At Talent Is Timeless, we spotlight some of the incredible songwriters who placed in our monthly challenges or annual contest — inviting them to share a bit more about their lives, their creative journeys, and the stories behind their songs. This month, we’re featuring 63-year-old songwriter Paul Byrne from Dublin, Ireland — born in London — who joined Talent Is Timeless in January 2024.

Paul placed in the EU Pop category 2025 with his heartfelt track How To Come Back To You. The song draws from a lifetime spent on the road as a working musician.

“After years of being on the road in bands, I drew from the struggles musicians have trying to keep relationships going,” Paul explains. “In this case, it all works out in the end.”

It’s a song that blends the wistfulness of hard-earned experience with a hopeful resolution — the kind of emotional maturity that only comes after decades in music. Paul’s journey as a songwriter began with a problem: his first band, In Tua Nua, had plenty of talent but no one writing songs.

“We had lots of talented musicians and a great singer, but no songwriter,” he recalls. “So I stepped up and found I had a bit of talent for it.”

What started as necessity became artistry. Paul soon developed a close writing partnership with another bandmate, and the two went on to co-write the group’s final two albums together. But as with many creative careers, success came hand-in-hand with heartbreak. When In Tua Nua broke up, Paul had just returned from six months in Los Angeles co-writing and co-producing their latest album. Virgin USA was ready to push it hard — “They loved the record,” he remembers — until the band’s internal conflicts and a long legal battle brought everything crashing down.

“It was a dirty affair with 10 months of litigation until eventually Virgin got fed up and dropped the band. My co-writer and I couldn’t release anything for two years due to the ongoing battle with our publishers.”

For a while, Paul focused on playing in pub bands and writing for others.

“I have mostly written for other people and played in fun-filled pub bands ever since,” he says.

Eventually, in 2015, he gathered his own material into a solo album, Cruel & Tender Ways. Still, that long gap left its mark. “It made it hard to see any future in it for a while,” he admits. But then, a moment of unexpected renewal arrived.

“I joined, entered the Talent Is Timeless competition, and won,” Paul says. “When I shared the news on Facebook, the reaction was amazing. So I guess I’m back!”

One of his proudest moments remains writing The Innocent & The Honest Ones, a song that became something of an anthem in 1980s Ireland for those pushing back against the Catholic Church’s influence.

“It’s still loved by many who railed against the Church,” he says. “That song found its people.”

For Paul, Talent Is Timeless represents a fresh chapter — a reminder that there’s always more to say and new ways to connect.

“I only recently joined a few groups here, so I’ve yet to experience the full benefits of the platform,” he says, “but I’m already enjoying the sense of community.”

A surprising twist in his story? He’s a drummer first and foremost.

“Singing drummers are not always accepted,” he laughs. “It’s almost like people feel you should stay at the back and do your job. Even when you’re singing lead, audiences still look from side to side trying to work out who’s singing.”

He admits he’s “useless at guitar and piano,” but with today’s music technology, he’s found new creative freedom.

“With computers I can find the chords bit by bit and piece what’s in my head together into a track. I still prefer to work with a good chord smith, though.”

His advice to songwriters over 50?

“You’ve finally got enough life experience to write a good lyric!”

Paul’s story reminds us that creativity never really fades — it just waits for the right moment to return. After all these years, he’s come back to the heart of it: writing songs that connect, endure, and make sense of the journey.

You can listen to Paul’s winning song here: How To Come Back To You

And Connect with Paul on Talent Is Timeless here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/members/paulbyrnemusic/