“Pat Byrne, “Into the Light.” One of our Austin360 Artists of the Month back in 2019, Byrne had at that point recently moved here from his native Ireland, a few years after winning his home country’s version of the competitive TV show “The Voice.” His victory included a big-label record deal, but the experience ultimately left Byrne wanting more control over his artistic identity. That desire led him to Austin, where he’s gradually grown from being an interpreter of well-known songs (he sang “What a Wonderful World” and Bruce Springsteen’s “The River” on “The Voice”) into a formidable songwriter. A 2018 EP, “Rituals,” hinted at his budding talent; on this full-length release, Byrne reaches his full potential.”

“Ireland and Texas may be geographically distant, but musically, they share introspective lyricism and raw, from-the-heart emotionality, both found in abundance in Pat Byrne’s work. ”

“With a jaunty upbeat tune Pat Byrne’s newest single seems full of joy and hope. The Irish singer’s voice is warm and welcoming, but doesn’t downplay the troubles of everyday life. “It’s not security/it’s not stability/I don’t have money/no place or plan” he sings. And yet, the tone of “Capsize” is optimistic, steeped in catchy rhythms, distorted guitar semibreves, and a complex tapestry of instruments that come together to produce a colourful folk song. The harmonies shadow the main melody, injecting passion into every word. “Better than missing every sunrise/trying not to capsize/its better than a compromise/better than nothing at all.” This is a song to smile to.”

“When you combine the transcendent poetry of Bob Dylan with the gritty, real-world rock-n-roll storytelling that Bruce Springsteen made so famous, and then add a dash of the political activism embodied by Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, you’ll have Irish singer-songwriter Pat Byrne”

“The results — Irish Americana, by turns rollicking and resonating, that’s driven by his gruff growl of a voice — suggest that he’s one to keep an eye on.” - Stuart Munro

“Pat Byrne – “Just a venial sin” -I really appreciate the aggressive storytelling of Pat Byrne’s songwriting style. The overall sound draws easy comparisons to modern gritty Americana artists like David Ramirez, Ryan Adams, and Jason Isbell. Byrne deserves to be in that company with his gritty vocal and poignant lyrical style. If this is your first time encountering the track, spend some time really connecting with the lyrics. It goes beyond the typical jam rock style and really makes the listener think about some larger existential questions — in that way that only rock music can do.”

“Byrne has just released “Into the Light.” At 31, he’s a little older than many musicians when they put out their debut album. But he took something of an unorthodox path to this recording. And Byrne wanted to make it count. The 11 songs on “Into the Light” reflect a writer of great depth and poetic expression. ”

“A native of Ireland, singer-songwriter Pat Byrne settled in Texas a few years ago, looking to make inroads in a place where some of his songwriting heroes — guys like Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark — came from. His move has been great for Houston because Byrne cycles through town every few months to sing his songs with his soulful, gritty voice, doing originals and a few choice covers that suggest he’s learning from the best………. Byrne is the kind of mesmerizing performer who can warm up those cold days.”

“The raspy melodic soul of Byrne’s voice recalls the emotional spells the late Austin troubadour Jimmy LaFave used to cast, though Byrne’s songwriting bears a more distinctive Irish stamp. He’s more contemporary than strict traditionalists, putting him more in the league of Glen Hansard or Luka Bloom, perhaps; yet at times he conjures a deeply old-school feel — especially on the spectacular “Hills of Killedmond,” which features Irish legend Kevin Burke on fiddle. ”

“An Irishman who’s at least temporarily relocated to Austin this year, Byrne has quickly become an artist that everyone who goes out to hear music regularly in Austin needs to catch. The guess here is that he’ll be playing far larger rooms before long; he’s too good of a songwriter, and singer, to not reach his level.”