I’ll show the doubters that I can really sing, says Nicky
MOST of the solo parts went to his former bandmates, but Westlife’s Nicky Byrne is dying to prove the cynics wrong about his vocal abilities.
The 2fm host will release his first record later this year and is also being lined up for the Eurovision Song Contest.
While he insisted any involvement in the Eurovision in Sweden in May, had yet to be confirmed, Byrne, 37, told the Irish Daily Mail he’d jump at the chance to represent Ireland.
‘I think it would be amazing if I got that opportunity,’ Byrne said.
‘It’s not 100% at all, but I would grasp it with both hands... I’m a very patriotic guy and I think we all love the Eurovision.
‘Separate to that, I’ve been working on a solo album for the last three years and I’ve been working with some incredible songwriters... So this might be a surprise to some people but it hasn’t been a surprise to me in terms of a solo album.’
The Dubliner, who presented his 2fm show with Jenny Greene at the BT Young Scientist exhibition yesterday, said regardless of the Eurovision rumours, he’s looking forward to showing naysayers that he can perform as a solo artist. ‘You have to believe in your own ability,’ he said. ‘I knew going in to Westlife I was a decent singer.
‘But in Westlife, Shane and Mark were producers’ favourites and rightly so. You fall into a routine and when you record albums in a pop band, you don’t have years, just weeks. You don’t have the luxury of writing songs.
‘But I absolutely get people on Twitter saying, “He was a backing vocalist”. I understand that so that’s why it’s more exciting for me to go, “Hear the songs, what do you think?”
‘The album is going to come out this year. I’m really proud of it.’