Dotts O’Connor is an alternative Irish folk singer/songwriter hailing from Co.Roscommon but resident in Co.Cavan.
Dotts first cut his teeth as a member of Choice music nominated band Come On Live Long.
He learned his craft at singing sessions where he would carefully listen to the inflections and styles of others.
Dotts songwriting relies heavily on the creation of what seem like familiar characters to tell unfamiliar stories which is underpinning by intricate guitar fingerpicking and joyful melodies.
Dotts’ last single ‘Coney’ was featured as part of RTE Radio 1’s recommended playlist and was played regularly on The John Creedon Show, Folk On One with Murieann Nic Amhlaoidh and Late Date with Cathal Murray.
Brushing Off The Rust tells the story of two people leaving behind a life of strife and struggle and taking to the road to begin a period of rejuvenation, reflection and wilful disregard.
The song sees the protagonist’s leaving ‘it all behind, the longest drive in the dead of night’. The chorus is sang from the point of view of the main characters who tell each other to ‘dream all you can, they are yours alone’.
The song was recorded live at The Meadow recording studio in Wicklow and features Paul Kenny(Jape, James Vincent McMorrow, Ham Sandwich) on drums, Brian Dillon (Meltybrains, Loah), Ken McCabe(Come On Live Long, Dirty Dreamer)on bass guitar and Liam McCabe(Heroes In Hiding) on saxophone.
On the recording of the song, Dotts says ‘ I wanted to capture the unfeathered joy of the couple as they emerge from hardship and put all sorrow in the rearview mirror so I ensured that we didn’t do too many takes of the song and tried to keep the recording process fresh and immediate without giving too many directions to the musicians.