Month: July 2016

ALBUM LAUNCH: Friday August 5^th, DC Music Club, 20 Camden Row, Dublin 2. Doors 8pm e12 door/e10 advance. First 20 bookings receive free copy of the album. Bookings: musiclee.ie

The award winning Dublin songwriter PAUL MCDONNELL will release his new album ‘A Sweeter Confusion’ on 2^nd August.  The album chronicles his search for love, connection & truth and features the single ‘STORM CHASER’ – watch the VIDEO featuring Irma Mali, top model and long-time friend of Paul’s, shot in the freezing water of a north county Dublin Beach.  Paul McDonnell – with his band featuring David Molloy on guitars, Della Mannion on vocals and American film music composer Cathleen Flynn – will celebrate the album’s release with a launch concert at the DC Music Club on Camden Row, Dublin 8 on August 5^th – e12 at door or e10 advance – first 20 bookings receive free copy of the album.  Tickets now on sale www.musiclee.ie

With a career in songwriting spanning over 15 years, Paul recently co-wrote the theme song ‘BE ALL YOU CAN BE’ for the highly acclaimed 2014 US movie ‘37’.  He is the ONLY DOUBLE WINNER of the IMRO Christy Hennessy Award for songwriting, beating over 400 artists to the top prize in 2011 and 2014.  Paul has written songs for De Danann, Tommy Fleming, Lisa Lambe, Leah McFall and has enjoyed success with his songs being placed in films, on TV and used in advertising campaigns internationally.

As can be expected from an album by a songwriter of such calibre, lyrics are the heart of every song on ‘A Sweeter Confusion’.   Paul explains the process of writing and the themes he has explored on this album – “The songs start with a thought rather than a chord or a melody.  Since losing both my parents within a short time, I’ve been thinking a lot over the past few years, battling with a sense of failure in my search for love, connection and truth”.  On this new album, Paul asks  if one can exist without  the other – “My song ‘I’m not ready’ is an example of this, the conflict of needing love to feel alive and also connecting with the need to run away to be yourself.” ‘There’s safety in the danger when you close your eyes at speed and changing like the weather everything that you believe’ (I’m not ready).

Following the life changing loss of his parents and after several years avoiding the recording of a new album, a chance meeting with a pianist from South Korea challenged the apathy that Paul was feeling and finally his love of performing returned.  In early 2015, Boram Lee was in Ireland less than a week when Paul spotted her at a jam session. Within seconds he knew she was an outstanding piano player and after the show he asked her to rehearse to see if they would gel musically. It was a decision both Paul and Boram are so happy to have made because it was the starting point of a truly remarkable creative year.  Boram is at the heart of the new album – she co-wrote several songs  including ‘Go Home’, ‘No Words’, ‘Wrap your Loving Arms Around’ and  provided guest vocals on four tracks.

The remaining songs are written by Paul and other writers including David Molloy, Gavin Murphy, Scott Maher, Cathleen Flynn and Ruby Amanfu.  At the controls in studio was multi instrumentalist David Molloy who has produced and co-produced most of Paul’s music over the past 15 years or more.  Paul and David Molloy initially came together to form the band ‘Cellar Club’ and fancied themselves as Dublin’s answer to Steely Dan.  Their 2004 album ‘Scored for life’, recorded in Vancouver, featured the standout single ‘Coming on Strong’.  In 2008 under the pseudonym ‘Pal Steelo’, Paul released the album ‘You My Favourite Shadow’ and the single ‘Josephine’.

The 12 songs on ‘A Sweeter Confusion’ were chosen from several years of collaboration and from over 40 songs in total.  The album is a real collaborative effort as Paul outlines “I love collaborating, everyone has something to bring to the table – a new colour, a new chord, a different beat – and with collaboration there are more judges in the room, so bad ideas are easier to spot”. David Molloy employed his trusty rhythm section for several tracks – Mick Black on drums and Ronnie O’ Flynn on bass.  Also featured on the album are Cathleen Flynn on piano, Della Mannion on vocals and backing vocals, Derek Cremins on keys, Joanna Doran  on violin, Sarah and Phil Muir on percussion. Produced and engineered by David Molloy the album was co-produced by Paul McDonnell at David’s studio – Cellar Club studios, Fork Hill, Co Armagh.  All tracks (except “Be All You Can Be” and “No Words”) mixed and mastered by Phil Muir of P J Muir Productions.

Website – www.paulmcdonnellmusic.com

Facebook – paulmcdonnellmusic

Twitter – @paulmcdonnell13

BUY: itunes.apple.com/a-sweeter-confusion   cdbaby.com/paulmcdonnell  paulmcdonnell.bandcamp.com/a-sweeter-confusion

The Pickled Onions release a superb new E.P “The Woods” on the 4th July.

The Pickled Onions is headed up by Paddy McGovern, who previously fronted a band under the name Alphamono.  This E.P. nods distinctly in the direction of acts such as Elliott Smith, Grandaddy, Beatles and Mac De Marco.

Recorded and mixed in Paddy’s home studio in Dublin, this is the 1st of 3 releases planned from his Storm in a Teacup label over the course of 2016.

The lead single is titled “Please, Please” and is available on iTunes and usual outlets from the 7th.