Here’s the video for Gareth Dunlop’s latest single, an upbeat song that will get you moving. ‘Right About Ready’ features Dunlop’s characterful, expressive vocals over an insistent rhythm and strong beat. It’s an absorbing song, complete with a catchy chorus and memorable hooks. The song is all about being open to change and Dunlop’s words are consciously encouraging and uplifting: “Long over due a shake up // A little chaos to kick the dust up in my mind // Feels good to sail into the wind from time to time // No map, no game plan // Just a spark for the fuel I got building up inside // I’m right about ready to turn this heavy page // I’m right about ready for everything to change.”
In the accompanying video, we see Dunlop performing in a sparsely-attended Karaoke bar. It’s a good-humoured visual with a brilliant closing moment – at the end of the song, a single person claps and says, “Not bad,” before going back to his crossword. Despite the humble surroundings, Dunlop still puts everything into the show, which is full of energy and passion. Dunlop describes the video: “The further I got into putting my new album together the more I realised how retro-synth the whole thing was going, with ‘Right About Ready’ really leaning into that style. I started discussing visuals with my regular director Jamie Niesh, who has that rare ability to take the smallest of ideas and blow them up into something much bigger and better. He took what I thought would be a basic lyric video and turned it on its head into a concept with scenes, setting and visual candy.” Niesh continues: “There is a style and a self-assuredness with ‘Right About Ready’. As a group, we have a love for bringing in things that we have known over the years into the visuals, and this song just sat right for us to have some fun with, lean back into our ’90s childhoods and not take it too seriously. It is a really simple concept that relies on Gareth giving it all he’s got, which thankfully he always does.”
As far back as 2010, Dunlop was tipped as ‘one to watch by the BBC and he won a Young Songwriter of the Year award in Belfast in 2011, which led to collaborating with writers in Nashville. Since then, he has recorded singles, EPs and album and had songs featured on the ‘Nashville’ TV show and collected song-writing credits for the likes of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. He has quite a musical CV. Now, this single is taken from Dunlop’s brand new album ‘Animal’, which is out now. It was recorded at his own Sycamore Studios in Belfast, where he has also produced records for Lee Rogers and Foy Vance. The three toured the USA together in May and Dunlop has also been touring with Foy Vance in Ireland and the UK, playing in Vance’s band as well as performing his solo material. Check this out – Dunlop really is an artist to watch.
