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Mickeys Biography to date
Mickey Harte is a Singer/Songwriter from Donegal in Ireland. He has been a mainstay of the Irish acoustic circuit over the past 10 years. From his formative years as a musician, playing in local bands he was always well regarded as an exceptional songwriter. Noted several times by national press and media for his capability, in RTE Television's songwriting contests in the early 1990's and by Ireland's largest music magazine 'Hotpress' in the later 90's.
However, his musical career didn't begin it's big take off until 2001 when due to a chance meeting, organized by IMRO, Mickey met Shea McNelis, a man with a vested interest in a somewhat dormant acoustic rock scene in Ireland. Over the course of the next year, with Shea as Mickey's manager, they almost completed a deal with a major label in Ireland. Luckily, as it now happens, this deal fell through.
The following year had Mickey back on top form. Mickey has a distinct advantage over most songwriters, he learns from his own mistakes, and has a great ability to change musical style and genre with a few subtle Chord, Note or Rhythm changes in the patterns of music. 2003 was an advent for acoustic rock worldwide, with artists such as Ryan Adams becoming highly regarded. It also saw Mickey's career explode.
In early 2003, Mickey Started new negotiations with Record companies and had also become a national celebrity, as he was to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. After signing a deal with Sony UK, Mickey began recording his debut album with Jon Kelly, a man well known for his work with Tori Amos, The Beautiful South and Kate Bush. This resulted in unique blend of styles from Mickey's and Jon's Ideas, time would later show how well this blend would pay off. The song 'We've Got The World', written by Martin Brannigan and Keith Molloy, was an instant anthem in Ireland, and was number 1 for 7 weeks. His follow up single, 'Never Wanna Let U Down' was a more roots/country affair. It peaked at Number 2 for 3 weeks, behind Beyonce's 'Crazy In Love'. However, true success was guaranteed for Mickey in July when he released his debut album, 'Sometimes Right, Sometimes Wrong' which was Number 1 for 3 weeks and has already gone double platinum in Ireland and is still selling well.
'Sometimes Right' is an album designed to cross musical boundaries and taste. Songs about love and loss, and the emotions that all people share. Opener 'Right Time' is an acoustic voyage of the soul, whereas the album's title track is a combination of the influences on Mickey's life so far. The Radio Friendly Country-Pop 'Never Wanna Let U Down' shows His ability to write a sing-a-long pop song, with meaningful lyrics, and shows up Mickey's lighter side. In 'There Must Be Love' he shows his ability to create simplicity, a description of Love and Life, without saying much at all. 'The Island' is Mickey's Tribute to His Friend and songwriting colleague Paul Brady. The song is an Intrepid look at Northern Ireland in which both men grew up, a song about division, unification and freedom, sometimes painfully heart wrenching, and Mickey's vocal carries this song to a new plateau, for a new audience. 'I Need You' is somewhat an exploration of a rock ballad, very reminiscent of Fergal Sharkey's 'A Good Heart'. The song sucks the audience into its acoustic beginning and then explodes with its string section. In 'Teenage kicks' Mickey's shows his musical background and one of the reasons why he became a songwriter in the first place, 'The Undertones'. In the album notes Mickey mentions a song that was almost lost to him, this is 'Total Love' Co-written in Nashville with Tony Kerr. It's a country-esque song which changes genres with its funk style bass and drum patterns. 'A Chance For You And Me' begins with a harmonic/ acoustic approach, and then moves to its sing-a-long Bridge and Chorus. It's a type of love song written not from Mickey's point of view but from the opposite side. Final Track 'We've Got The World' is the first song people got to know by Mickey, It was written for Eurovision 2003 and remains the albums' anthem, played in clubs in every town and village in Ireland. A song that everyone knows because it's so easy to sing along with, you just can help at least tapping along to it.
Mickey's new single 'There Must Be love' was released on November 14th and debuted in the Irish top ten. Currently Mickey and his manager are engaged in many contract negotiations mainly about his songs with agencies across Europe and indeed the world. In January 2004, Mickey's live show will be taken to Europe in the hope of gaining new fans across boundaries, this will continue in March 2004 when Mickey will play gigs in the US, Mainly in New York and Texas, in the hopes of bringing his Irish Acoustic Rock to shake up the American country scene.
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Facts about Mickey Harte
AGE: 30
HEIGHT: 5' 7"
EYE COLOUR: Grey
HAIR COLOUR: Black
STAR SIGN: Virgo
FAMILY: Mickey lives in Strabane with his wife Louise and two children, Kayleigh and Kyle.
SINGING BACKGROUND: Mickey is a full-time singer/songwriter and has been gigging in pubs since the age of 15. He has a record deal with Sony music and has released 3 singles and 1 album.
COMPETITION: A member of IMRO Mickey has won many awards for his singing. Most notably he reached the final of the Hot Press unplugged Song of the Year two years ago. He has also appeared on TV and you would have seen him on "Go For It" and "Live @ 3" with his band Kyrptix. He took part in the RTE talent search Youre A Star for Irelands Eurovision singer and he won the competition and performing brilliantly in the Eurovision Song Contest with his No.1 single Weve got the World and he finished in 11th place.
HOBBIES: When not singing and gigging all over the country, Mickey likes to keep active. He loves swimming and cycling even though as a child he nearly drowned when his two friends threw him into a pool knowing he couldn't swim. While he was in the water he remembers having an out of body experience. Spooky!!
MUSICAL IDOLS: Mickey's eardrums are tickled and inspired by U2, Sting, Paul Brady, Radiohead and Damien Rice.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: Mickey first started playing the guitar when his older brother's friends used to play in the garage and taught Mickey a few chords and it went on from there.
FAVOURITE COLOUR: If you haven't guessed it already Mickey's favourite colour is RED. Not only did he wear red at the Derry auditions and at the results show, he also dressed Kyle his son in a bright red T-shirt to. When asked about his passion for red fashion Mickey stated: "My dress sense? Me? Oh very casual. I just like something very casual and I like to be comfortable. I kinda like colours like red!! As you can see." YOU DON'T SAY MICKEY.
FAVOURITE EUROVISION SONG: Mickey loves Johnny Logan's winning song "What Another Year".
LIKES: Mickey loves people who can make him laugh especially the comedian Billy Connolly. He also likes head massages, kebabs and clothes.
DISLIKES: On a serious note Mickey dislikes the American President George Bush. Mickey is very much against war and disagrees with the actions Mr Bush has taken since September 11. Mickey is hoping that a war with Iraq will never materialise.
SPORTS FANATIC: A big soccer fan, Mickey likes nothing better than watching Liverpool play in the Premiership. He also is a massive fan of the Irish Team as Shay Given is a school pal and when he's home in Lifford he likes nothing than a big sing song with Mickey down the local.
MUSICAL MISHAP: Mickey has had quite a lot of musical mishaps including falling off the stage. He has also managed to lose all of his bands equipment whilst returning from a gig because he left the trailer door open.
FAMILY MAN: He also loves nothing more than spending time with his family. At the moment he is trying to wean the two kids off their self-enforced Westlife diet. Good Luck there Mickey.
WEBSITE: If you want to get the latest gossip on Mickey then just go to his website www.mickeyharte.com
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Mickey's Review of 2003
In the 2003 end of year polls, Mickey was voted the best thing to happen to music in 2003, and the 3rd best thing to happen in Ireland in 2003. His debut single was the biggest selling single of the year and his second single came in at number 31. 2004 is set to be a great year for Mickey also.
April/May 2003 - Mickey won 'You're A Star', and went on to represent Ireland in the Eurovision in Riga, Latvia.
Sony signed Mickey
Mickey's debut single 'We've got the World' went straight to number 1, and spent a whopping 7 weeks at the top of the charts. 'We've got the World' was the best selling single of 2003.
June 2003 - Saw Mickey play the length of the country, with a performance at the closing ceremony of the Special Olympics in Croke Park to round off June, to 85,000 people!!
July/August 2003 - Once again Mickey played concerts all over the country.
July 4th saw Mickey's second single released, which went straight into the charts at number 2, denied the number one slot by Beyonce's 'Crazy in Love' which Mickey covers later in the year, and was put on the album 'Even Better Then The Real Thing' compilation album, which went to number 2 in the charts. 'Never Wanna Let You Down' was no 31 in the single of the year charts.
Mickey played with Atomic Kitten in Millstreet and at the o2 in the park gig in Phoenix Park in Dublin.
Mickey's album 'Sometimes Right Sometimes Wrong', is released and and after a week at number two, goes to the number one slot for three weeks, and is double platinum after five weeks.
Sept/Oct 2003 - Sees Mickey do a colleges tour and take a visit to Sweden to co-write with some songwriters.
Nov 2003 - After a nationwide radio and music store tour, Mickey releases his 3rd single 'There Must Be Love', with which he scores another top ten hit, the 4th Mickey Harte CD to enter the top ten of the country in 2003.
Dec 2003 - Pre-Christmas nationwide tour is hailed a great success.
And so...2004 - is set to be a great year for Mickey also.
Mickey has been nominated for a Meteor award, in the Best Irish Male Singer Category - votes could be cast online at www.meteor.ie . There will be eighteen Meteor Ireland Music Awards presented this year. Meteor has introduced a voting system making it easier than ever for fans to place their votes for their favourite radio DJ's, artists and bands. The public will be invited to vote for a shortlist of nominees in eight categories, compiled from the votes cast by a host of Irish music industry representatives and music journalists.
Music fans can vote for their favourite artist or band by texting the key word VOTE to 53500. All text votes will cost no more than 60c across all three irish networks. All voters will be entered into a competition to win VIP tickets to the awards ceremony and an amazing 10 day luxury holiday in Las Vegas staying in the five star Belagio Hotel.
Last year's Meteor Ireland Music Awards saw some of the world's top acts perform including Tom Jones, Simply Red, Westlife, Bob Geldof, Finbar Furey, The Thrills, Alabama 3, B2K, Samanthat Mumba, Phil Coulter with Brian Kennedy and Sinead O'Connor.
In January, Mickey will jet off to Cannes, France to a Music conference/ festival and showcase where he will play some gigs.
In March, Mickey will be in Germany, Holland, America (New York, Texas, L.A., and San Diego) and the SXSW Festival, in Texas.
Go to Mickeys Official Site
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