I first met him on Irish Gaelic Translator nearly two years ago, and have had so many great conversations and laughs since then. I cannot begin to tell you of the sheer talent this young man fosters as it is best to let you hear first hand what he and his guitar can do. I bring to you John Tracey !
Past The Print: Have you always lived in Belfast, Ireland?John: Always, a born-and-bred Belfastian (for my sins…).
Past The Print: What are you studying in college?
John: I’ve just graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a First Class Honours in Irish & Celtic Studies (BA), and at the minute I’m waiting to start the Masters degree course in September in the same subject, same university. Queen’s is a great place to study all things ‘Gaeilge’ and you get a really diverse scope of Celtic studies to boot.
Past The Print: How did you decide that Irish & Celtic Studies is what you wanted to study?
John: This was a tough call for me. I had so many ideas floating about in my head about what I wanted to study at uni after leaving school, and Irish & Celtic Studies was only one of a few thoughts; music, interactive multimedia, Japanese, web design, journalism…and I finally settled on a joint Irish & Celtic/French degree because I knew my heart was with the Irish language. I later dropped French as it just wasn’t for me, but I still have un petit peu.
Past The Print: I am a sucker for the Irish language and to hear it spoken, absolutely melts my heart. Have you ever spoke Irish to a girl as a means to swoon her (whether she understood what you were saying or not)?
John: You may find this hard to believe or hard to hear, but Irish isn't exactly a well-loved language in Ireland outside of the enthusiasts. Truth be told, the vast majority of people are indifferent, and some are even hostile towards it, for political reasons and all that. So, while I wish it did work, speaking Irish to a girl to woo her would probably only have a positive affect outside of the country!
Past The Print: Well, I would certainly be one of them, and I'd imagine I could round up a few more women who'd be positively affected by it. So tell us what you do in your spare time?
John: It may sound odd but I’m a big chilli fan (I like it hot…), so one of the things I’ve taken to doing in my spare time is growing my own chilli pepper plants this year. I have four different plants in the garden at the minute, ranging from the timid to the absolutely nuclear. I think I’m still too wimpy to try the nuclear ones raw though! Other than that you’ll find me out and about watching good live music acts and drinking good beer with friends, like any self-respecting student would.
Past The Print: With the growing of chillies, is it safe to say you love to cook?
John: Yeah I love cooking, I do most of the cooking in my house. My speciality is spaghetti bolognese with homemade garlic bread - and you can choose to have it spicy or not! As for growing the chillies, well they're good for a laugh when you bring everyone home plastered after a night out! Not so much fun the next morning though...
Past The Print: What instruments do you play?
John: The acoustic guitar’s my main instrument. I literally couldn’t go more than a day without playing it. It’s the ultimate boredom and stress buster, without a doubt. I also play the piano, which I love to sit down to and relax with.Past The Print: Does your group have a name?
John: Yeah, Kevy and me are known as Fretwear, but these days we’re constantly mixed into other groups and sessions that we practically don’t have a name anymore! Apart from that, myself and Kevy, along with another good friend of mine, Desy – a smoking hot Irish fiddler – make up the musicians in an Irish traditional group called The O’Malley Experience which is an Irish music/dance event from Belfast playing regularly.
Past The Print: What kind of music do you typically play?
John: Well when people ask us what kind of music we play, I tend to tell people it’s ‘acoustic rhythm and blues’… it’s kind of a mix between blues, nontraditional folk and rock. The kind of stuff you can’t help but tap your foot along to, hopefully! You’d need to see us to get a feel for it, I think. And as for The O’Malley Experience it’s Irish fiddly-dee and traditional through-and-through.Past The Print: Can you tell us a little bit about the song, The Rising Sun Blues, we are about to hear?
John: Certainly! This is myself on guitar and Kevy on vocals with our take on the classic 'House of the Rising Sun' with a bluesier taste. Hope you enjoy it!
Past The Print: Who has influenced your music?
John: My single biggest influence would have to be Tommy Emmanuel, an Australian guitarist. I’ve never seen or heard anyone who could control the guitar like this guy, it’s just an extension of his arms and hands. He’s mind-boggling, but so down-to-earth and human; the perfect idol! He’s been hugely influential on me as a musician. Other than him, quite a lot of people influence how I think and perform musically – James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Elton John, The Beatles, Sting, Chet Atkins, …and also a Japanese composer called Koji Kondo, if truth be told (the guy wrote the theme tune for Super Mario Bros., that’s enough to make anyone a god in my books!).
Past the Print: Have you ever met Tommy Emmanuel?
John: I've actually met him twice; once in England at a guitar festival and once in Belfast. He signed my guitar when he was here in Belfast - now the next task is to get to play a few tunes with him when he's next over!
Past The Print: Have you written anything yourself?
John: I’ve written my own bits and pieces here and there…how evasive is that answer? I really should record what I have. I also regularly write the music to go alongside Kevy’s great lyrics, and so far my favourite song we’ve co-written would have to be Women Whiskey and Beers, for which he wrote the lyrics about his brother who gigs at an unforgiving venue in Belfast full of drunk students and loudmouth girls, and I like to think that my tongue-in-cheek music and arrangement match the feel of Kevy’s lyrics.
Past The Print: What is your favorite drink?
John: Guinness! Good God, would an Irishman have anything else about him? Wait, don’t answer that.
Past The Print: Is there an Irish toast or slogan you shout out before your first drink?
John: Get it down ye, ya oul ballix ye!
Past The Print: Well since this is a romance book blog, you know we love to ask those personal questions. Those kind that get into the heart of a man. So let's start off with one that I know my readers are dying to hear. Have you ever serenaded a girl before, or played to impress her?
John: Why else would a man put so much effort into learning to play music? Yeah I’m guilty without trial, but the annoying thing is that the music only goes so far – when the singers arrive they automatically win the ladies with their voices, grrr.
Past The Print: That is not the case with me, however. Nothing personal Kevy! haha
Ok, back to the important business of love and feelings: What is the one thing you look for in a girl?
John: The (seldom-found) pretty girl at the party who isn’t loud or obnoxious or craving male attention – I’d have my eye on her.
Past The Print: What is the one thing a girl will look for and find in you?
John: I don’t think I’m a typical ‘man’s man’ in that I don’t really watch sports or like to break peoples’ noses on nights out. So if a girl is after that sort of guy, she won’t find it in me. But maybe a girl would see me as a creative and caring guy with a sense of humour who does always listen…with a filthy streak... :P
Past The Print: If you happen to have found the girl of your dreams, and hypothetically wrote a song for her, what would the title be?
John: Go Deor na nDeor (‘Until the End of Time’)
Past The Print: Where in Ireland would be your favorite romantic spot?
John: The rugged beauty of Northwest Donegal is a hard one to top – with a girl whisked up there to a quiet hotel it would be a hard place to botch up a romantic trip!
Past The Print: For everyone who has patiently waited, here are a few youtube videos of John and Kevy doing two original songs of Fretwear:
Blue Veil
Women Whiskey and Beers
Past The Print: And this next video is a Merle Travis song - Nine Pound Hammer - a real toe-tapper! It's so ironic that Fretwear decided to post this song. Of all songs to upload, they chose one written by a Kentucky man, about the Kentucky coal minors! It makes me smile to know that a few Irishmen are singing about my hometown state. You know, John, when I come to Belfast, what song I will be requesting now, eh?
Past The Print: Thank you so much, John. It's been an absolute pleasure!
And if anyone wants to find out more about the O´Malley Experience, visit their website at http://www.theomalleyexperience.com/
John would also like to point out that if anyone is planning a trip to Belfast, they are more than welcome to meet him at any of the shows for a chat! Look for Fretwear on Facebook, coming soon.
Please feel free to leave your comments. John and I would love to hear from you. Cheers!
