Interview - JP O’Duill

With Nótaí, O’Duill doesn’t just share a collection of songs—he offers a glimpse into a worldview shaped by humility, curiosity, and a deep reverence for both the absurd and the sacred. His music lives in the tension between tradition and innovation, between personal reflection and universal resonance. In conversation, much like in his lyrics, O’Duill reveals a mind attuned to life’s subtleties—finding significance in small moments, and humour in heavy ones. This interview is less about tracing a career trajectory and more about encountering an artist in motion, wrestling with meaning in real time.

Can you tell us a little bit about your musical background?

I'm a musician and artist from Ireland who started playing instruments that were around the house at a young age. My sister had a Spanish guitar, which I found had only one string on it, so I began to teach myself riffs on one string. After I thought I had it sussed out, I then noticed to my complete and utter dismay that other guitars had all the strings on them, so after that, I would then pause and play Nirvana videos, etc and try to learn the power chords (after I got all the strings put on.) Irish Traditional/Folk music was also around at a young age and that has had a lasting impact and influence on me to this day. The Trad session culture seems alive and well in Ireland at the moment, which is a great thing to see and be a part of. I also went to Diploma level in classical music at the RIAM in Dublin (albeit with a young, immature, cavalier attitude, sadly) and have played in various bands and with some solo artists as a session musician or in the studio.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

You May Not Need Him (Till Tomorrow) by Pastor T.L. Barrett...just sprung to mind, but that's probably quite changeable.

Who or what have been the most impactful influences on your musical style and sound?

Just integrity and the constant pursuit thereof.

How do your life experiences shape your songwriting, and what emotions or ideas do you hope listeners connect with in your music?

This record in particular has quite a lot of tongue-in-cheek kind of lyrics that I hope will not be misconstrued as malicious. Certainly not outwardly critical anyway. It turns the focus more on oneself and one's past shortfalls, perhaps. It is actually quite an honest and hopeful recording, fundamentally that one would hope is taken seriously, but also with a sense of irony and humour at times. Songs usually have layers of meaning that can be perceived in multiple ways, depending on which lens the listener puts on. That's the beauty of art. There definitely is no outward nastiness projected here. They sometimes highlight how one has to try not to fall away from the good path and the pitfalls of how that may occur. Personally, I've gone through a lot of adjustments over the last while, and I'm sure that has coloured the songs. I just hope they find anyone who may listen to them well or that they may be cathartic in some way.

Each phase of music-making—writing, recording, rehearsing, and performing—has its own unique rewards. Could you share a memorable moment from each stage?

A lot of the songs on the piano in my family home which did have a certain significance to it. Metaphor, memory and moment. They were recorded on different occasions over the space of almost a full year. I'm actually in the process of putting a group together, so I'll have to circle back to you about the other ones. But it is always great to get things running in a live form, just from past experience. Things to take on a whole new light really.

Is there a song of yours that holds particular personal significance?

We’d love to know more about the story or the inspiration behind it. They all do, really. I could write this about any of them, but I'll go with this one at the moment. I have had this leather satchel bag that is actually the only thing I still own from that time period. It's been quite literally everywhere with me. I thought it was left on a Train this one time. While I was finding ways to retrieve it, the small town I was in seemed to hold an eerie sort of beauty and stillness to it as I walked around. Although it was somewhat unnerving and unfamiliar on one hand, it was, in turn, completely uninhibited and pure in a positive sense. There seemed to be little or no prying from any holographic, even demonically artificial realm. I found the chapel there had stunningly beautiful Harry Clarke stained glass windows. Walking through the woods and nature whilst trying to connect with people I didn't really know all to well, or at all seemed to heighten the significance of real human connection, through a kind of spiritual appreciation of human worthiness and divine creation all tied together immensely. It turned out the village baker from the eco village there had the bag because he had gracefully and randomly given us a lift from the train late the night before. Time seemed to stand still whilst also being very aware of past and future there. Then I realised it was Cloughjordan, pronounced CLOCK JORDAN. As in, a time peace and Jordan also being a significant place in the ancient holy land. The bag was returned to me but so was a certain something I had lost spiritually that day. The song was written that day in full. The signal man at the station also opened the waiting room of this really old station to wait for the train home. He said they never usually open it anymore, but seens as it was a cold, rainy night, he would. That kind of reminded me of how busy and alive the station probably would have been at one time, but those rooms and ticket offices don't seem to be utilised anymore. Like there was more care or thought taken for the needs of people and more need for humans in general at one moment in time, but those doors are locked now. Like, we've actually lost access to a part of reality or humanity in some sense. As I wrote above, they all do have a personal significance, really, but Lilium Fair & Its Coastal, Not Boastful would have to get an extra mention at the moment.

If you could swap lives with any musician for a day, who would it be, and what would you do

A triangle player. A completely nail one of the greatest, most spectacularly tremendous triangle solos of all known times, dimensions and parallel universes.

What’s a guilty pleasure song you secretly love but might surprise your fans?

Gregorian Chant Music or We've Only Just Begun by The Carpenters springs to mind, but again, probably lots more.

Looking ahead, what are some goals or dreams you have for your music and career?

I just like inspiration and that little spark of light when a song comes together. Giving thanks every day. Humility. Every good thing is appreciated with a good outlook and faith, persistence and fortitude, even through difficult times. Ultimately, I believe this existence is a spiritual battle that and one must sometimes arrive at that realisation through a completely opposing or besieging route.

Finally, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers before we close?

This, too, shall pass, and this particular reality certainly doesn't seem to be the only game in town.