Belfast singer songwriter Gareth Dunlop has released his new single, Goodbye All Over Again, which recently featured on US TV drama, Found. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
Gareth was recently shortlisted for Album of the Year at the Northern Ireland Music Prize 2024 for Welcome To The House Of I Don't Know.
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Speaking about his new song, Dunlop, who will tour with Duke Special, says, "Goodbye All Over Again is a personal song about loss, grief, and how difficult it can be looking back. I wrote this song almost seven years ago, and it blows my mind that it found a home in a major network TV show in America."
Dunlop has played support to Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, James Morrison, Stereophonics, Bonnie Raitt, Foy Vance, and Jeff Beck.
This isn’t the first time his work has featured on screen and his music has featured on TV shows such as Nashville, Lucifer, This Is Us, and Suits, and films such as The Best of Me and Safe Haven.
Garth tours with Duke Special: 10 April: The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh. 11 April: YES, Manchester. 12 April: The Old Woollen, Leeds. 13 April: Hare and Hounds, Birmingham. 14 April: Cluny, Newcastle.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I’m an artist and songwriter from Belfast. I’ve been writing songs for myself and others for almost 20 years ...and I can make a mean vegetable soup.
How would you describe your music?
I think my music has changed over the years… my first releases probably fell under the 'Americana/Soul’ bracket… my last couple of records definitely lean more into pop and retro synth. Every song of mine usually starts out life with a guitar in my lap or a piano under my hands. What happens in production in the studio is always changing.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I caught the guitar hero bug when I started out playing as a teenager… people like Jimmy Page, Clapton and Hendrix were always in heavy rotation in my bedroom. When I started down the path of songwriting I fell into folk music pretty hard… artists like Joni Mitchell, Dylan, John Martyn, and Paul Simon were writers that really spoke to me. Lately, I’ve been listening to Maggie Rogers, Orlando Weeks, Mk.gee and Bleachers.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I was sneaking into bars and clubs in Belfast when I was around 14/15 to see folks like Ken Haddock, Foy Vance, Lee Rogers and Rab McCullough play cover sets… but I think one of the first arena style shows I ever went to was to watch Bob Dylan play what was then the Odyssey Arena back in 2004. Also, on the bill that night was Gary Moore, Damien Dempsey and Paddy Casey… my young mind was blown!
What was the first record you ever bought?
The very first record I bought with my own pocket was a Lynyrd Skynyrd best of album. I’d heard this amazing song in a movie on the TV and couldn’t get it out of my head… I walked to my local HMV and awkwardly sang a bit of it to the person behind the till and they very kindly told me it was Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd, so I picked up the album, ran home and wore it out!
What’s your favourite song right now?
At this moment in time, it’s I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend by Girl in Red. I think I must be the last person on earth to have heard this song… It’s been out for a good while but I just heard it last week!
Favourite lyric of all time?
"I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time" - Wichita Lineman.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Birdhouse In Your Soul by They Might Be Giants. Aside from it being an absolute banger, I have so many great memories attached to the song.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My music is up there online in all of the usual places… I also have vinyl available through my website. I’m always posting tour dates and all things life on my socials. Just search and you’ll come across me either trying to bake bread or shamelessly promoting tickets to a show!
Alan Corr
