"For me, hope was never really a strategy," says the 25-year-old singer and songwriter Declan McGarry. "It was in my upbringing that sitting around hoping something would happen wasn't going to bring you anything. When I realized that, it changed my whole approach." For McGarry, that new approach meant leaving dreams of pop stardom laid stagnant in Los Angeles, Nashville and Memphis, and going back to his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to embark on an ambitious business plan to build a music career from the ground up and on his own terms. His new self-titled record, to be released on his own LT Records in 2010, is only the first stage of that plan coming to fruition, but it's the culmination of 10 years of a love of songs and songwriting.
"When I heard a great song when I was young, I thought, 'I could do that,' but it took years before I could," says McGarry, who started playing the guitar and dabbling in songwriting at the age of 14, after years of piano classes. Growing up in Neil Young's hometown, though, is bound to have an affect on anyone in Winnipeg who picks up an acoustic guitar and takes a stab at songwriting. McGarry was no exception. Coming of age in the mid-90s meant the aspiring songwriter's first taste of the iconic and fiercely independent Young was 1993's Unplugged. From there, McGarry worked backwards, soaking up the beauty of Harvest Moon, Live Rust, Harvest and Decade.
"After Neil, it was Springsteen," says McGarry, who also sites artists ranging from John Denver to Nancy Griffith as early influences. "I've always been a song guy. If a song hit me, it didn't matter if was pop, rock, blues or country."
McGarry toyed with music in high school and even formed a band with his brother -- Less Traveled -- before attending the University of Winnipeg and securing a degree in English. Having fulfilled the obligations that the pragmatist in him demanded, McGarry moved to Toronto and started writing more seriously, sending demos to labels and producers in Los Angeles and making cold calls to whomever would take the time to talk to him. He caught the ear of a manager in Los Angeles, and although a year and a half commuting between the two cities yielded little in the way of tangible results, it led to an opportunity to record an EP at legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis with producer/engineer John Hampton.
I'm hitting the road in a couple of weeks to raise money for War Child, Coast-to-coast – 50 cities – ALL PROCEEDS TO WARCHILD. Why? 66% of all war victims are CHILDREN. Shocked like me? War Child helps these children that have been affected by war. Check out the new blog – the whole story is up there. Love to have you be a part of it.
You’ll find a Blog, Tour page and a Bio page. I’ll be blogging daily from the road.
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God and Country is a jam! Maybe even a hit. Brother, your voice is so commercial. May 'God' bless your career!! Hope to see you around the Nash. -Brett
Just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to listen to my music and for being my friend. Would you call your local radio station and request my music? Every call helps! Hope the sun shines upon you! Sending you "300 Flowers" Much Love Sasha Eleyce
If your in Toronto you should come out to my show this Tuesdat night Feb.12th at Free Times cafe. College and Spadina. I go on at 9pm. Hope things are well.
I always get your Jesus Land song in my head. I heard it a few times a few months ago at Brents. Sounds really great. Let me know when your doing a show and if you need an opener. Happy New Year!
