This is a transcript of Laura Harper's interview with Paddy on March 1, 2004
You came to the United States when you were eighteen years old. What was it like leaving your country and family?
Many young people think they can do anything and sometimes they’re right. I could only have left home at 18. If I had stayed much longer I would never have left. Ireland is a great place though, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that I had this incredible adventure/opportunity thrust into my lap and I was young enough to give it a shot. It was a chance to play football, get a university education and go to America. The land of Starsky and Hutch, Dallas, Dynasty, Kojak, Scooby Doo, The Waffle House, Bojangles………..need I say more? (I’m showing my age now!) Seriously though, it was like my first day at school. I had to do it. It came along so quickly that I didn’t think about it………until I got to the airport on August 1st, 1987. I was with my mother and my Aunt Kathleen. The area where you walk through the metal detectors, the point of no return……that’s where you say goodbye. I hate that place, even today. I cried until I got my first beer on the plane then the excitement set in. My friend Jimmy was traveling with me. He never tires of telling people that I cried in the airport while he was so excited. He was crying within though. It was an emotional time and Irish people have weird ways of showing emotion.
Tell me about your adolescence, your early teens growing up in Dublin
Growing up in Dublin was wholesome and free. We played various sports in the streets in and around the neighborhood. My friend Fran Laycock and I played Starsky and Hutch. He was Starsky. We invented our own language. I walked to school each day (well, I ran because I was usually late). I played a lot of different sports. We “robbed the orchards” which means stealing apples from trees in neighbors’ yards. We played Nickerbocker…….knocking at doors and running away, and Kick The Can…….and various other street games. There were never any drugs or anything illicit. We used to get an old wallet and tie some fishing line to it. Around midnight the drunks would come out of the pubs and try to pick it up and we laughed when they followed it along the ground as we pulled on the line. Later on I hung out with Robbie Keegan. We had our first beers together………woke up on Sandymount Strand (a local beach) naked. We grew up like normal kids. No one in our area ever had a lot but we had so many things that wealthy kids could never have……I have fond memories of my childhood although I was painfully shy at times. I don’t think I ever liked girls until I was 18 or so. I never had the confidence to approach a girl. I was only truly confident on an athletic field or in the classroom. Soccer and school was my life for the most part. I sometimes wish that I could go back and know what I know now but that would defeat the purpose of growing up. It can be painful at times but that’s what makes you grow. I wouldn’t trade the experience. One of the things I noticed here was that kids have to be driven by parents everywhere…….both as a means of security and the fact that things are so spread out. I grew up so differently.
You have been here in the US now for eighteen years. Are you considering becoming a citizen of the US?
I love America and I am proud to live here. I will always be an Irishman and an Irish citizen; however, I have just started the process for American citizenship. It should take about a year to complete. I plan on always living here so it will be a good thing for me and something that will make me even more proud.
Is the Catholicism that you were reared on still a big part of your life?
When you are born and raised an Irish Catholic it always remains with you. Everything you do and think about is affected by that thought process. That can be both good and bad. I’m not a good example of a Catholic or any type of religious person for that matter. The best advice I have ever received was from my Mother. As I was leaving Ireland she told me to never forget about God. She told me to talk to Him and ask Him to help me. She was talking about Faith. Faith and religion are two different things. My Faith means everything to me, but it’s personal. It’s something you try to live, not something you shove in people’s faces. I do believe that going to church is a good thing though. It’s a chance to go out of your way and say thanks. No matter what church I’m in, it’s still between me and the big lad upstairs. I’m doing fine so far so I think He likes me.
Did you grow up with music in your house a lot?
There was never a whole lot of music in our house but there is a whole lot of music in and around Irish culture in general. When Irish people socialize there is usually a sing-a-long going on. Someone breaks out a guitar and before you know it Neil Diamond is in the room.
When did you write your first song? What is the name?
I started playing guitar in 1990 or so……basic chords……cover songs……not great…..some things never change eh?....... I really can’t remember my first complete song. It was nice though, not dirty…….I think…….I do remember the day my brother Dermot sent me a poem by Lord Byron called “When We Two Parted”. He felt like it was more of a song than a poem. I put music to it. That’s the first complete work I can remember. There was a song called “Nothing More I Can Do” which I wrote around that time. I can barely remember it though.
What kinds of feelings come back to you when you perform your earliest music?
Innocence……Nakedness…….Sincerity…….Not having a clue
What musical artists or performers give you inspiration?
U2 were and will always be huge for me. I would have never picked up a guitar if it were not for them. I got to tell Bono this years ago. He looked at me like I had just asked him to sleep with me………….Other than U2……..Christy Moore, Sting, and any hungry and talented unsigned act that performs from their hearts……like Nathan Davis and DL Token……These guys both inspire me greatly.
What pushes you to get back into the studio to write and create, or perform new material?
I wish I knew because I would eat it or buy it or whatever. I’m a slave to myself and whatever I’m supposed to do……that sounds like such a cop out. Songs come into your life in various ways whether they are originals or covers. I just wait for them to show up.
Have you ever experienced a dry spell?
I live in a dry spell. I think I will write a song about it.
How do you deal with the fear of failure?
It depends on how you interpret that word. It’s a negative word so I try to gravitate away from it. In many ways Bill and I are already successful. We make a living from writing and performing music. We have met many wonderful people over the years because of our music. Look at this website! Come to one of our shows! I have been blessed. I would love to grow as a musician and write better songs and have more people exposed to those songs and have those people like the songs……We’re in this place right now and it’s a good place. Hopefully it will grow and we will be able to make a positive difference in many more people’s lives. I have never been in this business to be a rock star. We’re on the road and we’re doing fine. The only way we could fail would be to not continue with the music. That’s how most people fail in anything. You may need to modify your expectations but you should never quit. Sometimes the best way of finding something is not to look for it. I look at the music business with that in mind and that takes failure out of the equation for me. I’ll know where I’m supposed to be when I get there.
Do you abide by any specific guidelines to give your songwriting direction or continuity?
No…..I’m still a novice songwriter……..I have so much ground to cover when it comes to learning my craft. I write when words come into my head, or a melody comes into my head. I don’t spend enough time doing it though. That’s something I need to correct.
Do you spend more time on your melodies or lyrics?
I’m a lyricist primarily. The melody develops along with the lyrics but it’s not something I address until later in the writing or recording process………usually with people like Bill who can put what I am hearing in my head into music.
When do you find that you write your best stuff?
During those moments of inspiration………that can come from a movie or a book or even a quotation…….sad times are usually profound times for all writers. I really haven’t written enough music to truly answer that question. I wish I could bottle inspiration though.
Does your mood dictate your creative output?
For me………..YES
Is there one clear aim or message you want to send through your work?
The goal is to make a difference, a positive difference. I feel that way about my entire life.
What's your work process like? Do you have any peculiar rituals or a special room you write in? And do you have to be alone when you write?
Not really…….sometimes I wake up with something in my head and I get up to write. Anyone who has been in my house will tell you that I have sticky notes everywhere…….words and sayings…….I have even sung and played melodies into a hand held tape recorder……..then I lose the recorder! I usually write alone but I would love to find someone to write with.
Do you have any foresight into how the piece is going to end or does it just come out that way?
It just ends that way. It’s hard not to feel like a sculptor when writing a song…..or like you are solving a jig-saw puzzle. Some sculptor once said (after being congratulated for an amazing statue creation) “This statue was always there. I just cleared away the rough pieces”. I love that quote. The songs are already written. People like me just try to find them. Like children they grow and mature and take on a life of their own.
Has music been your whole life or did you have another career before this?
Music was my dream life and still is to some extent. I was always an athlete. It’s all I did for many years. I got to come to America and go to school because of that. I have always said that I came to America in 1987 with two suitcases and my culture. Music is a huge part of my culture. Upon trying to make sense of this new culture I drew heavily on my own. Things I had taken for granted at home became extremely important to me when I came to the US. Things like Irish history and arts, our own Gaelic language………and our music. These things made up my identity here in the US. It’s a long story. I don’t understand it myself but I must say that the furthest thing from my mind or anyone’s mind when I left home was me becoming a musician yet when I look back, it makes perfect sense, and I may just realize all I can be because of it.
Was this a completely different career path or did it have something to do with what you're doing now?
Soccer and the various other sports I played?.....I don’t see much of a connection although these activities could be seen as entertainment I suppose. I was involved in business for a few years after college but I wouldn’t consider that a career. I have to care about what I’m doing to do a good job. Music was the first thing I found that motivated me after my academic and sports careers were over.
How much of your show is improvised, and how much is pre-planned?
Nothing we do is pre-planned. I have to feel an audience first. We figure the direction out as we go along and once we have them we have them. Luckily as a duo we can get away with that. Bill used to try to get me to write out set lists but I think he has given up at this point. We do try to plan some things for bigger gigs or full band shows but I always change things around and drive everyone mad. I’ve always felt that it’s best to let what’s inside you come out. It’s always honest that way.
Does it get hard to judge an audience when there’s so many feelings in an audience?
It depends on the size of the crowd. In our world it is a little easier to be malleable in terms of the set list and attitude. I think we have become quite good at judging audiences in general. Sometimes there’s so much energy in the room that you know what to do immediately. Other times it takes a few songs and/or comments to figure out where to go with the show. We usually land on our feet I think. The most important thing to do is to talk to your audience. Get to know them, remember names, engage people, and gravitate to ALL people, especially the not so pretty/cool folks. Make sure everyone feels welcome and make sure they all feel part of the show.
Do you ever get stage fright or the jitters before you have to perform?
Not really. There’s usually a little apprehension sometimes but nothing too debilitating. Bigger gigs or gigs with a full band are a little more intense so the nerves can hit briefly but once I’m up there and I look them in the eye I’m OK.
How long did it take you to write Angel Dream?
Fifteen minutes.
What is Angel Dream about?
Most people will tell you that they have been in love but my contention is that few ever have been. I don’t know a lot about love but it’s such a great part of human existence. There’s so much to it yet it’s so simple in my idealistic mind. I have always imagined this song to be about a guy who sees a girl so beautiful that he is mesmerized instantly. He dreams of this woman being his love in the rawest, most passionate sense and then wakes up to find out that it was just a dream. Dreams do come true though. There is evidence of that fact everywhere so it is always necessary to try to not let silly things get in your way when pursuing your dreams. If and when you find your dream (and this may not necessarily be a partner) you should find a way to go for it. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Which do you prefer: singing or writing?
I love performing. That’s where the payoff is. Writing is such a frustrating task for me. I simply do not write enough. I must say though there is no feeling like a complete song jumping out of you. Both vocations are extremely cathartic for me in different ways.
I have heard that lots of people think your music has been an inspiration to them. How does it feel to directly impact the lives of others?
It’s both humbling and immensely satisfying. That alone gets me out of bed in the morning. I feel very lucky and blessed.
Haven't some of your fans interpreted your songs somewhat differently than you anticipated?
Yes in some cases. I sometimes read what people write about the songs on the forum pages. It’s wonderful to get some feedback. My hope is that people use their heads and don’t take away something negative from a song or something that might hurt someone. Music is for anyone. Few things in life are as they seem and with such criteria anything is possible. I enjoy someone else’s take on the original tunes. For me it let’s me know that they didn’t just listen to the song but they heard it too. In many cases I myself don’t really know what a song is about until it takes shape in the studio. Then it hits me as to what I was on about. I think we are sometimes misunderstood when it comes to part of the content of our live shows but it’s all about having a giggle occasionally. I feel sorry for those people who criticize and judge so harshly but these poor souls always turn out to be people who either never come to a show or only came once for a part of a show. They also tend to be the kind of people who wouldn’t like us no matter what kind of music we wrote and performed. Anyone in this business can relate to that. I was once asked if The Blind Man was actually blind. Also, there are some people out there who think Just A Friendly Little Cat is really about a certain part of the female anatomy. What a misconception!
Which one of your songs do you like best? Why?
The next one I write. A new song is always fresh and exciting. Actually, it’s impossible. This whole business is impossible. That’s one of the reasons I love it. There will always be the next song……… whenever it decides to show up.
Could you tell me what new projects we can look forward to from you in the near future?
We’re waiting on a final mix of Angel Dream. I would like it to be the cornerstone of the next record. We are thinking of recording several shows this summer. I would like the next record to be a mix of some of the more unusual live stuff we do along with some original material thrown in. We’ll probably not do another comedy based record although we should have enough material recorded from the shows to put out a separate record for those who enjoy the entertainment aspect of the pub gigs. I should have a few new tunes recorded this year. We’ll see. My left hand doesn’t know what my right hand is doing most of the time. Also, I have just started writing a book recently. It's basically a collection of short stories. They are all events that occurred in my life over the past 15 years or so. I'm planning on writing until I'm fed up with it. Then I'll see what I've got. I'm not sure how it will turn out but I have laughed a lot when recounting some of the old stories. I hope this doesn't come across as arrogant. I'm really writing it for me. If it's any good I might publish it.
It seems that you're always involved in so many projects, where do you find the time?
Time management is a big issue for me. If I could get to bed at a decent time I would get a lot more accomplished. I do have a lot going on in my life but I’m trying to prioritize. If anyone out there has some extra time I will gladly buy it from them.