Paj is a colourful singer & producer with years of collaborative experience alongside soul/RnB/trad/world music acts like Loah, Fehdah, Ensemble Eriu (Award winning trad group, collaborators with Martin Hayes of The Gloaming), Rob deBoer & Manden Express.
Through these experiences Paj has developed a unique hi-fi take on modern soul/RnB & jazz, while sharing the stage with Taylor McFerrin, Thundercat, Hiatus Kaiyote, Billy Idol, M People.
His debut track Friends Confused was placed on Spotify’s editorial playlist 'A breath of Fresh Eire' & Paj was chosen by 2FM for the Play the Picnic stage at 2018’s Electric Picnic.
Touring Europe in 2010, Paj performed in USA & Portugal with subsequent Eurovision song contest winner (2017) & Universal Artist Luisa Sobral, and has lived in America, Brazil & West Africa. Paj’s band have individually performed with Hozier, Wyvern Lingo, A.Smyth, Zaska & more.
'That is such a great track from Paj who really impressed with his debut single’’ - John Barker 98FM
‘Golden-throated, blue-eyed Dublin soul singer’ - Broadsheet.ie
‘groove is overflowing’…‘one of the most heart wrenching soul vocals in Ireland’’ - Remy
‘you’ve probably heard Paddy Groenland (Paj) perform without realising it’….‘a step out from the shadows to the forefront for his debut single’ - Peter Curtin - RTE2XFM
Paj released an a solo instrumental EP in 2016 under his own name, Paddy Groenland, well received by Nialler9: "As a musician with Ensemble Eriu, RiZa and Fehdah, Groenland is no stranger to global sounds and new ways of using them. The lead track on his new Nativism EP (“a reference to the current global struggle for identity and ownership”), is a beautiful guitar piece that has an African, jazz, blues and folk in its DNA." - Nialler 9
Through these experiences Paj has developed a unique hi-fi take on modern soul/RnB & jazz, while sharing the stage with Taylor McFerrin, Thundercat, Hiatus Kaiyote, Billy Idol, M People.
His debut track Friends Confused was placed on Spotify’s editorial playlist 'A breath of Fresh Eire' & Paj was chosen by 2FM for the Play the Picnic stage at 2018’s Electric Picnic.
Touring Europe in 2010, Paj performed in USA & Portugal with subsequent Eurovision song contest winner (2017) & Universal Artist Luisa Sobral, and has lived in America, Brazil & West Africa. Paj’s band have individually performed with Hozier, Wyvern Lingo, A.Smyth, Zaska & more.
'That is such a great track from Paj who really impressed with his debut single’’ - John Barker 98FM
‘Golden-throated, blue-eyed Dublin soul singer’ - Broadsheet.ie
‘groove is overflowing’…‘one of the most heart wrenching soul vocals in Ireland’’ - Remy
‘you’ve probably heard Paddy Groenland (Paj) perform without realising it’….‘a step out from the shadows to the forefront for his debut single’ - Peter Curtin - RTE2XFM
Paj released an a solo instrumental EP in 2016 under his own name, Paddy Groenland, well received by Nialler9: "As a musician with Ensemble Eriu, RiZa and Fehdah, Groenland is no stranger to global sounds and new ways of using them. The lead track on his new Nativism EP (“a reference to the current global struggle for identity and ownership”), is a beautiful guitar piece that has an African, jazz, blues and folk in its DNA." - Nialler 9
‘Golden-throated, blue-eyed Dublin soul singer’ - Broadsheet.ie
‘a soul cocktail full of surprises’…velveteen voice, plus the dreamiest of backing harmonies’....'a seamless move from the back to the front of the stage, and not too soon.’ - Remy
'He’s a really interesting guy’ - John Barker 98FM
'You've probably heard Paddy Groenland (Paj) perform without realising it'... 'a step out from the shadows to the forefront for his debut single' - Peter Curtin - RTE2XFM
'Incredible musician... by the end I was lovin' it and hitting repeat' - Tom Lowe RTE Pulse
Nialler9 - August 2016
Paddy Groenland - Djigui
As a musician with Ensemble Eriu, RiZa and Feather, Groenland is no stranger to global sounds and new ways of using them. The lead track on his new Nativism EP (“a reference to the current global struggle for identity and ownership”), is a beautiful guitar piece that has an African, jazz, blues and folk in its DNA.
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Evening Herald - A Classic Lesson in Modern Jazz - 2010
A colourful feast of entrancing sound and vibrant melody, Patrick Groenland's guitar playing requires very little effort form the 26-year-old Dubliner. Or at least that's how it looks from where I'm sitting. Of course, when it comes to analysing this young musician's skills, it doesn't take another classically trained jazz buff to know when they've just experienced the sublime and enviable talent of a gifted performer. It's just... obvious. What's more, as the rain continues to fall outside, the cosy and almost homely surroundings of the Odessa club have not only Patrick to thank for making this seem like the best possible way to spend an otherwise damp and miserable Tuesday evening. After all, there are another three members of this magnificent quartet to consider, and what better way to value the ability of any musician than with lengthy yet captivating spells of acoustic-tinged jazz? Separates the jokers form the major players, this one.
While it could be argued that Groenland's ambitious mixture of personal, re-arranged favourites and self-penned compositions tend not to end up anywhere particularly new or exciting, it's in their playful delivery that this group manages to keep us glued for so long. Wearing sneakers, striped tops, and carefully positioned headwear, the guys (and girl) may not look like your average jazz outfit, but that might have something to do with the fact that, well, they're not. Formed at the Berklee College of Music in boston, Massachusetts, these four International improvising musicians (and scholarship awardees) don't just stick to the one route, instead preferring to mix things up a little by injecting regular bouts of folk, classical, and even funk to this intriguing, largely instrumental set. American bassist Dylan Coleman applies subtle yet effective touches to Groenland's melodic finger dancing, while it's left up to the breezy handy work of Hungarian-born drummer Marton Juhasz to keep the foot tapping. But besides from our own home-grown attraction (and the sweet yet heavy vocals of special guest Georgia Cusack), the other star sharing this stage is Portuguese jazz flautist Luisa Vieira, whose startling proficiency shines throughout, particularly during opener Song for Ruth and the impressive Rag Order.
He's a charming fellow, too, Groenland - albeit in a less noticeable way than is expected of most artists with their own name attached to their band. Lucid, yet humorous, he may not have much to say in between tunes, but it's that slight smile on his face and the occasional burst of subtle laughter that allows for his audience to know just how much he's enjoying himself. That the feeling is mutual hardly comes as a surprise - especially towards the end when he finishes with a superb rendition of Leonard Bernstein's Some Other Time. Engrossing stuff, Patrick; let's hear some more.
‘a soul cocktail full of surprises’…velveteen voice, plus the dreamiest of backing harmonies’....'a seamless move from the back to the front of the stage, and not too soon.’ - Remy
'He’s a really interesting guy’ - John Barker 98FM
'You've probably heard Paddy Groenland (Paj) perform without realising it'... 'a step out from the shadows to the forefront for his debut single' - Peter Curtin - RTE2XFM
'Incredible musician... by the end I was lovin' it and hitting repeat' - Tom Lowe RTE Pulse
Nialler9 - August 2016
Paddy Groenland - Djigui
As a musician with Ensemble Eriu, RiZa and Feather, Groenland is no stranger to global sounds and new ways of using them. The lead track on his new Nativism EP (“a reference to the current global struggle for identity and ownership”), is a beautiful guitar piece that has an African, jazz, blues and folk in its DNA.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evening Herald - A Classic Lesson in Modern Jazz - 2010
A colourful feast of entrancing sound and vibrant melody, Patrick Groenland's guitar playing requires very little effort form the 26-year-old Dubliner. Or at least that's how it looks from where I'm sitting. Of course, when it comes to analysing this young musician's skills, it doesn't take another classically trained jazz buff to know when they've just experienced the sublime and enviable talent of a gifted performer. It's just... obvious. What's more, as the rain continues to fall outside, the cosy and almost homely surroundings of the Odessa club have not only Patrick to thank for making this seem like the best possible way to spend an otherwise damp and miserable Tuesday evening. After all, there are another three members of this magnificent quartet to consider, and what better way to value the ability of any musician than with lengthy yet captivating spells of acoustic-tinged jazz? Separates the jokers form the major players, this one.
While it could be argued that Groenland's ambitious mixture of personal, re-arranged favourites and self-penned compositions tend not to end up anywhere particularly new or exciting, it's in their playful delivery that this group manages to keep us glued for so long. Wearing sneakers, striped tops, and carefully positioned headwear, the guys (and girl) may not look like your average jazz outfit, but that might have something to do with the fact that, well, they're not. Formed at the Berklee College of Music in boston, Massachusetts, these four International improvising musicians (and scholarship awardees) don't just stick to the one route, instead preferring to mix things up a little by injecting regular bouts of folk, classical, and even funk to this intriguing, largely instrumental set. American bassist Dylan Coleman applies subtle yet effective touches to Groenland's melodic finger dancing, while it's left up to the breezy handy work of Hungarian-born drummer Marton Juhasz to keep the foot tapping. But besides from our own home-grown attraction (and the sweet yet heavy vocals of special guest Georgia Cusack), the other star sharing this stage is Portuguese jazz flautist Luisa Vieira, whose startling proficiency shines throughout, particularly during opener Song for Ruth and the impressive Rag Order.
He's a charming fellow, too, Groenland - albeit in a less noticeable way than is expected of most artists with their own name attached to their band. Lucid, yet humorous, he may not have much to say in between tunes, but it's that slight smile on his face and the occasional burst of subtle laughter that allows for his audience to know just how much he's enjoying himself. That the feeling is mutual hardly comes as a surprise - especially towards the end when he finishes with a superb rendition of Leonard Bernstein's Some Other Time. Engrossing stuff, Patrick; let's hear some more.
