No ‘Monday’ blues for Paul Caldwell as Headlines EP enjoys success

The Buncrana musician, who has lived in Vancouver since 2015, is deft at writing about the human experience and the feelings we all hold.

As well as that sinking Monday morning feeling, the new track, from his EP ‘Headlines’ also explores isolation, insecurity and loneliness.

While these feelings are very much prevalent in these pandemic times, Paul told the Journal how the song was written long before Covid 19 reared its head.

It is, in fact, part of an ‘arc’ that runs through the EP that focuses on the stages of grief, which ‘goes down’ but rises to something more positive and hopeful.

The track and EP have received rave reviews both here and in Vancouver, where Paul has found many musical connections close to home.

Growing up in Buncrana, Paul started getting into music while finding and listening to music in the local bars.

“My two brothers played in the local bars and as soon as I was 18, I was up watching the bands all the time.

“It was my main interest and then I learned how to play the guitar at 19.”

As the recession hit, Paul moved to Liverpool where he stayed for five years.

He found a ‘massive entertainment culture’ and continued to craft his talent there.

A ‘need for change’ sent him to Vancouver where he was able to ‘seamlessly blend the soul of traditional Irish ballads with the nuance of Canadian folk.’

His genre of music is just that - ‘mainly folk, but with hints of country and a little bit of blues’ and he takes inspiration from the area he grew up in, as well as where he now lives.

“At home, I grew up listening to people like Paul Brady and Van Morrison. You’re listening to the story and trying to figure out what it is and where it’s going. There’s also a great scene around Vancouver in general - you’re getting to know people, learning from them, writing and trying your best.”

The EP’s name comes from one of the tracks, Headlines, which dwells on Paul’s time growing up in Buncrana and the loss of his young friends in the Omagh Bomb when he was just nine years old. It is an extremely emotive track and one he is very proud of.

“I initially started to write that one about my childhood and what I remember about home and growing up around Marian Park.

“I started writing different things here and there and it came into my head about the Omagh Bomb. I started remembering that time and picking up all these visuals that came to me.

“I was only nine years old and it was such a powerful memory. One day you’re playing football and the next day, everything had changed. It meant a lot to me and I sent it to the families before it was released. I just wanted to make sure they were o.k. with it, but they loved it.”

While all the tracks on the EP ‘work together’ and it’s hard for Paul to pick a favourite, Headlines is ‘definitely up there.’

Headlines took Paul ‘around two or three months’ to write, while Monday ‘took close on eight months to a year.’

However, Paul told how, ‘sometimes on a good day,’ he can write a track in a couple of hours.

As a live performer, Paul has also felt the impact of Covid, but told how Vancouver is ‘slowly starting to open up again.’

“Our bars and all are still open here. Everyone is spaced out and distanced and there’s plexi glass. The volume is at a lower level and numbers are at half capacity and spaced out. It gives us something to look forward to.”

He is passionate about supporting local artists, particularly during these times.

“I’ve seen so many people at home doing everything that they can, putting on online shows and trying to get themselves out there. It’s difficult, so it’s really important that local artists are supported, now and when we get back to some sort of normal.”

Paul is continuing to ‘write as much as possible’ and another three songs are due to be released from the EP. He feels a sense of ‘relief’ that the EP has been so well received. “A massive amount of work goes into it.”

Monday and Headlines are available on Spotify and other streaming devices.