Stay Strong (I'll Be Your Guide) NEW SINGLE by Justin Curran OUT NOW

 Stay Strong (I'll Be Your Guide) Official Music Video

I started writing the lyrics for this song around May / June 2018 as part of the MFR Recordings where I was laying down demos for these releases. I was back in touch with one of my best friends who I guess I was reaching out to without knowing it. I was going through a bit of a rough patch and needed a bit of grounding. My best way of grounding myself is by going into the recording studio and working on recordings. I guess the message behind this one is that no matter how low our mood is we still have love, comfort and support in life, just accept the good, accept the love, and leave negativity behind. 

So in May 2018 I left home and went back to Ireland for a period. I wrote an entire album in a few weeks, my mind was pushing songs out. I went into the studio to demo the songs - I am forgetful so if I don't lay down my ideas they get lost in my foggy brain. This was the 3rd or 4th day in the studio when I laid the first version of the tune:

 Studio Demo Version

I was happy with this version but I wanted to add to it. 

Fast forward to Lockdown #53 and I had my own studio in the alps, and around November 2021 I sent out an email to Ben Gordelier (drummer for The Moons/Paul Weller) and asked if he would add drums etc to the song. Ben and I struck up a good chat about the song and withing 24 hours of me sending him my 2nd rough version I had all the drum / percussion / bass and acoustic parts from Ben's home studio emailed across to me. 

I like songs to build themselves and I've grown to love the studio process of recording songs, and I have to say that Ben's subtle drumming and the easy way in which we communicated regarding the song really blew my away. I spoke to producer Adam Bradbury about mixing and mastering the song, and after a few versions and variations back and forth we came up with the single at the top. We ended up adding a 8 part harmony in the chorus and adding in some hammond organ for the song. Adam added some very subtle guitar parts and his own Adam Bradbury (Stay Strong Choir). 

Great work Ben & Adam - I love it!

I love this final version. Find the links below (I'll add more links to other streaming services as they go live))

Stay Strong (I'll Be Your Guide) on Spotify

Stay Strong (I'll Be Your Guide) iTunes

Stay Strong (I'll Be Your Guide) YouTube Music

JC xxx

The JC & JL Show Episode 221

Episode 221 of The JC & JL Show premieres tonight. To watch just follow the link below. This week’s show has: #comedy #Entertainment #countrymusic #monologuechallenge #coversongs #riddleoftheweek #SingleOfTheMonth #RickyTheRiddler The show premieres at 1830 tonight (GMT) https://youtu.be/8TptYm-Q_4w

January 2020 Release: Lost in Space

Lost in Space is a song written about an incident in my 20s, it's a story like all my songs. At school I was best mates with Peter Dunphy, who was a very talented film director, he was always with camera in hand and we became inseparable for a while. He was funny, always made me laugh, and we went to every gig possible, and enjoyed going to the pub on any night of the week. A good night out was one where we tried to figure out what had happened the night before.

On one particular occasion we bumped into each other early in the afternoon and went for a few pints which meant we had a liquid dinner.  Peter was writing a feature length film and had his notebooks with him containing all of his notes for the script/scenes and characters. Unfortunately, Peter mislaid this book over the course of our afternoon in Katy Dalys Pub, and, most likely, The Limelight afterwards. I remember him calling the next morning asking if I had the notebook .... unfortunately I didn't, but our drunkenness did inspire me to write this song: (click on the link to listen to it on Spofity) - if you don't have Spotify it is also on iTunes and all other streaming services.

Lost in Space  (Spotify Link)
Lost In Space - iTunes

When I moved to Jersey I asked a mate of mine to film the Music Video for it. We shot the music video in various locations in Jersey with some of Jersey's best actors, who belong to the Jersey Arts Centre. This studio version was a lot of fun recording in The Nerve Centre, Derry with Takehi Folumoritu on guitar, Paul Davies on harmonica and Terry Woods on drums, myself on vocals and bass. In the video Omar 'Blondie' Somar plays on Cajon with Alex Bealey on Slide.

There were various Live versions of this song over the years. I remember jamming this with The Loony Tunes Band - Matthew Romeril playing lead guitar, Adam Routier on bass guitar, Karl Everett on drums; it was the best version of this song, however, unfortunately we never recorded it - maybe one day!!

Lost in Space - Officlal Music Video

I hope you enjoy having a listen folks!!

Justin xx

End of 2019

2019 .... a year that saw me touring in Germany, Switzerland, France, Ireland and the USA. I've met some great people, musicians and played in some incredible venues. Having spent a few months in the studio in 2018, I released the first song 'Beautiful You' in the summer of 2019. Beautiful You is a song inspired by how we see a deep love story. Love is a continuing journey that we experience on our various paths in life. Which is the right path? Do we trust ourselves on that path? At which point do we let our loved one see inside our soul? The good and the bad? How long does it take for your heart to mend? I asked a friend, Abby Churchill, a model from Marbella who I had previously worked with on quite a few fashion shoots, to be the cover for the single, and I am so pleased that she agreed to be on the cover. You can hear the single here:

Beautiful You on Spotify

Over the course of the year I spent some time in France. I lived in Lyon (quite a few years ago) and at the time I was playing bass for a touring trad folk band and in 2019, by pure chance I kept randomly bumping into Martin Drozd, a multi-instrumentalist - but a phenomenal violinist; who I had gigged with many years before.  As well as playing many instruments he also is a producer so when it came to recording my Christmas single 'The Flickering Candle' I was pleased to work with him in the studio. The result is exactly what I had heard when I originally wrote this song many years ago.

The Flickering Candle on Spotify

So now we look to 2020 .... what's it gonna bring musically? I'm going to be doing a solo theatre tour in the USA, where I'll be promoting songs from both albums 'The Lonely Stroll' and 'The Light Shines Through The Darkness'. I'll be releasing one single a month for the year of 2020. These songs will be across all streaming sites when released.

I'm very pleased to announce that I'll be working with a fantastic Denver based PR Company and we've got a great schedule planned for the year, and we'll be announcing quite a lot of exciting news over the course of 2020. Keep your eyes peeled.

Check in tomorrow afternoon when I'll be announcing the next single.

Now I'm off to get ready to celebrate a belated Christmas festivities with my kids.

Don't forget to follow on:

Twitter: @curransolomusic

Instagram: @curransolomusic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/curransolomusic

YouTube: Justin Curran Official

Spotify: Follow Justin Curran on Spotify

I wish you all the very best for 2020. Thank you all for a fantastic 2019!

Spread the love folks xxxx

The Flickering Candle - Christmas Single

The Flickering Candle 

The lone candle flickers in the window

As we sit down by the open fire 

Children laughing with sheer delight 

While outside I can hear the people's choir 

We're gonna spread the love through good spirit and cheer

This Christmas let's see the love hanging in the air 

We're gonna spread the love this Christmas,

Happiness and joy this Christmas let's see the love spreading everywhere 

They're singing about the end of hunger 

Spreading peace to one and all at this time of year 

Spreading words of love and happiness 

I love to hold my loved ones so near 

We're gonna spread the love through good spirit and cheer

This Christmas let's see the love hanging in the air 

We're gonna spread the love this Christmas,

Happiness and joy together 

Family celebrations everywhere 

We're gonna spread the love through good spirit and cheer

This Christmas let's see the love hanging in the air 

We're gonna spread the love this Christmas,

Happiness and joy together 

Family celebrations evenrywhere 

We're gonna spread the love through good spirit and cheer

This Christmas let's see the love hanging in the air 

We're gonna spread the love this Christmas,

Happiness and joy together 

Family celebrations everywhere 

Family celebrations everywhere 

Family celebrations everywhere 

To hear this song please click on the following link: 

https://open.spotify.com/track/3ZT1BipXfUkp0wj9UOj9Rv?si=Lp7OSBesQluWDb-2XLJfgw

I wrote this song as part of the BBC Christmas Radio show in Jersey several years ago. I guess I was in a reflective mode. Christmas is always a lovely time of year, stealing Owen's song title there! I loved Christmas when I was younger. We always had a great time as a family.

 Having just gone through a divorce I was thinking how my kids would miss out on a united family Christmas. I resolved that my kids would enjoy Christmas each and every year regardless of our situation. I want them to feel the love I have for them, feel the joy that I received the moment I held each one of them for the first time ever. A reminder of the promise I made them that day, that we would create a lifetime of memories together. 

This is for:

My 3 children - Ocean, Niamh and Dylan. 

Families everywhere. 

Communities everywhere. 

You, Me, All of Us. 

The Wolfhound, Haarlem

So here we are. I know I've been dreadful at keeping this an updated blog. No excuse but ...... well no excuse!!

So I arrived in The Netherlands yesterday afternoon. Went to the venue in Haarlem, about 22 km north of Amsterdam. Good old Google maps provided the directions to the venue, The Wolfhound, situated in the centre of Haarlem. Upon leaving the station I noticed there was a great vibe in Haarlem. I met with the owners Phil and Fay, and they were wonderful hosts! They run a lovely venue, with food to die for - Phil is an excellent chef, and the menu in this Gastro-Pub is testament to that fact. We had a few drinks and chat before sound check.

The gretsch sounded beautiful.

The setlist consisted of Johnny Cash, Neil Young and Bob Dylan covers as well as songs from my debut album The Lonely Stroll and latest songs from The Light Shines Through The Darkness.

Wonderful hosts, wonderful crowd & wonderful night.

I'll be back at The Wolfhound tonight.

Peace & Love

Justin

Guitare En Scène

So as you know I played a few gigs in Made In Davanod in Bellgarde in November and December. The owner of the atelier is a volunteer for the Guitare En Scène music festival, and invited me to come and play at the evening organised for the committee members, volunteers and directors. I played 2 sets of songs. The first set of songs were covers which included the following:

1. Billy Jean 
2. Light My Fire 
3. Dancin In The Dark
4. Fly Me To The Moon 
5. Come Together 
6. Heart Of Gold 
7. Brown Eyed Girl 
8. Old Man 

You can hear this set by clicking on the following link : https://youtu.be/NL1xwuitGOs

It went down very well and I think it was a good way to start off the gig, as it gave the committee a preview of my style of playing. 

The second set was a set of original songs from my album The Light Shines Through The Darkness. The originals went down a storm and I have found the correct set to ensure that the journey flows! The response was really good and I was even taken out to dinner afterwards, lovely Italian restaurant!! The second set can be heard by clicking on the following link: https://youtu.be/2sGjWUMFaTk

The setlist for this Second Set are as follows: 

1. Throwin Myself Right In 
2. Image of Beauty 
3. The Darkness Fades 
4. Stay Strong  - I'll Be Your Guide 
5. Same 
6. Live In The Now
7. The Eviction Song 
8. 
   

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to play last night. 

The line-up for this year is outstanding!!!! 

See you all in July

J xxx