JP McCauley ‘buzzing’ after his song features in Hollywood film

JOHN Paul McCauley, the man behind Strabane’s own iconic ‘Cash Returns’ show, said that he is ‘buzzing’ that a track he recorded has made it onto a Hollywood film.

The film, called ‘Chapel’, is a country crime thriller in which the protagonist wakes up from a months-long coma only to find he is the suspect in a murder case, and sets about proving his innocence.

Detailing how his opportunity to musically feature in the film came about, JP said, “About 18 months ago, I got a call from a music company who had heard my version of The Animals’ classic, ‘House of the Rising Sun’, from an album, and asked if they could use it in a new film.

“I thought they were joking at first, but when I realised they weren’t, I said yes straight away; after all, who wouldn’t want to have one of their songs featured in a film?!

“It’s ironic that the song isn’t actually one of Johnny’s,” JP added.

“I’ve always loved ‘House of the Rising Sun’, and I often think of songs to perform which I think Johnny would have liked to have covered during his lifetime, and we were lucky that this was the one chosen.”

JP had to keep the whole schbang quiet for a year-and-a-half – something which he admits was ‘difficult’, purely because he wanted to make sure his song made it into the movie.

He – and his band – were elated to find out recently that it, in fact, did.

A HAPPY ENDING

“Everyone involved with the band are absolutely buzzing,” he continued. “Our song plays over the credits of the film, so we had to wait a while before hearing it, but it was well worth it.

“I took to social media, and tagged the film’s director, Courtney Paige, and she sent me a message back and we had a chat.

“She’s a very cool lady.”

JP’s Hollywood ‘debut’ is only the latest in a line of success that Cash Returns has enjoyed since the beginning of the year. Not only has Cash Returns toured England and Switzerland to packed crowds, but they recently won an accolade for their work at the recent Hot Country TV Awards in the Mount Errigal; picking up the ‘Best Johnny Cash Tribute’ prize.

Speaking of this triumph JP offered, “It was wonderful to win that award, and it says a lot about how hard we’ve worked as a band that Cash Returns has been recognised in this way.

“We have a gig coming up in the Balor on May 4, and the band is looking forward to showing just why we are the best.”

l ‘Chapel’ is currently only available to view in the US on ‘Tubi TV’