After three decades at the heart of Northern Ireland’s ever-evolving rock and indie landscape, Paul Archer is entering a bold new chapter. Best known for his work with Disreali Gears, The Ghears, and most notably Burning Codes, Archer has returned with ‘Art’, his long-awaited debut solo album, a record that marks a profound creative rebirth.
Recorded between East Anglia and Bangor, ‘Art’ is a deeply personal statement that fuses Archer’s love for visual art, meditative lyricism, and collaborative spirit. Featuring contributions from music legends like Terri Hooley, Iain Archer, Nathan Connolly, Jonny Quinn, and Jim Lockhart, the album has already been described by fans as his finest work to date.
The latest single from the album, ‘Heavy Soul’, dives headfirst into the spiritual and ecological themes that run throughout the record. Anchored by driving guitars and honest lyricism, the track is a meditation on the urgent need for self-love and planetary care. With long-time collaborator Andy Hawkins on production, the song stands as both a wake-up call and a deeply cathartic listen.
We caught up with Paul Archer to discuss his journey through the music industry’s highs and lows, and why ‘Heavy Soul’ might be the most important song he’s ever written.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
I am an Irish, Belfast born singer/ songwriter and abstract expressinist painter. My good friend and Irish music writer and journalist Colin Harper summarised my musical journey very well below:
Paul’s music journey began in Belfast in the mid-90s with Disreali Gears, a soulful psych-rock experience beloved on the then thriving local scene. One album 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 Paul’s love of Krautrock locked grooves with his deeply compassionate worldview, crunching guitars and rich vocal gifts.
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 thrilling live experience.
Returning to Bangor, NI in 2018 for family reasons, Paul 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 his 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.
Early in 2024, at his debut visual art exhibition (Castle Espie Gallery, NI), Paul reconnected with another of his old friends from the mid-90s Belfast scene, Colin Harper – a Q/Mojo/Irish Times writer then, subsequently author of acclaimed books on Bert Jansch, John McLaughlin and others. Colin realised that the brief but deeply soulful, purely solo guitar/vocal performance by Paul at the exhibition opening was the acorn from which a whole new phase of Paul’s music-making could grow.
With Colin’s advice, National Lottery funding was secured towards the goal of a new album with new directions – an unexpected blessing in hard times for music creators – and Side A of the album (bar the addition of the 2017 single ‘Belfast’) was recorded swiftly in late 2024 at Nave Studios, Leeds with producer/multi-instrumentalist Andy Hawkins, Mark Ringer (guitar) and Gary Must (drums).
At this point, US label Think Like A Key came on board. TLAK MD Roger Houdaille was bowled over when Colin played him, in passing (while liaising on other projects), one of Paul’s new recordings. The planned vinyl-only project now had an opportunity to be CD/DL as well (with two fabulous bonus tracks from the sessions).
Paul approached Art with two sides of vinyl in mind, an opportunity for two sides of Paul Archer – declaration and reflection, morning and evening, alt rock and cosmic soul. Side A is a continuation of the euphoric rock that Paul’s fans will know and love from his time in Burning Codes; Side B, recorded with producer/multi-instrumentalist Rick Bleakley in Belfast, brings a wider sound palette and a contemplative spirit to the fore. ‘Detector’ features Duke Special on piano and a string players Darragh Morgan and David McCann. Two songs feature soulful Americana artist Janet Henry on backing vocals. Elsewhere, Celtic-Rock legend Jim Lockhart (ex-Horslips) guests on flute and Jonny Quinn (ex-Snow Patrol, but also ex-Disreali Gears back in the day) rattles percussion. It’s a collaboration of old and new friends – and a new beginning in Paul Archer’s cosmic soul odyssey.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
The music of The Velvet Underground and their very distinctive dronal and rhythmic approach, Gospel music, 60’s Soul music, 70’s Krautrock, psychedelic rock eg. Cream, Indian Classical Music, punk music, indie & alternative eg. Pixies, Nirvana and some early choral polyphony.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
I was brought up in a musical family and whilst playing a festival with my first band which I started with my brother I had a spirtual and transcendent experience whilst on stage and I realised that from that point foward music would be a vital and central part of my spiritual, mental, emotional, psychological and physical health and wellbeing.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
Songwriting 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 evlove, 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 a feeling led, art first and music second creative process which is rooted much more in instinct as opposed to musical rules or systems. I often find melody from disonance for instance (when I play guitar).
I feel that with relevance I would be looking towards my inner, deeper nature and what is “relevant” as opposed to the industry or market trends and in regard to saturation I feel that music and art in general in my experience requires struggle and searching and I do not approach music or the “industry” as such from a more orthodox point of view.
I keep my heart, mind and energy focused on the creation of new work whether that be my sonic art or my visual abstract expressionist art. Saturation I think for me is more of an outside concept applied to more “pop” artists. There is a deeper dialogue and a deeper conversation to be had here…
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!
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
I find inspiration from mental health, empathy,resilience, compassion, hope, The Beatitudes, light, meaning, purpose, humility, family, friends, how the inner journey affects the outer journey…
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Empathy, hope, humility, realism, meaning, compassion, light, questioning, empowerment towards resilience…
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
I write a lot of songs so it can be challenging deciding which to release and then getting the songs to people who will take the time to listen and engage. My songs are not pop songs but are heartfelt dialogue and discussion and I want to continue this dialogue and nurture it so that it grows and I am stimulated by music that makes me think, ask questions and which has art at it’s heart ie. art first and then music. Feeling first and then the song.
I keep my heart, mind and energy focused on the creation of new work whether that be my sonic art or my visual abstract expressionist art. Saturation I think for me is more of an outside concept applied to more “pop” artists. There is a deeper dialogue and a deeper conversation to be had here…
Pop is pop and that is okay but I think that creatively speaking my “eyes” are not on the world of big branding. This is not to say that pop artists do not have depth but my eyes are focused on the continual search and this is where the relevance comes.
The internet is already saturated and awash with so many artists, thoughts, concepts, ideas but I believe that my responsibility as an artist is to reach inside and be humble, compassionate, empathic, hopeful and to hopefully connect with people and spread a sense of openness, compassion, light, empathy and deep gratitude for this short time we experience here on this amazing planet!
My recent composition “Heavy Soul” is my personal appeal to the world to protect and respect the beautiful planet of which we all inhabit along with the powerful truth that love begins at home in our hearts.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
Still being able to play, write, record and perform.
Two of my songs have been used on movies (one on Amazon and another a CBS Hollywood TV movie)
Two of my songs have been used on global music learning app Yousician
My new album called Art features Nathan Connolly of Snow Patrol, Terri Hooley (Good Vibrations Records / Undertones Teenage Kicks) and Iain Archer (James Bay, Jake Bugg, Snow Patrol…)
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
As I have relayed above I keep my heart, mind and energy focused on the creation of new work whether that be my sonic art or my visual abstract expressionist art.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
* 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: www.paularcherofficial.com
* 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.
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Watch the video for Paul Archer’s single ‘Heart Soul’ below.
