Its just one of those things. In the process of writing lyrics it is usually the case that mind wanders through various thoughts or words that can conincide with the music being played. In my case mostly the guitar. At the outset I seemed to have a fixed idea that for a few days just would not gel into something that I would pass for good. Parallell to this I had already started the producction which of couse also adds aura depending what instrmuents I use. So I suddenly scrapped the original plan and re-started.
I have a statue of St. Paul on my studio desk which up to recent times had been at my night table for years. I don’t really see it anymore but apparently it pushed its way into my consciousness. The idea formed and had to be intertwined with the chorus which was easy for me to envision. The trimmings if you will fell into place with a fprom of loose meanings that matched my general idea of the song. It soon passed my personal level of acceptance. But only just. I left it for a week or two and eventually came back for a re-listen and was pleasantly surprised how it had consolidated into a do-able release.
I have always had a desire to do music videos. As a baby boomer I witnessed the rise and fall of MTV et al. From the the very basic studio clips to the amazing overly produced top cinematic productions. They slowly lost their value with the onslaught of the net/pcs/smartphones. With the arrival of AI it has become possible for artists further down the success ladder to create their own visions and in a sense pimp their songs. With this production I am amazed at the development since I made Salt of the Earth. Here, my partner in Morocco Hamza Amesguine was able to pretty much turn my story board almost one to one into this what you see. I was quite amazed with the quality. I think it befits the song and gives me pleasure to look at.
Hello!
Feeling at Home
Which is what I do here at the Finch Corner Studios. In the old days I would used a couch or a table in the kitchen. Now its my small studio in Southern Germany just outside Heidelberg. The tools available to musicians are vast and its hard to catch your breath with the speeding development. Nonetheless a song is a song and its on this basis that I approach my music. As much as I have leaned into my traditional roots I will never shoo away any other genres should they ramble along here. All a part of feeling at home. Now lets put on the kettle….
The Pleasure and the Passion
It is difficult to reach an exact number but I think 200 gigs is pretty much a safe bet on my my tally to date. From busking to my trio with Michael and Stefan and including my long serving stint with Fleadh and to date with Síolta means I have attained a certain amount of experience over the years. Not quite a dinosaur though some might phrase it like that.
Quick Facts.
Germany. Ireland, France, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. I’ve played there.
Quick Facts
Multi Award winner at the German Rock and Pop awards.
Quick Facts
Entry at the Irish Traditional Music Archive ( The Cleggan Bay Disaster)
Quick Facts
Ashbury Lane: Best English Song at the DRMI Awards
DISCOGRAPHY
All music available at the usual online outlets. You can contact me for direct orders!
ALBUM 2020 7 SONGS
ALBUM 2017 11 SONGS
ALBUM 2008 11 SONGS
ALBUM 2021 11 TRACKS
ALBUM 2015 13 TRACKS
SINGLE 2026
SINGLE 2026
SINGLE 2025
SINGLE 2024
Testimonials
Dont’t take just my word for it – here’s what my critics say:
…from this talented song maker….songs of this quality are able to touch us like no other art form can come close to…
Sean Laffey
Irish Music Magazine
Everybody has a tree of oak, we all like to have a place like Fanore.
Lovely,inspiring,melancholy music.
Beautiful guitar playing,
well recorded and most of all ……beautiful! Favorite track: Tree of Oak.
Harm Slagter
Bandcamp customer
A High Class album!
Kuec
CelticRock.de
… irgendwo zwischen Christy Moore und Mick Fitzgerald an, wenn das keine Empfehlung ist! Hören.
Gabriele Haefs
Folk Magazin (Germany)
GET IN TOUCH!