“I love the variety of my career and I will try anything once!”

Paul Byrom talks about music, acting, thinking outside the box and getting married.

Paul Byrom talks about music, acting, thinking outside the box and getting married.

Paul Byrom is considered by many to be one of Ireland’s finest crossover tenors. Starting in the business at a very young age, the Dublin-born singer has been in the music industry for more than 30 years. Paul loves performing in a wide range of productions, from operas to oratorio to recitals and in particular, musical theatre.

After releasing his first album at age 14 (The Golden Voice of Paul Byrom), Paul got a taste for recording studios and soon became a recording artist.

“When I was a child, there was always music in the house and my Mom played the piano quite regularly and my Dad played the guitar. Neither of my parents played music professionally but it was a very musical household and the television was hardly ever on!’’ said Paul Byrom.

“My personality fundamentally was very outgoing and my parents encouraged being both musical and outgoing. From a very young age, I loved performing. I was infatuated with Stevie Wonder as a young lad and I would pick up the phone and mimic him singing ‘I just called to say I love You.’ I attended St Mary’s College in Rathmines and there was a nun there who looked after the choir and she spoke to my Mom one day and she suggested sending me to see Dan McNulty who was a voice coach in Rathfarnham. He had a boys choir who sang in John’s Lane Church every Sunday so I joined the choir at 11 years of age and I loved it!

“Within a very short space of that, he began working with me during private classes which Mom was very proud of. On a sports field, I was shite! I was that kid that loved the idea of playing sport, but I was also a bit soft. The thoughts of me having to rugby tackle someone, sure I may have hurt myself!,’’ adds a laughing Byrom.

“I recorded my first album at 14 and people were buying it which was great and I was appearing on various television shows promoting it and sure I was lapping it up! From there, there was no turning back for me. I just needed to get through school.”

With such a love for music, Paul launched his own stage academy last September.

“I often think about the next generation and I want to nourish, encourage and offer support where I can to the children who come to my school. I want children to feel good about themselves and I want them to walk out the door feeling great. They are all lovely kids and I get a great kick out of teaching them.’’

Having recently appeared on stage in Guys & Dolls portraying the role of Sky Masterston, he is currently preparing for his show ‘Christmas by Candlelight,’ in Monkstown on Saturday, 21st December. With a large repertoire of songs under his belt, how does he know when a song is right for him?

“I have always been primarily touched by the lyrics of a song. When I was studying as a tenor, she very much had her sights on me going down the operatic route and I did some of that in the early stages of my career. Personality wise, I don’t necessarily fit that classical field so I have always leaned towards songs that are more mainstream and easier on the ears. If a song hits me, then I hope that they will hit most people when I sing it,’’ enthused Byrom.

As an independent artist, Paul is constantly thinking outside the box when it comes to his career.

“I've been in the game 30 odd years and there are lots of people that have ended up doing another line of work. I take great pride in the fact that despite not having the Grammy’s or multi-platinum albums but I think in this day and age, being a full time professional singer, that in itself is an achievement. I’m constantly thinking outside the box when it comes to making money. If you want to survive in this industry, you have to park the pride.

“Despite albums not selling, the cost of recording has not dropped. It is still as expensive to record an album as it ever was without any financial return, but I still have to make music because if I don’t I’ll be forgotten. I run my merchandise shop from home and the merchandise that is bought on tour essentially covers the cost of the tour. Although people no longer have a cd player, they will still pick up an album as they want it signed and they will stream it on I-tunes. When I’m doing Irish tours, I don’t bother putting the merchandise out as I would be laughed at,’’ he revealed.

“I enjoy the performing end of my job whether it is to 10 people or 10,000 people. I hate the business side of my job as it is ratty and it can be a challenging industry to be a part of as everyone wants to make money off of you! If you put me into an office, I wouldn’t last five minutes as I would be fired relentlessly!

“I love the variety of my career and I will try anything once! When I moved back from New York, I was really struggling with my career as the profile I once had dipped off. I had taken a gamble on myself by leaving Celtic Thunder and going solo. I was really depressed and in a dark place, I often look back on it and wonder how I ever got through it. I couldn’t see the wood from the trees, my family and friends were a great support through that period and then I got a phone call asking if I would like to be Gaston in the panto.

“The panto came at the right time, it was a good role and it was going to be another box ticked. From doing the panto, I felt a million times different. The feedback and reaction was great and I ended up doing another five pantos which was a great period of time for me. When I get the opportunity to sing and act side by side, I jump at it,’’ imparted Paul.

When it comes to plans for the short term future?

“I’ll be heading off to the States on tour in early December and then I’ll be performing in Monkstown Church on 21st December. I’m getting married next May and it is going to be wonderful as we are going to have everyone we love together. I’m thinking of setting up an ‘Only Fans,’ account to pay for it! I’m back to the states in March to shake my shamrock for a month. I don’t plan too far ahead, I’ve always been that way and I’m fortunate that a bit of work always comes along,’’ finished Paul Byrom.