successful 2016, if her EP is anything to go by, it is absolutely incredible! I will hopefully be interviewing Orla soon and it will be posted ASAP!

In the meantime, you can check her out on Twitter @orlagartland and YouTube - musicmaaad.

Also, if you haven't already, I would strongly advise you to listen to Gavin James. Here is his single of the album, Bitter Pill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPl2MU-6rpM. Listen to it and tweet me what you think. Also, keep an eye out for his album in your country both online and in hard copy - I promise you won't regret it. 

For Irish fans, well, he has quite a hectic month or two planned in his home country, he is playing numerous shows in Whelans over the festive period, performing at the RTE 2FM charity gig in the 3 Arena on the 23rd of December plus headlining gigs at the Olympia towards the end of January. Check out Ticketmaster.ie for all the ticket details! 

His gig in London was absolutely incredible and well worth the flights over, plus tickets were only £11 so it was a bargain! Watch out for him in 2016, you'll thank me.

EOIN!