Owen Mac: a singing sensation online, at home and abroad

Owen Mac has become something of a phenomena on YouTube. The 16-year-old singer from near Coleraine in Co Derry has already garnered a few million hits on the channel and his appeal is not just confined to the island of Ireland.

A sell-out debut show in Newfoundland, Canada, last year appears to be just the tip of the iceberg in relation to his outreach to audiences. In the week gone by, he performed two shows to rave reviews in Utah, on his very first visit to the USA. The young man is certainly going places.

In many ways you could say his rise to fame was almost overnight. A guest appearance on one of Hugo Duncan’s outside broadcasts with BBC Radio Ulster in Donaghadee just over three years ago received an amazing response. By the end of the show, Owen Mac (McVeigh) was the talk of the province.

I began to learn a lot of new songs and went into the studios to record my first album

“The reaction took me and my family completely by surprise,” says Owen. “It was just amazing and I could not believe how well things went for me that day. I sang God’s Plan, a song composed by Derek Ryan. The people loved it and I understand Hugo’s show got a huge response from the many listeners as well.

“The whole thing began to take off on Facebook and suddenly I was getting requests to perform on concert shows all around the region. I began to learn a lot of new songs and went into the studios to record my first album. Thank God, everything has been going well for me ever since.”

It could hardly have been going much better for Owen. Waltz of the Angels has amassed over 3.4m views on You Tube, If Jesus Comes Tomorrow is closing in on 2m views, with Marlena and Rollin’ Home and others also recording phenomenal figures.

“It was all new to me at the outset but I have become very comfortable on stage and with audiences. A huge amount of the Facebook correspondence I get is coming from America and loads of offers to perform there are coming in.

The mix of country and gospel music that I do seems to connect in a special way with the American audiences

“I have been booked for some shows in Pennsylvania next year while I will also be doing guest spots at shows in Spain next May and June. I also have a Scottish tour at Christmas and another in March and I am due to return to Newfoundland next September.

“The mix of country and gospel music that I do seems to connect in a special way with the American audiences. I am both thrilled and delighted with all the goodwill coming across the Atlantic for me,” says Owen.

This week, amazingly, sees the release of his fifth album which is some achievement for such a young man.

“I recorded it in Paul McNeilly’s Pinegrove Studios in Ballymena. I want to thank Paul for his brilliant work and to all the excellent musicians who featured on the album.

“There is a nice blend of songs including Little Cabin Home On The Hill, Ten Guitars, Old Rocking Chair and The Mountains of Mourne. I am very happy with the album and very grateful to my family and everyone who helped out along the way. I also want to thank Steve Bloor for all his excellent video work, Alan Fahy who takes care of my Facebook page, all the DJs, and all who are so supportive of my music career.”

Owen Mac is the guest performer on the upcoming Michael English Concert Tour which gets underway at the end of September and plays 16 dates around the country. His new album, This I Promise You, goes on general release this week.

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