25th March 2007
Just a quick one this time, to let you all know that 21 demands just went to Number 1 yesterday with "Give me a minute", entirely on downloads (an amazing achievement), David's download "Don't look back in Anger) is at number 7, and both Scubadice and Maeve O'Donovan's tracks are still top 40. Congrats to all. I mainly blame your producers!!

David O'Connor's single, "On Borrowed Wings" was finished in the allotted 72 hours (Lord help us). Sounding huge!! And will be due for download any second, and available in the shops within a week or so.

And most importantly of all, "Songs of Consolation" CD's pressed, and just covers to be printed. We'll be ready to go by Easter, and you can get it directly through this website. Hopefully we'll have at least two buttons initially: Paypal and CD Baby, and we'll add iTunes as soon as it's up on the system!

Can't wait. I'll send you all a message as soon as we're ready to roll!

22nd March 2007
"Give me a Minute" by 21 Demands went straight into the Irish charts this week at Number 2, based on downloads alone, recorded only a week ago in my place, and produced by myself and Larry. Actually the story is even more exciting than that. This week, we have four downloadable records in the Irish top 30, all recorded and produced by us for the final four acts in You're A Star series 5.

So Scubadice have a Number 8 hit singing a cover version of Greenday's holiday

David O'Connor, (the final winner of the competition) is at 20 with a cover of Noel Gallagher's "Don't Look back in Anger".....

while Maeve O'Donovan is at number 25 with the Stevie Nick's song "Landslide" also recently covered by the Dixie Chicks.

To cap the week, we find ourselves down in Joe Egan's "Loft" studio in Clara County Offaly (where I mixed "Songs of Consolation" my own forthcoming album) this time, recording the winner's single for Universal records. David won as I mentioned, and he's been given a very strong pop ballad written by Bryan Adams and Elliot Kennedy called "On Borrowed Wings". The pressure is on and we've only three days to record and mix it. Hope you all like it. It will be available for download on Friday coming. 

13th March 2007
Contents Under Pressure!!
Okay, so I got the new album, "Songs of Consolation" all mastered and stuff, and I was patiently waiting for You're a Star to come to its natural end, when the MPO CD pressing plant in Dublin ceased its operations last Friday. There was a mad scramble and now (as there's only one pressing plant left in the country!) I have to get everything in to the system on Thursday.

So this is a map of my life for the next few days. Wednesday: do all the band charts for the last two You're a Star shows. 10 hours Thursday: Helix for Camera rehearsals for semifinal and final of You're a Star. Get masters of "Songs of Consolation" into MidAtlantic. 9 hours Friday: Final Rehearsal with acts for closing weekend of You're a Star, mid afternoon soundcheck RTE, and Late Late Show with acts that night (lots of hours) Saturday: Semifinal day. In the Helix at crack of egg. Rehearsals and soundchecks all day. Show live at 8pm. Results at 930. Drive home. Don't crash. Fall into bed. Sunday: Final day. In at 8am. Same as yesterday but with one fewer act. Go live at 630pm. Results at 8pm. Wrap party soon after.

Monday- start recording single with this year's You're a Star winner for Universal records. Get artwork in on Songs of Consolation. Try not to have breakdown. Kiss kids goodnight. Fall asleep.

Click here to get all the news over
the last while »