Photography by Ben O’Neill
Singer-songwriter Jon Sadlier is set to release his debut album The Lines we Draw on April 30. We caught up with the musician to chat about what went into the making of the record, where he draws his inspirations from, and the art of being sound.
“The Lines We Draw is a deeply personal record. It was inspired by real stories, including my own family history, and it explores how the past can shape who we become and how it doesn’t have to define us,” says Jon Sadlier ahead of the release of his debut album on April 30.
Following the success of his single ‘Easy to Be Your Hero’, released in support of Niall Harbison’s charity Happy Doggo in late December 2025, Jon has rapidly emerged as an artist to watch. In just one month, the video amassed over 400,000 views, alongside more than 20,000 streams and a surge of 22,000 new monthly listeners on Spotify, momentum that now sets the stage for his highly anticipated upcoming album, The Lines We Draw.
Read on for our interview with Jon.
Tell us about your start in the industry. Was a career in the music business always something you aspired to?
With my parents, I really didn’t have much choice. I have three older brothers, and Mum and Dad both played music. My dad would do a gig on the stairs daily, and my mum is still playing live with her ukulele group, RUGS. The house was constantly filled with amazing music.
What is your approach to songwriting? Is it a cathartic release for these deeply personal feelings, or does it feel quite revealing?
It’s a mixture of everything, really. Every song has a specific story, from losing my dad recently and a family friend a few years ago, which inspired ‘Wise Man’ and ‘Rare Thing’, to writing a song about walking out on the main stage at a festival for the first time, which became ‘We Can Shine’.
For your writing process, are you a music-first, lyrics-later kind of person?
In the past, I was always a music-first person: melody first, then lyrics. Lately, though, I’ve been trying other methods, sometimes starting with the melody and fitting the chords around that. Other times I’ll have a lyric or a title first and go from there, like “They Only Learn What We Teach Them”.
Tell us about your debut album, The Lines We Draw. What inspired these songs?
Like I mentioned earlier, the best songs usually come from things that happen in your life. Nothing beats personal experience. Probably my favourite song on the album is Graham and Charlie. One of my best mates asked me to write a song for him and his son, who has Down syndrome. It flowed so easily because they are both such a joy to be around. Charlie is obsessed with Riverdance, and he’s straight into dancing as soon as it starts.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have had some amazing opportunities. Playing the main stage at Kaleidoscope last year was great craic. I’ve also been flown around the world twice with Ryder Cup star Tyrrell Hatton, and we’ve played for the Irish rugby team six times, which was very cool.
Who are some of your big sonic inspirations? The records you grew up with.
Again, I was so lucky. Dad was Roy Orbison, Elvis, and the Eagles. Mum was the Rolling Stones and Celine Dion. Dave was Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Michael Jackson. Conor was Guns N’ Roses, Oasis, and The Stone Roses. Steve was The Beatles and Bob Dylan. So, as you can see, it was an incredible mix every day.
What are your thoughts on the Irish music scene?
Music is constantly changing, and it seems to move faster all the time. That said, bands are making a big comeback over the last few years, with acts like Kingfishr and Amble, while my friends The Coronas have been consistently brilliant for over 15 years.
What is the main piece of advice you would give an up-and-comer in the industry?
I teach young musicians every day, and some of my students have wonderful talent, some of whom will be opening the album launch night in The Sugar Club. The main piece of advice I always give is: be sound. No matter what, if you’re good to people in this environment, it goes a long way.
What do you hope your music evokes in the listener?
It’s all about connection. That’s the only way music truly evokes emotion in other people. Hopefully listeners can connect with these songs. Some already have with the singles, and the feedback has been amazing, especially on ‘Easy to Be Your Hero’.
What’s your favourite lyric from a song that you love?
There are so many, but if I had to choose one verse I’m especially proud of, it would be the first verse of ‘Ghost Behind the Light’, about a teenage girl who lives through her phone and feels jealous of everything she sees.
“Scrolling shadows on a neon screen,
Highlights flashing where the hurt should be.
She’s got a picture-perfect alibi,
But the captions never tell the lie.”
Who is your dream collaborator?
Most of them are dead.
What’s your favourite Irish live music venue?
3Olympia, easily.
Who are three up-and-coming acts we should have on our radar, Irish or otherwise?
Brian McGovern, a friend of mine; Roe Byrne, a former student; and Blue Lane. They’re all worth keeping an eye on.
Finally, what is it about making music that sets your soul on fire?
Being in a room with incredible talent is always a pleasure. Hearing the final mix of something you’ve given months of work to is hugely worthwhile, and above all, making the people you care about proud means everything.
Pre-save ‘The Lines We Draw’ here.
Photography by Ben O’Neill.