This time on the NAS 10 Questions, we get to know Sullie, aka John O’Sullivan – (Sullie) Singer, Songwriter, Guitar, Bass, Drum programming, Midi, Producer, Patrick Quinn, Percussion, Backing Vocals, Owen Waston, Keys, Tin Whistle, Accordion, Harmonica, Backing Vocals.
The track “Bombs Rain Down” is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
https://www.newartistspotlight.org/playlists
1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
Sullie (John O’Sullivan) is an Irish Singer-Songwriter currently living in Sydney Australia. He performs as Sullie (original music) and with The Full Irish, an Irish traditional and folk music group. You can find both acts playing around Syndey at gigs and sessions as well as at festivals around New South Wales.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
Sometime in the mid-80s in a small town in the west of Ireland with dreams of being the next Clash or U2 Sullie started his first band with nothing more than a beat-up acoustic guitar and thick cardboard tube and an orange faux leather couch for a drum kit.
Sullie has played music ever since as a solo artist, in a band, or in traditional Irish folk sessions.
π―. Who are your biggest influences?
It’s hard to answer this as I have so many bands and Artists that I love. When I was young my favourite bands were Thin Lizzy, Horslips, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, Led Zepplin, The Doors and The Pogues but as I got older I mellowed a little and people like Tom Waits, JJ Cale, Tom Petty, moved in. I always loved folk and blues, Bob Dylan, Howlin Wolf and Ledbelly as well as Irish Folk artists like Christ Moore, Planxty, The Dubliners.
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
To get my songs out there by playing more original music gigs and festivals. To always keep improving my songwriting, and production. To reach real fans, network and help other musicians grow while growing myself.
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
I tend to write directly to a daw, I usually get an idea lyrical or musical based on a few words or a few chords, I put a bit of a beat behind it and click record. A lot of my songs originate in this way.
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
One of my all-time favourites ( I have lots) is Tom Tauberts Blues by Tom Waits. It is just a completely beautiful song and Tom Waits writes some amazing lyrics and is a real singer, none of this X-factor nonsense, you can feel he has lived every word in the song.!
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
If you want to make money play Country & Irish music in a wedding band! I don’t and so I am still broke but at least I am not playing Country and Irish
8. Proudest accomplishment?
When I lived in Western Australia in the middle of the outback the Council had a multicultural festival. My Irish folk group got to play on the big stage in front of a big crowd. We had around ten musicians on stage that day and to top it all we had about 20 Irish dancers from the local dance school including my daughter. It was the first and only time we have performed on the same stage as she gave up Irish dancing afterwards but it was a very proud Dad / Musician moment.
9. Just for fun! What’s been your most embarrassing moment so far?
When I was young every time I stood up to the mic and tried to sing!! my bandmates would abandon ship and one of my ex’s told me in no uncertain terms I couldn’t sing but here I am many years later singing away. I worked out that my first note can be weak and a bit off and when I heard it as a youngster I would turn red and sound even worse. It used to be quite embarrassing.
π0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
I think the lowest point for me was covid where we couldn’t play in public or even practice together for two long years.
I suppose the highest point in music for me is when I am on stage with the lads in the band and we are humming, the crowd is enjoying themselves and you can feel the love happiness and energy in the room.
Stream “Bombs Rain Down” now
https://open.spotify.com/track/6QoYPdIKi7T9AgPS32Hb6Q?si=32feb84a4ef54cd8
and follow their socials
https://www.facebook.com/SullieJ/
https://www.instagram.com/sullie.music/
https://twitter.com/JohnOSu88431024
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