Home Grown Talent

Claire Craig talks to Gareth Dunlop about his debut album, writing for other people and why the time’s now right to take his own music to the next level

- Claire Craig

Recording an album is never easy but when it’s your debut album and you decide to record it in your home the challenges multiple. Undeterred by the magnitude of the task this is just what Gareth Dunlop did and the result is No. 79. A collection of ten tracks, showcasing the Northern Ireland musician’s song writing skills and inimitable vocal talent.

Explaining what prompted him to make the album from the Belfast home he shares with his partner Amy and their two young children he said: “I was just back from a fairly long stint over in the States and hated the thought of being away again so just decided to try and do it from home,” he explains. “I wasn’t sure how feasible it would be but it turned out that the guys I wanted to work with were free and the stars just sort of aligned for us and it all came together quite organically.

“Obviously there were restraints with it not being a commercial studio but I think all that just adds to it. You play to those limitations and the finished result is very honest and personal.

“There was a bit more pressure this time round for sure. I’ve done a few EPs in the past of five or six songs so putting ten tracks together was a new challenge but we got a band together, used the same room and the same mics for the recording so there’s definitely a strong thread running through it.

“My writing’s in a different place from where it was with the last release so I’m excited to get this release out there. It’s a new project to be playing live so I’m looking forward to being out there and putting some heat on it, hopefully everyone likes it as much as I enjoyed making it.”