Track of the Day: Pauric O'Meara - 'Lately'

Tipperary singer-songwriter Pauric O'Meara is back with another catchy single, this time in the form of pop/rock track 'Lately'.

The funky, uplifting offering focuses on themes of relationships, friendships and the importance of how we spend our time.

Penned by Pauric with production from himself and Alex O'Keeffe, plus mixing from Adam Shanahan; 'Lately' sounds as slick as it is radio-ready. Opening with a blast of synths, groovy guitar riffs and a beat pushing the song onwards, O'Meara's sharp, alluring voice is at its best. Sharing a similar tone to Troye Sivan and LAUV, the pop instrumentation backing up his words never drowns him out.

With hints of Chic, the 1975 and Tom Grennan - the lyrics bring the listener on a journey of change, introspection and bittersweet nostalgic.

The choppy synths and funky riffs highlight the messiness and beauty of transience, while the power and energy in the track drive home the strength of being in control in these situations.

'Lately' does a great job of highlighting the frustration that can arise from one-sided relationships, with the battery-type subject eventually getting fed up of being the one making all the effort with a draining partner or friend.

"Where were you when I needed you? Why should I be here for you now?" O'Meara queries on the single. His answer: use your energy wisely.

"You can only wait around for someone to pull their weight for so long, before eventually accepting that you are better suited on separate paths," the musician explains of the single's meaning. "This often leads to one member of the relationship realising that they regret how it unfolded, but O'Meara remains adamant through the track that a situation like that is a case of too little too late."

"If you give someone your all, in a friendship or relationship, it's absolutely gutting when it isn't reciprocated. This ranges from friends not making an effort to meet up, to a romance not working out for a reason that escapes you," Pauric adds.

"What's even worse is when they come crawling back after a period of time where the damage has been done, realising a mistake was made, expecting things to be as they once were. For me, 'Lately' was written to have a rant at these people, and a way for me to express my belief that you shouldn't waste anyone's time, but most importantly not to waste your own. The vitality of knowing when you have done too much. We all need second chances at times, but the song just drives home the importance of choosing who you give those chances to wisely."

The independent artist is now based in Dublin, making a name for himself with his raw vocals and universal lyrics.

Pauric started to gain the attention he deserved with the release of his EP, Looking Forward to Hindsight, at the start of 2020 and a string of single releases, featuring 'Techno or RnB', 'Final Say' and 'All Alright'. Previous single 'Wait for You' smashed airwaves at home and internationally.

Over the last few years, O'Meara has seen his headline shows sell out all over Ireland, including venues such as The Workman's Club, The Grand Social, Monroes, Dolans and Cyprus Avenue, as well as supporting major acts such as Hermitage Green and Hudson Taylor - plus stand out performances at festivals such as Electric Picnic, Sounds of Summer and Kaleidoscope.

Revisit Pauric's April show at the Grand Social here.

Listen to 'Lately' below.

Upcoming Shows

Pharmacia Limerick - Dec 9th
The Roisin Dubh, Galway, March 3rd
Whelans, Dublin, March 4th
The Grace, London, March 10th