I've been a singer songwriter for more years than I care to remember. I was born in Glasgow Scotland and moved to England when I was nine, so although a Scot by birth I grew up with more of an English accent. Fast forward, I've lived in Canada for more of my adult life than I did in the UK, emigrating here with my wife Linda when we were in our 20's. Music has always been a passion of mine and I remember when I was a child sitting next to my mum in our front room and listening to her playing the piano and singing her favourite songs. She seemed to be blissfully in a world of her own and those times left a long lasting impression that has stayed with me ever since. 

 I consider myself an eclectic writer, creatively going where the wind takes me,  and I think that reflects in the albums I've recorded. I started out like a lot of young musicians, playing in cover bands and having fun and a few pints along the way, but somewhere down that road I felt the need to write my own songs, and go my own way. And so began the journey. After a number of years of honing my craft, so to speak which included living in Los Angeles for a time where I did manage to compose for a few movies that didn't really light up the world. I also did the rounds pitching songs to publishers and trying for a Major label deal without any representation, which I soon found out was a  fools errand, but being rather green about the business I was completely oblivious to that fact. 

So after  a while of getting nowhere I decided to return home to Canada  and record my first album “Eddie Carrigan”.   An amusing tale, the first album I released  saw two of the songs on it "Wish It Would End" and "Taxi Cab" receive national radio play across Canada.  I'd recorded that album  in my home studio and had to rent some equipment for the project, and somewhere in the middle of the recording of it we had a flood which left my basement studio under about an inch or two of water. Having only a certain amount of time on the rental of the gear I was using, I had to push on with the project, rubber boots and all.  Not quite the rock star image! 

The second album  was" Universal Sign" with the drums being played  by  Kevin Egan. That also saw the title track "Universal Sign" receive some radio play across Canada, but the politics of radio were changing especially for an independent artist such as myself, and the doors of opportunity to that particular avenue were slowly closing. I guess not being on a major label had it's drawbacks, as anyone in the business can attest to, on the other hand that in itself is a double edged sword and certainly not all sunshine and roses.

"Somewhere Over Mars"  I'd recorded and mixed  ready for release  as Eddie Carrigan, but at the same time I was in the process of putting a band together that I was thinking of naming Karigan, (a spin on my surname). So I called the album "Somewhere Over Mars" by Karigan, instead of  yours truly. Of course the band is no more and I'm left with a name on an album that I won't use again, brilliant move on my part. 

           "What distinguishes Somewhere Over Mars and in fact Carrigan's talent is a deftness for lacing memorable hooks and choruses in among               the layers of production polish. There are specific highlights that could be noted but to no particular end. The truth is that every one of                   the ten tunes have subtly infectious choruses that make themselves quite comfortable in the nooks and crannies of anyone's                                      cerebellum."                                                                Album Reviewer for Artscape Magazine     

After "Somewhere Over Mars" I released "The Mission Bell" album  once more as Eddie Carrigan.

            "The Mission Bell is a solid outing for Carrigan, one that deserves to be held up next to the biggest names in the genre.   The songs are                      craftily penned, creatively arranged and powerfully performed by a topnotch artist, everything that a record  needs to be successful in a                day and age when listeners are flooded with new music on a daily basis. Only time will tell if Carrigan will receive the international                            acclaim which he deserves, but regardless of where his life's journey leads him, this album is a testament to the talent and hard work                      that permeates Carrigan's musical output." 

             "There is also a strong message in Carrigan's music, in the same sense as Bruce Cockburn, Sting and Leonard Cohen bring meaning to                      their songs through lyrical storytelling"*            *Matthew Warnock (Editor In Chief for Guitar International Magazine)    Rating: 5/5 Stars

 “Servants Of a Plan”, an album I really like was released in 2023.

So there you have it, a condensed version of my musical journey up until now. When I first started out I had the same aspirations as many young guys, dreaming of fame and success and playing in huge venues and arenas to a full house and although I have always believed that my music had the capability of holding it's own in those places it would have required a huge amount of financing and promotion. Therein lies the rub. I'm a private person, preferring to keep myself to myself which is not a recipe for success, especially in a business like this one. Don't get me wrong, I made an effort to some degree from posing as a journalist to reach the Vice president of Capitol records, and even being told a particular song I played him was a "little too commercial"  (you see what happens without representation).  Well  I did !

 Having said that,  I've still continued  doing what I do, even if there were some breaks in between. Something has always motivated me to keep going .

  I  feel I owe it to myself and those around me who have always believed in me  to continue the journey. Who knows what the future will be ?