Co. Down songwriter Matt McGinn has released his new single, Analog Man In A Digital World, featuring Paul Brady. We asked Matt the BIG questions . . .
Matt and Paul wrote the song together and they share lead vocals. Matt will be celebrating the release of the song with a performance at the Celtic Connections Festival.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
"What always drew me to Paul Brady as an artist was his lack of gimmickry," he says. "He has an incredible ability to allow nothing to stand between you and the heart of the song, surpassed only by his incredible skills as a performer"
Analog Man In A Digital World is the second single from Matt's forthcoming collection, which will feature co-writes and collaborations with Paul, Foy Vance and many more artists.
"What began as a worrying thought ended up as a fun idea that I think we could both very much relate to the fact that technology seems to be progressing so fast, that people like us are being left in its wake!" Matt says.
Paul says, "I enjoy writing with Matt, a talented artist whose love of both contemporary pop forms and Irish folk music mirrors my own."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I was born sleeping. The doctors thought at first that I didn’t make it till they realised I was just having a wee nap. My mother reckons I never really properly woke up…
I live in possibly one of the most beautiful places in the world. I’m at the foot of the Mourne Mountains so they are practically on my doorstep, with forests and beaches a few miles in either direction. I’m a lucky boyo.
I’m not yet sure what I want to be when I grow up but am certainly enjoying the journey in the meantime!
How would you describe your music?
God…I’m delighted to say it can be completely different from one day to the next. It’s the wonderful thing about being an independent musician. It’s also one of the things that drew me to Paul Brady. I loved the way he seemed to have this freedom where he could do whatever the hell he wanted. Life is too short to be stuck in a genre. I can wake up in the morning and go in any direction I choose. I’ll always strive to write a decent song, often with a message. How I dress it will depend on a million different things. Analog Man comes from a collection that jumps all over the place and at the same time I’m composing and arranging an orchestral suite that is heavily influenced by Irish traditional music. So…it’s a tough enough question to answer!
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My sister and her now husband took me to Status Quo in Newry Sports Centre when I was about 14. I loved it, but it was my second gig that really hit home. My mum and dad took myself and my sister to see the Highway Men in the King’s Hall, Belfast in ’92, and I am forever thankful. Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson on one stage. Mental. Kristofferson autographed my sister’s program and I can still hear that iconic voice ringing through my ears…"Don’ know why you want’ it…it doesn’t look like Kris".
What was the first record you ever bought?
On vinyl, it was 24 Nights by Clapton. On CD I think it was Give Out but Don’t Give up by Primal Scream.
What’s your favourite song right now?
I was honoured to sing with Donna Taggart at a fundraiser for Palestine recently a version of Glen Hansard’s Leave a Light and it has haunted me ever since. It is such a beautiful and poignant song.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"Living under suspicion, Putting up with the hatred and fear in their eyes, You can see that you're nothing but a murderer, In their eyes, we're nothing but a bunch of murderers" Who else but Paul Brady and Nothing but the Same Old Story? Not that it affects the lyric but when it’s sung with Donal Lunny on the Bringing it all Back Home version…outstanding.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Wichita Lineman from Glen Campbell on repeat in my dad’s Rover 75.
Where can people find your music/more information?
All of my social handles are @mattmcginnmusic though I’m not on TikTok yet…and I’m very close to jumping ship on Twitter! Here's my website.
Alan Corr
.svg)