There are a lot of similarities between former Australian Idol winner Damien Leith and musician Mick McHugh. Mick is Irish like Damien, has an Aussie wife and has emigrated to Australia. Both guys are around the same age and both had careers in science before embarking on music full time. Recently Mick was Damien’s support act at Tamworth.
Mick grew up in a musical family, his dad was always playing music, his mum had a love of the traditional music and sang around the house. Mick even sang in a gospel choir, contemporary gospel admittedly, but it hadn’t always been music, Mick has worked in restaurants catering and in tutoring and he’s also been a polymer engineer.
Polymers are made up of many molecules to form a chain and as a musician Mick is a musical equivalent of a polymer. He has many molecules, read instruments, in his repertoire including guitar, harmonica, foot stomper, foot cymbal and more! It’s all the more impressive when you consider he didn’t take up guitar until he was 23. He calls this multidisciplinary instrumental ability akin to match fitness.
The polymer analogy stretches to his song repertoire, from self penned contemporary folk to his take on traditional Irish tunes. His aim is to explore universal themes focused on family life. His own angst about his curly hair, and thinking of his children and how they might be teased for whatever reason, was the impetus to write ‘perfect’ a song that says its okay to be a bit angry and irritated sometimes and carries the message that of course no one is perfect.
He and polymer engineering broke the chemical bond (pardon the pun) when Mick realised he wanted to go back to working with people and that it was that connection that he missed.
It was romance and meeting his wife that made him realise he could sing, she was the first person he sang to, and upon meeting her he was moved to write his first song. Still now, his wife continues to be his inspiration and support whether its inspiring his words or keeping him going by bringing him scrambled eggs or a toasted sandwich.
Presently, on his first visit Tasmania you can expect the storytelling ability of an Irishman as he chats about the story behind his songs as well as the background to Irish classics like ‘Ride on’ (an ambiguous history which could see the song being about the civil war or a reflection on alcoholism), ‘The fields of Athenry’ (included particularly because of its Australian connection) and ‘Maggie’ (that brought tears to the eyes of one lady in his audience).
Making this emotional connection, touching people and moving them is what Mick aims to do, something that can not be forced.
Mick would like to take his music to Ireland and he may be given that opportunity when he returns there soon for a family wedding but for now Mick feels he is living a rich and fulfilled life as an Australian Irish balladeer.
You may have seen Mick at:
Brookfield Vineyard Sunday 19th February
Republic Bar on Monday 20th February
Paula Xiberras
