Biography | ||
It was harder, however, to keep a check on the media enthusiasm, and before Mundy even released his first record ("Jelly Legs" recorded in London's Butterly Studios and produced by Youth.) The Irish Times were including him in their tips for 1996. "Neil Young-meets-Kurt Cobain," enthused the Maker's Paul Mathur; "the Irish Michael Stipe," added Ireland's rock fortnightly. Mundy is somewhat wary of such comparisons, and he definitely felt the pressure when he took the stage at the Heineken Green Energy Festival gig in May. "The press has blown it all out of all proportion," he says. "I was a bit nervous at that gig because I thought that people were going to expect a bit too much from me. All I can do is all I can give, and where it takes me is where I'm going, you know, and I'm ready for anywhere." "I was really into Jimi Hendrix, but I don't play lead guitar or anything like that. But they all started me. I bought and got a lend of records like Janis Joplin, Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Dylan when I was about 14, and when I listened to stuff from the 1980s, I could see that they got influenced by the same thing." Mundy shortly after recording his first album recorded his second. Unfortunately the record label didn't seem to think it was a viable commodity as there were no chart hits included. The album was not released and they parted ways. In March 2000 Mundy started up his own label "Camcor" and released the brilliant four track EP "The moon is a bullet hole". The lost link is the unreleased album which is planned for release in 2001.
Biography Mundy first emerged into the spotlight as a baby-faced 20-year-old back in 1996, having spend the previous two years busking on the streets of Dublin, writing songs and showcasing them at the legendary open mic nights at the International Bar. His talent was obvious from the very beginning, and the young singer was quickly snapped up by Sony Music, who released his debut album, Jellylegs, to great critical acclaim. World tours followed, including dates with Neil Young, Van Morrisson, Alanis Morrisette (at that time the biggest female artist in the world with her Jagged Little Pill album). One song from Jellylegs, 'To You I Bestow' found its way onto Baz Luhrman's Romeo & Juliet soundtrack, which went on to sell more than 11 million copies worldwide. Despite this success, Mundy was never really cut out for the commercial restrictions of a major record label and he parted ways with Sony in 2000, going back to what he does best, writing and recording songs that leap out of the radio at you, bringing a smile to your face and making your feet tap involuntarily -- I can't count the amount of times I've been stuck at traffic lights, singing along as 'July' was bursting from the car radio, only to see other drivers doing the exact same. Mundy's second album, 24 Star Hotel, proved even more popular than his debut and really put the Birr singer on the map as one of the country's finest songwriters and live performers, spawning the massive anthems, 'Mexico' and 'July'. It went on to sell over 25,000 copies in Ireland alone, more than double platinum. His third album, Raining Down Arrows followed in 2004 and entered the Irish charts at Number One. Recorded in Austin, Texas, in late 2003, it showcased a new maturity in Mundy's songwriting, and brought him even more hit singles, in the shape of 'By Her Side', '10,000 Miles Away (From Harm)' and the beautiful title track. Over the last decade, Mundy has been a constant live presence throughout Ireland and Europe, including countless headline slots around the country (he was the first artist to sell out five consecutive nights in legendary Dublin venue, Whelan's), as well as incredible festival appearances at Witnness, Oxegen and Lisdoonvarna. More recently he's played shows with Lucinda Williams, Jimmy Webb, The White Stripes and Oasis in Dublin. Mundy has developed into not just a great singer, but a brilliant performer: every time he takes to the stage, he invites the audience into his headspace for a big party, ensuring that everyone leaves with a beaming grin on their face. When he's not on the road, Mundy can often be found helping out behind the bar of his parents' pub in Birr, Co. Offaly, making him that rarest of things, a great singer and tremendous songwriter, who can also pull the perfect pint. It doesn't get much better.... Live & Confusion, the brand new CD/DVD set from Mundy, perfectly captures the much-loved singer and his band at the peak of their powers. With a live set that has been honed at over 100 gigs over the last two years, Mundy is a consummate entertainer, taking the audience on an emotional journey over the course of these 14 tracks (with an extra track, 'Carpound', on the DVD), from the sweet fragility of 'Rainbow' to the confessional 'By Her Side', and showcasing Mundy's development into one of Ireland's pre-eminent songwriters. -John Walshe
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Mundy (Edmund Enwright) went to Dublin in 1992, leaving his parents pub in Birr Co. Offaly to embrace the musical culture of the Capital Dublin. He began busking on Grafton Street and guesting at Dave Murphy's weekly Songwriter's Night, upstairs at McDaid's pub. Mundy signed to the Sony owned label in August 1995 and subsequently toured with Alanis Morissette and supported Neil Young.
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