It was my 13th birthday and the only cool present I got was from my Aunty Mary who gave me a beatles album. The beatles ballads. I literally wore that record out. I was lucky, born into a Irish generational music family, my Grandfather a tenor, father of 13 children, forced them all to play music and created the O'dowd family showband. That band worked steadily for 35 years cutting four records. My mother, (vibraphone , piano and vocals) was 9 months pregnant with me and was still gigging. 12 years later i joined the band on tambourine. Then I started playing the bass on the organ. Then according to my grandfathers immutable logic, I should really play the electric bass and so gave me a bunch of books and told me to be ready in two weeks! With literally hundreds of songs in the repertoire, I struggled and was no doubt terrible. Time passed and I grew up on irish ballads, pop hits of the day and show tunes. I was addicted to music. At 17, I saw sting play with an extraordinary band of jazz musicians playing his songs. I saw the light, I would be a jazz musician. I auditioned for the Victorian College of the Arts Jazz degree and surprisingly got in. I had absolutely no idea what jazz was, but I had been well trained in the ancient art of faking it. Unfortunetly they realised that in about a week. I struggled. Everyone was listening to coltrane and ornette coleman. Sounded like a nasty car accident involving brass instruments to me and my future as a jazz musician was on shaky ground. Then i discovered Miles Davis and kind of blue. the lights went on and I actually could feel the music. Now I knew what swinging was (vital for a double bass player) I ate it up. Over the years I found myself in various bands, from jazz to funk and reggae. I learned that all music swings, even classical music and that groove has to be there or no connection with the audience was possible. This recording is a first for me as there no drums, so all the groove comes instrumentally. I also learned that the Beatles were right, it's all about a beautiful song and singing from the heart. With all the technological changes in the music industry, it's amazing and inspiring to know that these things never change.

Well the album is finally finished! A year of living in small pub rooms in melbourne with all my studio gear crammed around me including my double bass and guitars. Talk about an intimate recording! But it worked. I'd write songs, start recording then realize I'd been in "my studio" for 12 hours with no food so i would walk to brunswick st and start busking the new songs, make money eat and continue on. The secret to awesome vocals in a pub? Wrap a heavy doona over ones head (breathing deeply first) and go for it. I could manage about three takes before hyperventalating. But I'm proud to be an independent artist, who wants to record in beautiful lush studios with mood lighting (sigh). I was really lucky to meet sarah who plays 1st violin in the melbourne symphony orchestra, she played on the record and is the only other musician on it. I was thinking of drums but realized for once, the songs just don't need that. Now I'm here in canada, vancouver and so far people seem to dig the record. I've got some gigs booked and will be posting dates soon. I'm really happy with this record. I feel as a songwriter I've finally got it together and although times are tough for everyone, now more than ever people need artists to brighten their day. And lastly, my favourite song? Perfect world. Sunjack