After more than 30 years in the industry, what is it about now that makes you feel like you're heading into a new chapter?

You know, things have changed in my life a lot, you know, and I'm going through a bit of a transition.

And this album that I'm working on at the moment is the most exciting process I've been through creatively.

I've loved it.

And it took a while.

It took a while for me to kind of get started with this album.

I think after my brother was killed, I...

You know, you're ready to move on, aren't you?

After more than 30 years in the industry, what is it about now that makes you feel like you're heading into a new chapter?

You know, things have changed in my life a lot, you know, and I'm going through a bit of a transition.

And this album that I'm working on at the moment is the most exciting process I've been through creatively.

I've loved it.

And it took a while.

It took a while for me to kind of get started with this album.

I think after my brother was killed, I...

You know, you're ready to move on, aren't you?

Do you have anything that you remember that you're like, holy hecka, we could not do that now because social media would absolutely ruin this for us? I don't

think I can talk about that.

But yeah, yeah, there was lots of times.

But like, yeah, look, it was, it's kind of a, it's a double edged sword, really, because on one hand, you know, it would have been amazing to have it because as a promotional to it, like we used to have to get on planes twice a day to do promotion when the record was out.

So we were like, it was nonstop.

We were very rarely back home in Ireland.

But on the other hand, that was amazing because we got to see the world, but we didn't really get to see it.

Was that just such a special era?

Oh, so how's Dubai at the moment? It looks nice.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's lovely.

It's hot.

Uh, we're just coming off the s- out of the summer, so in the next two weeks, things start to cool down a bit.

Um, but look, it's just so easy, uh, here.

It's wonderful.

That's pretty nefarious, yeah.

Why the Getting

Started? It's funny.

And that has been the question for, you know, people have been asking me, why are you calling it Just Getting Started? I'm 50 next year.

I've been doing this for 33 years.

And honest to God, in my heart and soul, I feel like I'm only... getting started.

And I think, you know, people always use the phrase about life begins at 40.

And I think my audience, you know, most of my audience will be 40 plus.

What have people said to you about how they've needed your music, what your music's meant to them?

Why the Getting

Started? It's funny.

And that has been the question for, you know, people have been asking me, why are you calling it Just Getting Started? I'm 50 next year.

I've been doing this for 33 years.

And honest to God, in my heart and soul, I feel like I'm only...

Getting started.

And I think, you know, people always use the phrase about life begins at 40.

What have people said to you about how they've needed your music, what your music's meant to them?

How are you wrangling that?

Well, it's a lot.

I mean, I joined the band when I was 16.

And to be honest, I feel that was too young.

You know, you're still supposed to be climbing trees and cycling your bike at that age.

And, you know, Leila, who's she's just a powerhouse vocalist.

And at 12, as a father of children, my kids are aged from 27 down to six.

Yeah,

First of all, with Layla, though, how do you go about coaching someone so young?

Well, I mean, the thing is about Layla, it's not about there's not a lot of coaching to do with her voice because it's so good.

I mean, she's easily one of the best singers we've ever seen on The Voice in Australia.

She is phenomenal.

But the kind of fear is, is that she's so young.

And, you know, as a dad myself, my eldest child is 27.

My youngest is six.

Tell us about what you've announced.

can't believe after, what

are we in now? 15? Is it 15 seasons? So many seasons.

Of The Voice in Australia.

And the talent just keeps getting better.

I think what it does is it gives people a confidence because they see people that are like them.

You know, some guy that comes from, you know, I don't know, Toowoomba or something.

And he stands up there and he sings and someone else goes, wow, man, I can sing like that or I can do that.

I

What can we look forward to this year? Are we still blowing you away here in Australia with our talent?

Absolutely.

And I have said it.

I've done the voice in the UK and I've done it in Germany and I've done it multiple times here, well, there in Australia.

And I'm blown away with that.

it keeps unearthing incredible talent.

Now, the only thing I can think is that the more that the show is broadcast anywhere in the world, the more, well, the braver people get.

Do you believe in curses?

What can we look forward to this year? Are we still blowing you away here in Australia with our talent?

Absolutely.

And I have said it.

I've done the voice in the UK and I've done it in Germany and I've done it multiple times here, well, there in Australia.

And I'm blown away with that.

It keeps unearthing incredible talent.

Now, the only thing I can think is that the more that the show is broadcast anywhere in the world, the more, well, the braver people get.

I'm a love ballad.

Yeah, I'm seeing that just by looking at it, the challenge in that.

Yeah, I got thrown into it, I didn't know I was doing that.

Yeah, cool.

And you've enjoyed it? Yeah, no, it's good fun so far.

It's just really challenging, like, it's a different technique every day, because weather-wise, it's been raining, sunny, wet, dry, just different techniques of the boarding, trying to teach these guys.

But yeah, it's been good so far.

How did you get

into crane keeping then? Well, I was doing landscaping before this.