Paul Archer recently released his first solo-branded outing Art, with the single “Heavy Soul” doing the rounds to support it. Check out the whole album at the end, but before that read Paul’s words about his beginnings and influences…
Simple things first – where are you from?
I am an Irish, Belfast born singer, songwriter, guitarist.
How long have you been playing as a solo act?
I have been a solo-collaborative artist since 2006, however my new album called Art is my first ever solo “Paul Archer” record and the first album in my thirty years of writing and recording and performing to be released on vinyl as well as cd and download. This is also the first of my albums to ever feature my visual as well as my sonic art and the album features some of my abstract expressionist visual works and well as my sonic art.
What are your influences?
I have a wide range of influences which include Gospel, Indie / Alternative, 60’s Soul, Cream, Indian Classical music, early choral music, The Beatitudes. Bands I like would include NEU!, The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, Pixies, The Smiths to name but a few.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Irish music writer and journalist Mr. Colin Harper described my music as “Cosmic Soul” and I think that this is a fitting description.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
My lyrical themes would include mind, mental health, the inner journey, The Logos, light, hope, compassion, empathy, friends, family, life struggles, honesty and resilience.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Currently my live show incorporates both my sonic as well as my visual art and shows have incorporated discussion around art and art creation as well as live song performance and my visual art is also an integral part of each performance. I have been writing, recording, playing and performing music for over thirty years.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
I wrote a song called “Innate Strength” about my extensive experiences in the music industry with various record and publishing deals… I wanted to try to convey how the industry can build up an artist one moment and just as quickly pull you down and what is important (for artists longevity and mental resilience) is being able to pick yourself up and push on yet harder and not be afraid.
I decided that the best way I could convey this message would be to literally knock myself down on stage and recover by then picking myself back up and pouring myself into the song. So this is what I did every time we performed this song. I did martial arts and I used my knowledge to essentially perform a break fall which means I went from standing straight to the floor and then slowly picked myself back up. This caused quite a stir at times, especially at festivals and I remember the St. John ambulance at one point rushing to the stage as they thought I was unwell (but this was all a part of the song! (Thanks to St. John Ambulance for the amazing work they do).
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
I use Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and Deville amps and I play various guitars including Fender Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Telecasters and I also play a Gretsch Tennessee Rose and a Gretsch Broadcaster.
What can you tell us about your single ‘Heavy Soul’?
“Heavy Soul” was written after extensive thought in regard to how often as a species we seem to struggle to realise what a precious gift this beautiful planet really is and how by not looking after it we are in turn hurting ourselves.
The song further examines this relationship in terms of the individual and how love begins at home inside each of us and if we struggle to love ourselves then consequently it can often follow that we can struggle to fully love others and our precious planet, environment and ecosystem.
What do you want your solo album Art to do for the representation of Paul Archer?
I think that Mr. Colin Harper put it very well when he explained:
Paul Archer – creative rebirth
The are many ‘firsts’ with Art: the first Paul Archer solo album in a 30-year recording career; his first vinyl album (conceived as such from the start); and the first time his visual art has intersected with his musical world, featuring on the cover and inserts. It is also the first album of a new career phase back home in Northern Ireland after many years in East Anglia with Burning Codes – and fans are already telling him it’s the best thing he’s done.
After 30 years of rock ‘n’ rollercoaster travails – major label deals that happened but nothing eventuated, management meltdowns, publishing disasters – Paul’s positive energy is undimmed. Art is not the lonely drinker in Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, wondering how it all slipped away – it’s an explosion of power, passion and grace, the sound of a man with fabulous melodic gifts still seeing chinks of light whatever the darkness.
What are your plans for the next 6 months or so?
I play The Sanctuary Theatre in Belfast on 1st November as a part of the “No Hype Just Good Local Music Podcast Festival” and we are currently looking at a tour of art galleries which would incorporate both the visual and sonic art. I am also exhibiting my art in January 2026 in Downpatrick in Ireland.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
I’d have loved to support NEU! or The Velvet Underground. In terms of bands around now I enjoy the work of Far Caspian, Pixies, Hello Mary and many more…
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Header image by Dan Donovan
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