Paddy Casey

Paddy Casey

Paddy Casey is an Irish singer-songwriter from Dublin whose work draws on folk, rock and soul. He releases songs with a strong melodic focus and often writes about loneliness, loss, love, isolation and wider social problems.

Early releases and style

His debut album, Amen (So Be It), is released in 1999 and is produced by Pat Donne. Casey plays a range of instruments on the recording. The album is certified double platinum and includes the songs Fear, It’s Over Now, Sweet Suburban Sky, Rainwater, Whatever Gets You True and Winter's Fire. Winter's Fire features Mundy as guest guitarist. Sweet Suburban Sky later appears on the soundtrack to the US television drama Dawson's Creek. The album brings him wider attention and earns him nominations for Best Irish Songwriter and Best Male Singer at the Hot Press Awards. Hot Press readers also vote it Best Debut Album and name Casey Most Promising Act.

Living and chart success

Casey’s second album, Living, arrives in 2003. It is produced by Fred De Faye, Paddy Casey and Pat Donne. The album continues his interest in solitude and isolation, with songs including Don’t Need Anyone, Want It Can’t Have It, Anyone That’s Yet To Come, Miracle, The Lucky One and Saints And Sinners. It becomes a multi-platinum release and produces Irish chart hits such as Saints and Sinners, The Lucky One, Bend Down Low and Want It Can't Have It. The album spends much of the year in the top ten and reaches number one 21 weeks after release. It is the highest-selling Irish album of 2004, ahead of U2’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

Live work and touring

Casey tours extensively and supports artists including R.E.M., Ian Brown, Ani DiFranco and The Pretenders. He wins the Meteor Irish Music Award for Best Irish Male in 2004 and again in 2005. He also performs at Oxegen Festival in 2004, headlines a sell-out concert at the Heineken Green Energy Festival in 2005, supports U2 on the Vertigo tour in Ireland, Scotland and Norway, and gives a week-long residency at the Olympia Theatre as well as a sold-out show at Dublin’s RDS.

Band and influences

Casey’s backing band includes Tim McGrath on drums, Cionn O’Callaghan on percussion, Fiona Melady on keyboards and backing vocals, John Colbert on bass and backing vocals, Andy Coogan on guitar and backing vocals, and Jonathon O’Halloran on flute and trumpet. He cites Bob Marley, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, John Martyn, The Waterboys, Prince and Sly And The Family Stone among his influences. He is also a personal friend of Declan O’Rourke, who plays guitar in his band before launching his own solo career.

Later work

His third album is released in 2007.