Northern Irish singer song-writer David Paul has been passionately playing and performing his own songs, in different capacities, for the last 8 years.
A self-taught guitarist, David has had no formal training in music composition. A relative late comer to any musical instrumentation, David bought his first guitar in 2001. Within less than a year he was in a recording setting laying down demo tracks for his first album upon the recommendation of friend, and future band bassist, Pete McFarlane, who had heard his songs whilst at an Irish Youth Camp.
From these demo recording sessions the indie-rock band Beyond [Jericho] emerged, although the band would play various gigs in various guises before ever actually considering themselves as a band - it was a further 4 years before many of these demo recordings would be recorded properly for release.
Accepted as the visionary force behind Beyond's work and always an advocate for the strength of a message coupled to music, David's mission is communicative. Likened by critics to Leonard Cohen, in song writing style, diction and sound, David cites other artists; Neil Diamond, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, as big influences - with Neil Diamond's "Captain Sunshine" one of his all-time favourites.
The focus has always been impact real time. Music that deals with everyday issues, talks about ordinary people. The issues, inextricably linked, and the people, collectively involved, in this extraordinary sphere of service for, and worship of, an amazing, living God.
Penning and composing musically 11 of the 13 tracks on Beyond's eventual debut release "The World Means You To God" which received the Christian Broadcasting Council's Gold Award for Best Christian Contemporary Music album 2006 has been the artist's most pleasing collaborative accolade to date.
The review comments for that release seem to echo David's earmark for any music he's involved in; "refreshing", "unfamiliar", "different", "intriguing", "appealing", "sensitive", "unusual", "involving", "unique", "outstanding"... these are the responses the artist inspires.
This year (2009) sees David Paul and his newly formed live band "the People" bring again new songs and new perspectives to the fore. Having already commenced the recording of his debut solo album "Signs of the Times", the journey at this juncture is solitary but purposeful.
Some tracks will be available for listening/download via this site in the coming months. You'll also be able to hear the new material at any live show prior to release next year .