Irish singer and songwriter Nathan O'Regan today releases new single "Poetry In Motion" - from his debut album Oliver Branch, out September 19th through Zenith Cafe
LISTEN HERE
INCLUDES PREVIOUS SINGLES “KILLER” & “BETTER DAYS”
‘Killer’s rock elements are reminiscent of mid-2010’s Black Keys, with twangy guitars
and a wailing Hammond organ adding texture to the track."
HOT PRESS
"A stonking introduction to this emerging talent… a gorgeous slice of country-blues."
RECORD OF THE DAY
"O’Regan’s soothing and expressive vocals lead us into a tale of faith and looking forward to a better future, rooted in poetic lyrics that feel deeply personal
yet tenderly relatable."
EARMILK
** HEADLINE UK TOUR THROUGH SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER **
JUNE 25, 2025: Rising singer-songwriter Nathan O’Regan has today released new single “Poetry In Motion, listen here. The track is the third to be lifted from O’Regan’s forthcoming debut album ‘Olive Branch’, set for release September 18th on Zenith Cafe Records, pre-save here. The Belfast-based musician is performing at festivals over the summer before embarking on the ‘Olive Branch’ UK headline tour through September & October.
‘Olive Branch’ was recorded at Attica Studios in Donegal - run by Villagers guitarist Tommy McLaughlin - on the west coast of Ireland, and was produced by fellow Belfast-based musician Gareth Dunlop. a close friend and mentor to Nathan, and Michael Keeney.
Ahead of recording the album, O’Regan travelled to the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where he wrote “Poetry In Motion” with celebrated US songwriters Brian Maher (Taylor Swift, Billy Ray Cyrus, Charles Esten) and Muscle Shoals staff writer James LeBlanc (Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts). The song was composed - along with another album track “Get Down To It” - in the historic former office of the studio’s late founder, Rick Hall, where the trio spent a day writing together.
“I went downstairs to put on a pot of coffee and when I returned James was playing around these chords, and he and Brian were already halfway through piecing together what became the chorus.” explains Nathan. “I remember as soon as I heard the guitar riff that James was playing, I thought it sounded like an old classic so we thought the best foot forward was to try and capture something that felt like a classic. It’s one of those tunes that I can’t believe I had a hand in writing. James and Brian are so good at what they do - it was a pleasure to be a part of it.”
O’Regan also co-wrote several tracks on the album with Dunlop, including previous singles “Better Days”. a tender ballad written for his partner, and “Killer”, a country-blues banger with a swaggering, soulful vocal from O’Regan that’s worthy of any of Nashville’s homegrown stars.
Says Dunlop of working with O’Regan, “I’ve known, written and worked with Nathan for many years, and being a part of the production team on his debut album was a great reminder of the raw talent he possesses. His ability to deliver in front of the microphone take after take is rare. Nathan isn’t a singer that needs to be ‘produced’, making this album was more about hitting ‘record’ and letting him cut loose and do what he does better than most. I think we caught some magic.”
Born in Cork to a musical family, O’Regan signed to a major label when he was just 16 years old after his band won a radio competition. “I was absolutely terrible to begin with, to be honest,” he recalls now. “I definitely appreciated those early experiences of working with professional songwriters.” Yet, as is shamefully too often the case with major labels, O’Regan’s career was put on hold; his debut project stalled, and he was eventually dropped after four years.
So Nathan upped sticks and moved to Belfast, where he began making a name for himself on the local live circuit. “There was always a gig on, and it was a good way to make money, while also cutting my teeth with live performances,” he explains. “I feel like a lot of musicians might hold back, waiting for the right kind of venue or something, but I really just wanted to play anywhere that’d have me.”
He was inspired by how many like-minded, talented artists he came across: “Belfast definitely punches above its weight,” he says, “there are so many world-class players.”
Last year O’Regan signed to the Belfast-based independent label Zenith Cafe. “It feels like a momentous thing. I’ve been working towards this for almost half my life. It feels like an introduction of sorts, or starting from the very beginning.”
The artwork for ‘Olive Branch’ and each single from it have been painted by renowned Belfast artist Glenn Kennedy, a 2013 Saatchi New Sensations finalist.
NATHAN O’REGAN LIVE 2025
Festivals:
July 26 Blue Reef Festival Kent
Aug 15 - 17 Beautiful Days Devon
Aug 15 - 18 WeyFest Surrey
UK & Eire ‘Olive Branch’ Headline Tour:
Sept 23 Brighton Prince Albert
Sept 24 London The Lexington
Sept 25 Bristol Louisiana
Sept 26 Manchester Gullivers
Sept 28 Nottingham Bodega
Sept 29 Leeds Hyde Park Book Club
Sept 30 Liverpool Rough Trade
Oct 3 Mullingar The Stables
Oct 4 Castlebar The Royal Theatre
Oct 5 Limerick Dolans
Oct 8 Dublin The Workmans Cellar
Oct 10 Belfast The Empire
Tickets here
Album artwork, download here
Nathan O’Regan ‘Olive Branch’, Track List:
01 Killer
02 Crazy For You
03 Missing Out
04 Good Day To Be Me
05 Better Days
06 Hey Man
07 Family No.2
08 Help Myself
09 Baby Steps
10 Get Down To It
11 Put These Hands To Work
Released September 18th on Zenith Cafe Records. Pre-save here
Further information chris@swellpublicity.com (print) or
lorraine@longevitypr.com (online)