Irish artist, Paul Jackson drops new single ahead of upcoming album

Music Review | 19th Sept, 2025 Paul Jackson

Clare native Paul Jackson is gearing up for the release of his brand-new album, Young For Mountains, and he’s giving us a taste of what’s to come with his latest single, Out Of Key.

Out Of Key is an instant mood-lifter, its upbeat rhythm will have your foot tapping from the very first bar. A bright nylon-string guitar runs through the verses, gradually slowing into a gentle solo before leaping back into its lively groove. It’s the kind of song that feels effortless, yet has plenty of layers waiting to be discovered.

Lyrically, in the verses, one voice wrestles with big questions about humanity and how connected (or disconnected) we really are. The chorus, meanwhile, suggests that speaking these thoughts aloud can feel like you’re out of key with the world.

Paul wrote the song after hearing about the tragic Christchurch shootings in 2019. Its refrain, Is it real, could reference the shocking reality that the event was livestreamed, but it also resonates more broadly, from the global uncertainty of the Covid years, to today’s headlines about Gaza, or even the rise of AI. It’s a track that keeps finding new meaning as the world changes.

Out Of Key was recorded and produced by Scott Seabright. The recording sessions took place at The Lab Studio in Auckland, which has a vintage custom 53 series Neve desk at the heart of its control room, adding a warm vintage sound to the recordings. Scott has previously worked with Neil Finn, Mick Fleetwood and Passenger.

If Out Of Key is anything to go by, Young For Mountains is shaping up to be something special. The album drops on the 1st October, 2025.

Paul Jackson - Out Of Key

The single, Out Of Key, is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: Paul Jackson