About
“McCann is the most celebrated power pop artist you’ve barely heard of. Stunning.” Shindig! Magazine Paul McCann is an Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose career spans almost three decades of live performance, recording, songwriting and collaboration. Drawing on power pop, alternative rock, indie pop, folk and classic songwriting, his…
“McCann is the most celebrated power pop artist you’ve barely heard of. Stunning.” Shindig! Magazine
Paul McCann is an Irish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose career spans almost three decades of live performance, recording, songwriting and collaboration. Drawing on power pop, alternative rock, indie pop, folk and classic songwriting, his music combines strong melodic instincts with an eclectic range of influences and an emotionally driven approach to songwriting.
Paul’s musical career began in the 1990s through various bands and live projects before he developed his work as a solo recording artist. Over the years, he has performed extensively in Ireland and internationally, including appearances at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, Nashville and Electric Picnic. He has also worked as a live and session musician, including performances with singer Áine Cahill and tours of Ireland with the Johnny Cash tribute act Get Rhythm.
In 2015, Paul began his solo recording career with the EP The Magician, followed by Beginning to End in 2017. His debut full-length album, Here Comes the Rapture, was released in 2018 and established the foundations of his identity as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Paul performed much of the instrumentation himself, reflecting the highly personal and hands-on approach that has remained central to his recording work.
His second album, Alter Ego, released in 2023, marked a significant expansion of his musical ambitions. Recorded primarily at JAM Studios in Kells with producer Martin Quinn, the album embraced a much more collaborative approach and featured an international cast of musicians including Jason Falkner, Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Charlotte Hatherley, Gary Lucas and Sylvie Lewis, alongside a number of Paul’s long-standing collaborators.
The musicians involved brought credits spanning artists such as Jeff Buckley, Beck, Paul McCartney, St. Vincent, Air, Ash and Jellyfish, helping to broaden Paul’s musical palette while retaining his focus on melody, songwriting and detailed arrangements. Alter Ego subsequently received an international release through Kool Kat Musik and attracted strong reviews from independent music publications.
Paul’s forthcoming album, It Does Not Exist, represents the next stage in his development as a songwriter and recording artist. Building on the collaborative spirit and musical ambition of Alter Ego, the album combines his experience as a vocalist, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with an increasingly expansive approach to songwriting, performance and production.
With a career spanning nearly three decades, Paul McCann’s work encompasses live performance, songwriting, session musicianship, independent recording and international collaboration. His continuing evolution as an artist is defined by a commitment to strong songwriting, ambitious arrangements and a willingness to explore new musical territory while retaining a distinctly melodic and personal identity.
