What was the beginning point for your music career? How did it all start?
I was brought up in a musical family so singing, writing, recording and playing and performing were natural to me. I was brought up on Gospel and early 60’s Soul music.
My music journey began in Belfast in the mid-90s with Disreali Gears, a soulful psych-rock experience beloved on the then thriving local scene. Two albums and a lot of great memories remain. Out of that, the Ghears [sic] emerged (1998–2003, four albums) – a new band, a relocation to England and a sound that incorporated my love of Krautrock locked grooves with my deeply held belief in a compassionate worldview, crunching guitars and strident vocals.
The Burning Codes era (2008–18, six albums) ended on a high with the album Liberator and single ‘Loss Leader’, with the valedictory East Anglian line-up of the band widely celebrated as a dynamic live experience.
Returning to Bangor, NI in 2018 for family reasons, I rode out the impasse of Covid and its long-tail damage to the NI live scene with a series of digital singles, including an embryonic version of the song ‘Art’ (2021). This approach had begun with the glorious one-off homage ‘Belfast (Place of My Soul)’ in 2017 – attributed to Burning Codes but effectively a Paul Archer collaboration with various luminaries of the place where my music began, including ‘Godfather of Punk’ Terri Hooley, Snow Patrol’s ‘Nathan Connolly and Paul’s brother Iain Archer, an award-winning co-writer to the stars.
Was there any bumps on the road? What kind of challenges did you have to deal with?
I have had numerous record deals and publishing deals including one publishing deal with a major publisher and one of my songs was used on a CBS Studios Hollywood TV movie and another on a movie now available on Amazon.
I have kept my focus on writing, playing, performing and recording despite the ups and downs of the music industry.
What was the most fulfilling and satisfying moment so far?
I was honoured that two of my songs were used on movies and that Michael Rother of Krautrock band NEU! (and Kraftwerk) had complimented my song Cloak & Dagger and listed it in the top five songs he was listening to at the time of the interview in Mojo Magazine.
I was also contacted by one of Lou Reed’s people to send music out to him.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Alternative Rock
What is your creative process like?
I am an intuitive, instinctive, feeling-led writer with music coming second to the initial spark of instinct and feeling. My writing themes include Mental Health (particularly the Personal Recovery approach of hope, meaning and purpose), The Beatitudes, deep empathy, compassion, humility, family, friends and how the inner journey and the mind and spirit affect the outer journey.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
It would be great if there were more people with a background in music making involved in the business side of the industry. This would be more healthy.
If you were asked to give a piece of advice to upcoming bands, what would that be?
I would advise that people frequently reappraise and ask themselves “why am i doing this?”, “what is it for?”.
What has been the best performance of your career so far?
I played a particular festival in Tyrone in Ireland and the atmosphere and connection with the crowd was incredible and unforgettable.
If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing now?
I’d be making visual works if I wasn’t writing music. However I make visual works along with my music now and my latest solo album called “Art” features my abstract expressionist visual works. My sonic and art and visual art are both available from my website www.paularcherofficial.com
What is new with Paul Archer at the moment? What are you currently working on, and what would you like to share with the world?
* My brand new album called “Art”, which incorporates both my sonic as well as my visual art is out now on American Record Label – Think Like A Key Records and is also available from my own website:
* I headline The Sanctuary Theatre in Belfast on 1st November 2025 as part of the wonderful No Hype Just Good Local Music podcast festival.
* I am also planning a Sonic and Visual tour of Art galleries in the UK and Ireland in 2026 these will incorporate multi-media visual and sonic art performance and discussion.
* I am exhibiting my visual art in the St.Patrick’s Centre in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in January 2026.
* I will also be releasing brand new work following on from my current album in three to six months time.
LINKS:
www.paularcherofficial.com
https://www.thinklikeakey.com/release/495859-paul-archer-art?lang=en_GB
https://www.facebook.com/paularcherofficial
(Please note the new dedicated facebook site has been recently created)
