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Q1. Where are you from?

Glasnevin Dublin

Q2. Musical Influences?

God it could take awhile. From very young I was listening to Bob Dylan, John Denver, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Paul Brady, as I got older I started getting into the Irish song writers cause I felt I had a connection like Mundy, Paddy Casey, Glen Hanserd – The Frames, Declan O Rourke, Christie   Moore, I could go on but they are the people that has helped me write my music.

Q3. What is your song writing process?

That’s a hard question because it’s different from time to time. My songs are all about experiences that have happened in my life or someone close to me. Normally I find a couple of nice chords and play around with them for awhile and get a nice melody and then add lyrics. Some songs might come in 5mins others 1 week and again it might be 2months.

Q4. Most bizarre gig experience?

There has been a few but one will always stick out. Playing in the village one night Wexford Street I got called to go on. I went back stage to tune up and get myself sorted. When I opened my cloth guitar case I found that the neck had been snapped in two and I wasn’t happy one bit. Still to this day I don’t know how it happened and to make it worse I couldn’t play because I’m left handed and nobody was left handed playing that night. Lesson where made from that gig.

Q5. If you could share a stage with anyone who would it be and why?

I would have to say Damien Rice. I adore his music and stage presence and creative ideas. Would love to co write a song with him and play it live. I just think our voices would really suit and our playing styles and he has been a huge inspiration to me.

 

In their own words

Keith O’Brien is a singer/songwriter hailing from Glasnevin in Dublin. A former student of the Ballyfermot Rock School, which has produced some well known names in the music industry, Keith’s popularity is growing with some great responses not only from the public but from some top names in Irish music including Mundy, Paddy Casey, Dave Kelly (FM104) and Oscar winner Glen Hansard to name a few.

Keith has received airplay on both FM104 and RTE 2FM and has also performed some live gigs for FM104’s breakfast show around Dublin city. He has gigged alongside bands such as ‘Superhumanbeings’, ‘The Lonely Schizophrenic’ and has become a well known name in open mic events such as ‘The Zodiac Sessions’. Having also performed in venues such as Crawdaddy, Eamon Dorans, Voodoo Lounge, The Workmans Club, Hard Rock Café, Break for the Border and The Village, Keith is a favorite on Balcony TV and won Balcony TV’s Best Male award in 2008. They invited him to perform on the last show from their Dame St. location and are looking forward to having him sing from the new balcony soon.

Keith writes all his own songs. His lyrics are usually inspired from events surrounding him in his everyday life which give his songs a certain personal feel to them. Many people have related to his songs because of this. Some fan favorites are : The Strand , Wasted Time and Marie. Keith’s plan for the near future is to release ‘Marie’ as a single with proceeds being donated to cancer awareness charities. Keith O’Brien is looking forward to being a part of Ricardo Records and keen to get to work, “I have plenty of ideas to start recording on some old and new stuff. I’m getting excited about recording and working on my stuff in the studio…”

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