Feeling the love in Texas

Where do I begin?…

For a start, I’m not gonna lie… I’ve never really been a fan of daytime television, nor have I watched Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan doing their thing on ‘Live! with Kelly and Michael’ before. But I am fully aware of the popularity of the show. When I was alerted to the fact that someone had decided to use my track ‘Closing Doors’ on a piece about a teacher from Katy, Texas I was intrigued. But I could never have imagined how my song would pair so well with such an amazing story.

Watching the piece filled me with so much pride. Coming from Ireland and living in New York, its hard to imagine life in Texas. Its a different world down there. When I watched the piece on Suzette Steward, now officially crowned Americas Top Teacher, I got a sense of the kind of person she is- an honest, kind, inspiring, passionate and giving lady. I watched in complete admiration, with the hairs standing on the back of my neck. Suzette is a special needs teacher, and an expert on Autism and those affected by the disorder. Having never spent time with Autistic children or adults myself, the piece was not just very moving, it was also informative.

When the clip aired word filtered through to me that I had some fans down in Texas, and when I was invited down to play a show for Suzette and her kids I jumped at the chance! I was accompanied by Marco, a producer from the show, and the very man who paired my song with Suzettes story. On friday night we relaxed and sampled some amazing authentic Mexican food. Saturday was when the fun really started. Up early we helped Suzette prepare for a huge party on the edge of a lake… and for dinner? Texas BBQ of course. My mouth was watering when we turned up to the site and I could smell all the meat which had been smoked since 3am!

With around 150 people in attendance, including teachers from Suzettes school, students, parents and neighbors, I got to witness first hand Suzette doing her thing. Her patience was unrelenting. Her energy was breathtaking, and as the sun began to get cooler in the sky, I geared up to play a few songs. Starting with ‘Training Up My Soul’, I cant even describe the emotions that I felt watching one kid named Hunter dance along to my music. ‘Closing Doors’ was of course the highlight, and there was only one woman that I could dedicate it to – you guessed it, everyones favorite lady, Suzette.

Coming back to New York last night I was exhausted, but I couldn’t have been happier with my weekend. The warm welcome in Texas was overwhelming. Marco has captured plenty of footage on his camera, so hopefully when we piece it all together you can all get a sense of how we felt. Closing Doors has always been my New York song, but now it will always make me think of Texas.

Next Show – April 28th 8pm @ Rockwood Music Hall

John xo

Closing Doors on Kelly Ripa

So happy to have been involved in this piece. Congrats to Suzette Steward, a real inspiration.

Closing Doors comes in at 5.45.

The wonderful people of Katy, Texas are having me down this weekend to play a few songs for them. I’m gonna take my camera with me. Should be fun!

John xo

Good times.

I’ve often heard that making an album is hard work. Most of my first releases were either started or completely recorded in my bedroom back in Derry. With my latest EP (Training Up My Soul), I had my first taste of tracking live with a band. I could hear the difference. I could feel the energy in the songs.

Making a more official move to New York at the start of 2011, I was very lucky to get together with the same group of musicians that helped me find my feet when I first made a short trip to NY. After two years of playing with the same three men, I was dying to record with them.

Just last week I joked with my producer and good friend Michael Keeney about the recording process of my second EP. I will never forget recording my friend Zarah playing cello in my student accommodation in Stranmillis, Belfast, and then having Michael help me mix the track. It learned me a lot. Thinking back to those recording times, I could never have imagined that my debut album would be made in New York in a world-class studio.

I recently realized just how much travelling around with my guitar is reflected in my music. There are songs that were written in Derry. Some were started in Los Angeles. The majority of the songs were penned in Brooklyn. This album will always make me think of NYC.

My hard-drive is full of live recordings from various shows we have played in the past two years. It’s really amazing to listen back to songs and see their transformation from one show to the next. It takes time for musicians to gel. But it didn’t take too much time for Jacob, Kenny and Rob to understand Irish sarcasm!

Four days in a studio is not a long time, but we moved fast and kept the energy and enthusiasm up. On the final day all of our live tracking was done, and then we put down some backing vocals. The final few hours I spent with Michael on electric guitars. There is still some work to do but I feel that the hardest part is over.

My first time recording in Brooklyn has passed, but the memories will live on for a long time. Huge thanks to Michael, Jacob, Kenny, Rob, Rebecca, and everyone at Seaside Lounge Studios for making the experience so much fun. As for a release date… check back for updates.

Next Show – May 28^th @ 8pm – Rockwood Music Hall (room 1)

John xo

Studio time

I am now two days into the recording of my debut album… and things could not be moving along any better…

John xo

 

Just in time for Spring

Here is ‘Fair Weather’, captured last week.

Enjoy xo

Solo show

Final preparations are under way for making my debut album. During the first week of April, I will head into the studio with an amazing bunch of musicians, and a top producer to oversee the whole process. This will be my first time recording with a band in Brooklyn… cant wait!

I have decided to play one more show before I head into the studio, and where else is better than Rockwood Music Hall. This will be my first ever solo set at Rockwood so please come out and make it extra special. I will be performing a bunch of new songs, so this is your chance to to get a sneak preview of some album tracks before they are recorded.

tell a friend xo

Back in May

This is my second Pancake Tuesday away from home. The Aunt Jemima pancake mix just isn’t cutting it… but on a brighter note, here is some nice fan footage that was taken way back in May of last year. This is Always To Blame, live at Rockwood Music Hall. Big thanks to Rockwood for recording our set, which meant that I could sync the audio from the desk with the live video.

Enjoy xo

Inspired.

I don’t have a CD player in my apartment, and I have never owned an mp3 player. Sometimes a full week will go past and I wont have listened to music at home. I’ve always been the type of person that finds a band or artist and then obsesses with them for a while. This happened to me with Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, The Frames, Sigur Rós, The Strokes and Damien Rice just to name a few.

Since relocating to the U.S I seemed to have moved away from that pattern. Every now and then I will hear a single from a new band that draws me in, but I never really take the time to sit down and listen to their music. Like most people I will never have as much free time as I did when I was at University in Belfast.

Then something changed. I was gifted a record player for Christmas… and I couldn’t have been inspired more by a single act of kindness. Like a student again I have been taking the time to sit down and listen to albums, from start to finish. Classic albums like ‘Into the Music’ from Van Morrison and ‘Everybody Knows this is Nowhere’ by Neil Young. I have borrowed a few records from friends, and picked up a few myself in a little store in Park Slope called ’5th Avenue Records & Tapes.’ Just last week I picked up my first James Taylor record. It was 50 cents and it was little dusty, but when I cleaned it up it plays like a dream.

I am not afraid to admit that I have never taken the time to get into The Beatles. Like most people I know all the singles, but not all the album tracks. My good friend Alan just gifted me ‘Let it Be’, ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and ‘The Beatles.’ Can’t really go wrong with those three to be fair. The best thing about owning a record player for me is that I am going to open my ears to a lot of music, particularly older recordings, that would have passed me by otherwise.

With plans set in stone to record my debut album a few months from now I have been writing a lot. I know that music consumption has changed so much in recent years, but I still believe in the power of a good album. I want the songs to sit well together so that people like me can enjoy listening from start to finish, and who knows maybe i’ll get a few printed on vinyl…

John xo

p.s for more up to date news follow me on twitter or facebook.

Some live footage

I’ve been sitting on this footage for quite a while. Recorded in May of last year at the Training Up My Soul EP launch in Rockwood Music Hall, this is It Slows Down.

Thanks to everyone who made this show unforgettable, and to everyone who has picked up a copy of the EP to date. You guys rock.

This Wednesday, I am doing a solo set at Ceol in Brooklyn. Situated at 191 Smith Street in Cobblehill, Ceol has a really great open-mic night every Wednesday. This week I am honored to be the featured performer. 8pm stage time. Should be fun!

John xo

Hello 2013

2012 was my first full year away from home. I phone my Mum and Dad most days so I am fairly up to date on everything that is going on with my family and friends, but nothing compares to sitting around the open fire with your folks at Christmas time. So I couldn’t have been happier to be home for two weeks.

Unlike New York, Ireland pretty much comes to a stand still for the holiday season. When Americans tell me that they only get one or two days off work I am always shocked. They definitely work too hard, and I don’t care what anyone says, we eat just as much as Americans… and we make it last for two weeks.

On December 28^th I was back in the Cellar Bar, Draperstown for a show. I was joined on stage by dear friends Zarah (cello) and Matt (electric guitar), and with support from the very talented Junior Johnson. At first it felt weird to play without my US band mates, but after a few songs I really started to relax and enjoy myself. I can’t thank everyone enough for coming out and making it such a great night. There is a buzz in Draperstown that will always draw me back.

I didn’t really expect to do an encore, and it was only as we sat backstage after our set was over that I released that we had to do one! Luckily I have the worst memory in the world, and Zarah reminded me that we hadn’t played ‘It Slows Down’, and so we did just that. In a way it made perfect sense. Of all the songs I’ve written this is the one that I would say was most influenced by time spent in Draperstown, particularly with the Rural Key Project, a Glasgowbury initiative for young people.

As I returned to New York a couple of days ago I could not have felt more energized. Despite the fact that I had to relive 5 hours of my day due to the jetlag, I couldn’t wait to get to my apartment, unpack, and take out my guitar and work on some ideas. My friend Michael made a very valid point recently. He said that the good thing about visiting the USA for an Irish person is that they are able to get out of bed in time… I hope this keeps up. I even went for a run this morning at 7am… if my Mum could see me now.

To everyone in the United States I want to wish you all a Happy New Year, and thank you for making 2012 so amazing. By coming out to a show, picking up an EP, downloading a song or two, or even just shaking my hand and asking me where I am from, all of you make it that little bit easier to be away from home.

Early 2013 will see me record my debut album. I have a million ideas that I am sifting through right now; some old and some new, but it is all coming together nicely. I want to make an album in the same way in which the Training Up My Soul EP was made. I will stand in a live room with great musicians around me, and jam. With four EP’s under my belt already I know exactly what type of record I want to make, and I cant wait to share it with you all when its done.

I’ll be posting some more show dates very soon, and for more updates you can Like my bandpage on Facebook, or follow my twitterings on Twitter. (@buildingpics)

Rock on
John xo