Singer/songwriter Paddy Dennehy chatted with Limerick Post about scrapping an album, finding the perfect producer who directed the Limerickman away from a tendency to be a “smelly try hard”.
‘Little Light’ may be Paddy’s debut album but he has had a lot of gigging and recording experience in the last few years, multiple slots at Electric Picnic’s Trailer Park stage, tours with his heroes Mick Flannery and Glen Hansard and a coveted slot on The Late Late Show.
The debut album has been in the works for the last three years, and that follows an earlier attempt to make a record.
“I recorded an album about five years ago and scrapped it because it was muck!”
That’s what you get with Paddy, upfront honesty, never shying away from the big questions and that is reflected in his new record. The album is a wonderful collection of tremendous performances of character driven and personal narratives on love and loss.
The album was produced by Christian Best (Mick Flannery’s drummer) at his Monique Studios based in Cork.
“I needed a good producer to steer the album. You can’t beat having someone in the room that knows more about music than you.
“I’ve a tendency of overdoing it. I’m blowing my brains out on the first verse
He would stop me saying – “We have three choruses to go, you can’t sing like that yet.”” laughs.
Paddy is a National School Teacher in Cork, in fact his very early performances in Dolan’s while he learned his trade in Mary I college brought his musical talents to a wider audience.
The new album is full of emotive songs, from the gospel choral arrangements on ‘Hard Times’ to the raw emotion of the title track.
“All the songs are quite personal to me, I tend to try too hard”, he explains.
“The kids in my school have a great expression. The best insult you can give someone is a “smelly try hard”. laughs.
‘Painting Of A New Country’ is the new single to be lifted from Paddy Dennehy’s debut album. The song features Paddy’s familiar impassioned rasp sharing cherished memories of a loving relationship that has ended for good. The video for this track features Limerick artist Michael O’Brien as he paints. It was filmed by his daughter and Paddy’s long-time collaborator, Johanna O’Brien (aka The Red Herring).
Paddy Dennehy’s debut album ‘Little Light’ is out on Friday June 12.
