Paul Noonan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Noonan
Paul Noonan performing with Bell X1 at Scala, London
Background information
Birth name	Paul Anthony Noonan
Born	1974 Lucan, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Genres	Rock, folk, acoustic, pop, alternative, electro, new wave
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, drums, piano
Years active	1991–present
Labels	BellyUp Records, Bone China Records
Associated acts	Bell X1, Printer Clips, Juniper, Gemma Hayes, Cathy Davey, Thomas Bartlett, The Frames, Damien Rice, David Geraghty

Paul Anthony Noonan is a talented songwriter, singer, and musician from Lucan, Ireland. He is most famous as the lead singer of the Irish band Bell X1. Paul also works on his own music and teams up with other artists on many exciting projects.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Paul Noonan was born in 1974. He grew up in Lucan, a town close to the border of Dublin and Kildare. When he was nine, Paul played the flute in the Lucan Concert Band. One day, a drummer visited their practice, and Paul was amazed by the drums. He decided to sell his flute and, with help from his parents, bought a drum kit.

Paul grew up in a very musical home. His dad, who was a school principal, often played music for his students. Paul's parents also had a big collection of vinyl records, which he used to decorate his room. As a teenager, he started writing his own songs. He would record them on cassette tapes. Albums by bands like Supertramp and Talking Heads really inspired him. He also loved going to early concerts by groups like Hothouse Flowers and U2.

While attending Salesian College in Celbridge, Paul met Damien Rice, Dominic Phillips, and Brian Crosby. They first formed a folk group where Paul even used school lockers as drums! In 1991, they officially formed a band called Juniper. Paul played drums, Damien sang, and Brian and Dominic played guitars and bass. Their friend David Geraghty later joined the band. In 1995, Paul finished his studies at Trinity College. He earned a degree in Computer engineering.

Paul's Music Journey

Juniper Band Days

Paul was one of the main songwriters for Juniper, along with Damien Rice and David Geraghty. He also sang backing vocals. In 1997, the band signed a big record deal. Their only two songs, "Weatherman" and "World Is Dead", became popular in Ireland in 1998. That same year, Damien Rice left the band just before they started recording their first album.

After Damien left, Paul, David, Dominic, and Brian decided to keep making music. They changed their name to Bell X1. Paul became the lead singer, and Paul "Binzer" Brennan joined as the new drummer. Damien Rice moved to Italy to write songs for his own successful solo career.

Bell X1 Success

Bell X1 has released seven studio albums and two live albums over twenty years. Three of their albums reached number one on the charts! They are known as one of Ireland's most successful rock bands. The group has also created many popular songs played on Irish radio, such as "The Great Defector", "Rocky Took a Lover", "Flame", "Eve, the Apple of My Eye", and "Alphabet Soup".

Paul is the main songwriter for Bell X1. People often talk about his unique way with words. He uses clever sayings, puns (wordplay), and everyday language in his lyrics.

Paul has said that while he's a good drummer, he feels less skilled at other instruments he plays in Bell X1, like guitar and piano. In recent years, he has played drums for the band in the studio and sometimes during live shows. Paul "Binzer" Brennan, a famous Irish rock drummer, even said that Paul Noonan is one of his favorite drummers because he approaches songs differently.

Working with Other Artists

Bell X1 has always encouraged its members to work on other music projects. The idea is that musicians can bring new ideas and experiences back to the band. Over the years, Paul has worked on many side projects. He has also been a guest musician, often playing percussion and singing, for artists like Cathy Davey and Gemma Hayes. He has helped on three of Gemma Hayes' albums and several EPs. In 2006, he performed and wrote for the popular charity album The Cake Sale.

Since 2011, Paul has had his own project called Printer Clips. For this, he writes and performs new songs with different female artists. In May 2014, the first Printer Clips album came out. It featured collaborations with singers like Joan As Policewoman, Martha Wainwright, Gemma Hayes, Amy Millan, Julia Stone, Lisa Hannigan, Cathy Davey, and Maria Doyle Kennedy. The album's release was delayed because Paul was busy touring and recording Bell X1's album, Chop Chop.

In May 2014, many of the female singers from the Printer Clips album joined Paul for a special live show in Dublin. In August 2014, Paul announced a new Printer Clips tour in Ireland for December, where he toured with Gemma Hayes.

Paul has also organized special music events in Ireland. In 2016, he was asked to create Starboard Home. This was a series of live concerts and an album for the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. It featured new music by artists like James Vincent McMorrow, Cathy Davey, Gemma Hayes, and others. In March 2018, Paul helped organize Imagining Ireland: 21st Century Song. These shows in Dublin and London featured new Irish music. Artists like Lisa Hannigan and Saint Sister performed.

In July 2018, electronic artist Daithí released a new song called "Take The Wheel" with Paul Noonan singing lead vocals.

Paul's Solo Work

In July 2017, Paul Noonan announced he would be doing some solo shows around Ireland. He promised to play new songs, as well as music from Bell X1 and Printer Clips.

In spring 2018, Paul released his first solo EP (a short album) called Push Puppet. It was produced by Thomas Bartlett. The songs on it were "Microfiche", "Moth To Your Flame", "Venetian Blinds", and "The Flood". Paul said he built these songs using R&B and Hip-Hop beats from a phone app called Funk Box. He focused more on the sound and rhythm of the words than their exact meaning. Paul plans to release his first full solo album later in 2019.

Personal Life

Paul Noonan lives in Dublin with his wife, Amy Van Den Broek, and their two children. In 2014, Paul and Amy released a charity song called "Hole in Her Heart." They wrote it after their daughter, Aislinn, was found to have a heart condition called an atrial septal defect. Money from the song went to Crumlin Children's Hospital. Paul and Amy sang the song together on an Irish TV show in November 2014.

A picture of Paul, his wife, their two children, and their dog was taken during the 2020 lockdown. This photo appeared in a book called Twilight Together: Portraits of Ireland at Home by photographer Ruth Medjber.

Album Discography

Bell X1

• Neither Am I (2000)
• Music in Mouth (2003)
• Flock (2005)
• Tour De Flock (2007)
• Blue Lights on the Runway (2009)
• Bloodless Coup (2011)
• Field Recordings (2012)
• Chop Chop (2013)
• Arms (2016)

Printer Clips

• Printer Clips (2014)

Various Collaborations

• Night on My Side (2002) by Gemma Hayes – played percussion, sang backing vocals
• Burn The Maps (2004) by The Frames – played percussion on "Finally”
• The Cake Sale (2006) by various artists – wrote songs, played percussion, sang
• The Hollow of Morning (2008) by Gemma Hayes – played percussion, sang backing vocals
• Let It Break (2011) by Gemma Hayes – played percussion, sang backing vocals
• Starboard Home (2016) by various artists – wrote songs, produced, played percussion