Peter Cunnah

Peter Cunnah
Born (1966-08-30) 30 August 1966
Derry, Northern Ireland
Genres Pop
Synthpop
Dance
Occupation(s) singer
songwriter
musician
producer
Instruments vocals, keyboards, guitar
Years active 1993–1997 (as D:Ream)
1998–present as solo artist and writer/producer for other acts
Labels Magnet Records

Peter Cunnah (born 30 August 1966 in Derry, Northern Ireland) is best known as lead singer and songwriter with 1990s dance-pop duo, D:Ream.[1][2][3][4]

D:Ream

Further information: D:Ream

Prior to forming D:Ream, he was lead guitarist with Belfast based band Tie the Boy who were briefly signed to the Mother Records label owned by U2. When that deal foundered soon after the band's move from Belfast to London, in-fighting amongst the members of that band led rapidly to its split.

Finding himself in the heart of London's clubland, Cunnah, already a producer, originally conceived D:Ream as a way of re-using songs from his previous band. With little by way of support in London, he teamed up with DJ Al Mackenzie on a series of dance records by a 'faceless' dance act which would be fronted live and on-record by a diva, leaving Cunnah free to concentrate on songwriting and production and Mackenzie free to concentrate on building a DJ reputation. He has also produced the YouTube star Ben Kelly, a contestant on The Voice UK.

However, after a live date when Cunnah stepped up to sing, he found himself enjoying and rapidly remodelled the D:Ream concept around his own vocals. Initially performing as a duo, they received acclaim in clubs and found management and record and publishing deals.

Solo work

Cunnah subsequently developed solo and collaborative material while working as a writer and producer behind the scenes. He sang lead vocals on Chicane's 2003 single "Love on the Run", which reached No.33 in the United Kingdom and No.43 in Ireland. Cunnah also helped compose music for the anime InuYasha.

Cunnah returned to live performances with guitar-based band Shane, whose debut single "The Weight of This" was released in May 2006. Shane sees Peter going back to his roots. He has two old friends in the band - Paul Greendale on guitar and Mark Roberts on drums. He knows Mark from their time in the rock band Tie The Boy which they formed in their teens.

References

  1. ↑ Bono fans fill Obama coffers: The presidential hopeful has found just what he's looking for in U2 devotees as they swell his campaign reserves Colin Coyle, The Sunday Times, August 30, 2008.
  2. ↑ "D:Ream start for Sunday's Hospice Male Walk" Derry Journal, 26 September 2008.
  3. ↑ "Peter makes a cautious return to the limelight." The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland), May 16, 2006.
  4. ↑ Starrett, " From Derry: Cunnah talks of his new D:Reams"; The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland), 14 July 2000.
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