Industry Advice from Pauric O’Meara ahead of Highly-Anticipated Monroe’s Gig
Although Pauric started playing music a little bit later in life, he feels like he’s only getting started. With three singles released this year and his upcoming EP Ocean Floor on the way this month, Pauric reminisces on where his love for music began.
“I was always into sport and all that kind of stuff, and then there was a Christmas concert in my secondary school, and if you went for an audition, you got to skip a load of classes. So, we were all like, yeah, of course, we’ll audition. Then, lo and behold, I got the lead role in the musical.
“I think it was the first time one of my peers was like, you’re really good at this. I was buzzing. So, I was like okay, let’s see what happens,” he reflects.
“I just started learning the guitar and didn’t really see it as a career path, just something I enjoyed doing. Then as I kind of got older and when I was going through college, I started doing pub gigs, then I started writing my own music and doing showcase nights and open mic nights. So, I thought let’s try and make something out of this.”
After discovering his talent, Pauric experimented with his sound and discovered musicians that inspired his indie style.
“I suppose at that time, the Coronas would have been a huge influence, like Irish wise, and then Sam Fender started breaking onto the scene. Also, from the likes of the Coronas, their storytelling, that aspect of their songwriting. Then you have the kind of the grooviness of a band like the Kooks, but then you also have heavy elements like Wunderhorse and Bleach 9:3,” he explained.
Throwing it back ten years ago to 2016, Pauric’s sister signed him up for The Voice Ireland, where he performed ‘Maniac 2000’ and secured a clean sweep from all four judges Bressie, Kian Egan, Una Healy and Rachel Stevens.
“I was very naive when I was that age,” he said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do. My sister entered me in that, and I was out in Limerick the night before. That was very last minute. You can hear it in my voice when the four chairs turn, my voice starts cracking. I think I play a wrong chord as well.
“I think that experience just added to, wow, I can do this. You know, not only is it my friends and the old man in the pub telling me I’m good. It’s four people who work in the industry. That was my first ever taste of the industry. Like, I never released a song, never had a radio interview, that was my very first taste,” he said.
Ireland has become a predominant space for up-and-coming artists and Pauric has some advice for those getting started.
“Maybe go at it with a plan. It’s all well and good throwing everything out there, but I think you see a lot of bands now these days that are playing all these gigs without ever releasing a song that seems to be the way the industry has gone.
“That’s my head speaking, in my heart it’s like just play the tunes. Just go and see what happens. Enjoy yourself. I didn’t get any advice when I started off. I’m still learning and I’m thirty-one,” he adds.
Ahead his gig in Monroe’s next month, Pauric says his connection to Galway isn’t just music.
“I love playing in Galway. My mam is a Galway woman. I’m from Borrisokane, it’s only over the border, so it’s a lot of time it feels like a hometown gig. Galway is just the best city ever. It is really, it’s unbelievable. Any chance we get to play in Galway, we’re always jumping at the opportunities. I’m buzzing to get down.”
Pauric’s future has an exciting road ahead. With new songs on the way and upcoming gigs across Ireland, his music trajectory is headed on an upwards path.
“I just want to stay living this life, in whatever way that can happen, that’s just what I want to do. So, yeah, that’s the plan. Stay being happy, stay playing music and fingers crossed more and more people will just want to come to my gigs.
“I want to play the music that I love, and I love the tunes that I put out, and I love playing them live. I love when people are in a crowd and everyone’s dancing like it’s the best feeling ever.”
Pauric’s new song ‘At Me Too’ is out now ahead of his new EP Ocean Floor which is set for release on 4 November. Catch his new music in Monroe’s Live on Saturday, 21 November.
