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Struggling Irish singer finds perfect pitch in new Penn film

Former Talking Heads singer David Byrne finds Kells man, now living in New York, on the internet

Jennifer Bray

Meath man Michael Brunnock will sing four of his songs in the new Sean Penn movie

Sean Penn

Glen Hansard

Declan O'Rourke

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An Irish musician who was plucked from obscurity to sing four songs he has co-written for the soundtrack of Sean Penn's next movie This Must Be The Place says that he has finally been given his "golden opportunity".

Michael Brunnock, who is living in New York but is originally from Kells, Co Meath, was approached by email by former Talking Heads singer David Byrne to see if he was interested in getting involved.

"David Byrne needed an Irish singer who was living in New York and who had that particular kind of accent, because that is the character in the film. Sean Penn plays the older musician who is retired and spots this young talent and listens to his songs."

Penn was in Dublin in recent weeks shooting scenes for the movie, which will be released next year. "He started looking around the internet and found me. I got an e-mail asking me if I'd be interested in producing a demo – they liked it and now I am halfway through the production of those. I was delighted. This is definitely a golden opportunity for me."

Brunnock previously worked as a teacher in Ireland before leaving to become a musician, and moved to New York in 2000. Last year, he released an album with his band Little Palace in Ireland, but opted to return permanently to New York.

"It has been difficult financially. I am married with a seven-year-old child so working as a musician has proved to be a hard thing to follow sometimes. There is not really any support system over here, so I have been working as a bartender as well to keep us all afloat. Sometimes I wondered to what degree I should be performing and writing music but this has just crystallised everything now."

The musician, who counts Glen Hansard and Declan O'Rourke among his friends, said he is now looking to follow a career in the production of film soundtracks. "This is a great boost for me after years of recording and gigging and touring, so I am going to maximise the potential as much as I can. Working with the calibre of people that I am now, even up to the director of the movie itself, is the best opportunity and has made me realise that this is what I want to do."

Brunnock says he will continue to live in New York to further his career and says it is a better location for aspiring musicians.

"I found that it is easier to be a musician over here than it is in Ireland. I am working with professional musicians all of the time because that is what they do for a living, and there just seems to be more opportunities in that way."