Northern Irish singer, songwriter, musician and abstract expressionist artist Paul Archer has enjoyed a creative career spanning more than thirty years, via which he has shared his deeply personal story and thinking. Originally rising from Belfast’s vibrant mid-90s scene, Paul fronted Disreali Gears and later the critically acclaimed project The Ghears, releasing four albums between 1998-2003 and writing music for the 2006 Hollywood movie, Aquaman: Mercy Reef.
Paul went on to create Burning Codes, a solo-collaborative project marked by emotional honesty and sonic experimentation. To date the project has produced six albums and one EP, drawning contributions from the likes of Nathan Connolly and Jonny Quinn of Snow Patrol, punk icon Terri Hooley, Carey Willetts and Stephen Roberts of Athlete and Ivor Novello winner lain Archer, among many others.
While writing for Burning Codes, Paul’s song She’s The Only One was picked up for inclusion in the 2015 film A Patch Fog, as well as live show footage and single release videos recieving extensive airing on US & UK TV stations over many months.
Paul also contributed vocals to five tracks on Snow Patrol’s multi-platinum selling album Eyes Open and joined them for live headline shows at both V Festivals and other major performances.
Various Paul Archer penned single releases have enjoyed extensive airplay including BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music. Now living in Bangor, Norther Ireland Paul has began a new journey, reconnecting with his visual art roots and exhibiting abstract works influenced by Rothko, Richter and Newman, and for the first time is releasing an album under his own name entitled ART.
ART, the solo album, marks a creative rebirth, blending Paul’s musical and visual storytelling like never before.
A 12-track Vinyl LP & 14-track CD emotional journey created in solitude and fire. Includes the singles“Heavy Soul” and “Fear Destroyer,” & closes with two bonus tracks from the original sessions.
Label: Think Like A Key Records (USA) Format: Vinyl / CD / Digital & Visit paularcherofficial.com/art
(Interview below)
What advice would you give to people just starting out in the music industry?
I would advise that, in the very first instance people ask themselves the question (often) – “Why am I doing this?” – Is it for success, fame, celebrity, wealth, fortune or is it because what I am doing is central to my mental, spiritual, emotional and psychological health, resilience and wellbeing. Does it present a cathartic release and liberation or is it to a remit, set of rules (unwritten or written, musical, industry related, personal?)
I would put forward that a mindset which is centred around honest, humble, creative, holistic and artistic endeavour can be a more “real” and enduring foundation for writing and creativity and a more fulfilling and nurturing musical, expressive and artistic creative life.
If you could choose from a historical gig, from any era who would you have seen and why?
I think I would have liked to have seen The Velvet Underground in the time of Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable as I am drawn to the music of The Velvet Underground (not so much the lyrical themes but more so the music itself and the interplay between the players) along with the dichotomy of Warhol’s art and presentations versus his real life presentation. I think that it is thought provoking when we are sometimes confronted with the “surface” and yet we are beings of depth beyond our flesh and blood there is a bigger, much deeper story and narrative.
What were your musical influences growing up?
My wonderful parents both sang Gospel music and we were brought up with the powerful emotive nature and deep spirituality of Gospel music. My father also had quite a few Van Morrison records as he used to play with Van as a young teenager and they lived very close to one another in Hyndford Street in Belfast.
I also love 60’s soul and then in my teens I discovered alternative and indie music like The Smiths, The Velvet Undergound, Pixies, Sonic Youth…
I also love dronal music including Indian Classical music and some early polyphony / choral music.
I’m fascinated by 70’s motorik Krautrock also eg. NEU! & Can.
Do you have a moment you could share with the magazine from your previous gigs or recording experiences?
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).
Who did you watch at your first ever gig you attended?
Pixies in The Ulster Hall back in the late 80’s or very early 90’s. They were and still are such a dynamic, powerful, interesting, thought provoking and potent group and their performance was utterly compelling and superb!
Where and when is your next gig?
1st November 2025 I play for for the wonderful folks at No Hype Just Good Local Music Podcast Festival at The Sanctuary Theatre in Belfast.
How did that gig you watched made you feel?
That gig was incredibly powerful and thought provoking and completely unlike other music I had heard! So original, fascinating, stirring and dynamic! It made me want to make more music myself!
What’s your favourite song and why?
I have several favourite songs for very different reasons but one of my favourites would be What Goes On by The Velvet Undergound as I love the feel and groove of it along with the interplay between the rhythmn section and those amazing guitars. I love the flow of it and the feel of it!
What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome to get to where you are now in music?
I think that, for me, the hardest obstacle has been the “industry” itself however my relationship to this is very different now than it used to be with 12 albums and 30 years experience along with numerour record deals and publishing deals. 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.
I learned early on in my creative musical journey that my approach to creativity is feeling and instinct led first and music second and I am not a “pop” songwriter not that there is anything wrong with pop music. I am heart led and not trend or fashion led and this can cause challenges in regard to the systems, fads, movements, conventions and approaches within the music industry.
I learned early on to focus on ploughing my own furrow and to focus on why I am doing what I am doing as opposed to trying to cater to executives or industry trends. I would venture that this is why I have continued to make records and continue to move in and out of genres and blend and push these aspects at times.
I remeber when a record company executive asked our manager from one of my previous bands called The Ghears for our album. It was a big, well known indie label at the time. Three weeks later our manager called the executive to find out what he thought about the record. He said that he didn’t know what it was and that it moved in and out of genres (to some this could be seen as a unique approach). To him he felt that he wouldn’t know how to market it. This always stayed in my memory and I still think “unique selling point anyone?”. Of course it seemed that they didn’t want uniqueness.
Why do you make music?
I make music because it is a central part of my spiritual, physical, emotional, psychological and mental health. I will always make music until I leave this earth. I am a “lifer”.
What was your best performance?
Hopefully your best performance should always be your last performance. I have had many memorable performances including when we played multiple dynamic and emotionally charged gigs at the wonderful Warehouse in Belfast which I believe is now a car park.
I had a very memorable festival gig in Tyrone in Ireland where the crowd beckoned me into it and I dived off the stage into the crowd who transported me to the back and back onto the stage. That gig was incredibly powerful, particularly in terms of the audience/musicians connection. It really felt like we were all one.
I also enjoyed playing numerous tours supporting my good friends Snow Patrol in some great venues including the London Forum, The Astoria, The Odyssey Arena in Belfast and Brixton Academy.
Talk us through your song writing process.
This is often more organic for me where the moment and my constant state of searching and reflection can cause me to write or paint. Sometimes (but more rarely) words and melody come together at the same time.
I get this sometimes when I am outside running and exercising or relaxing. Sometimes songs can take years and verses and choruses can evolve, change and I have found myself in recent years completely re-writing some of my songs after years of feeling and seeing them in completely different contexts than where they now are and this is fascinating!
I have also found this process liberating and it has enabled me to see melodies and lyrical concepts in hugely different ways and from many diverse perspectives!
Inspiration comes from spirit, mind & body, life, friends, family, mental health (I have worked in Personal Recovery approach in mental health which is incredibly powerful), the inner journey and how it affects, influences and changes the outer journey, compassion, deep empathy (I also work with traumatised young people, children & adults), hope, meaning, purpose, developing resilience, reality confrontation, light and the power and depths of profound love and connection, The Beatitudes.
If you could offer one small bit of advice for your past self what would you say?
Be aware that this journey will be full of ups and downs but keep your focus on why you are doing what you are doing and always be grateful for the blessing of expression and learn from it all.
Follow your heart.
Photo credit : Mark Case
