Stephen McHale is a specialist in audio post-production for film+tv, guitarist, composer, and teacher from Ireland.

 

Having worked for many years as a professional musician, Stephen has recently been dedicating more time to working on audio for film+tv, completing the post-production sound for numerous short films, VO sessions, advertisements, and more. He has also worked as location sound recordist for many documentaries, short films, radio plays etc. 

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Stephen has worked extensively as a guitarist in a huge variety of genres, playing his own original music and as a sideman. Since beginning to work professionally he has performed onstage with artists as diverse as Eddie Gomez, John Blackwell, Glen Hansard, Patrice Rushen, Róisín O, Perico Sambeat, Victor Mendoza, Piotr Orzechowski, Lethal Dialect, and Alain Perez.

 

He has recorded with Grammy award winning producers Javier Limon and Tommy Torres, Emmy Award winning composer/producer Mason Daring, as well as performing as opening act for such high profile artists as James Brown, Thin Lizzy, Kamasi Washington, and Hiatus Kaiyote. 

 

Since beginning his formal musical education, Stephen has studied for a Masters in Contemporary Performance at Berklee Valencia, a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance at Newpark Music Centre, Dublin, a National Diploma in Popular Music at Ballyfermot College of Further Education, as well as attending the Jazz and Creative Music Workshop at the Banff Centre, Alberta, Canada. Stephen has recently completed a BA in film and television production at IADT Dun Laoghaire. 

 

Upon completing his studies in Spain, Stephen returned to Dublin and co-founded the group BARQ. In March 2016, BARQ released their debut single “​Gentle Kind of Lies​” to critical acclaim and a surge of media attention. The track was picked up by Spotify’s new music playlist in both the UK and Brazil. Since then, BARQ have been one of the most talked about bands in Ireland. Lead singer, ​Jess Kav​, featured on the front cover of Ireland's premier music magazine, Hot Press, and BARQ were included in The Irish Times "50 People to watch in 2017".

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BARQ have left audiences in awe with their energetic and dynamic live show. In 2017, BARQ completed their first tour​, with dates in the UK and Ireland, and travelled to Toronto for Canadian Music Week. After returning to Dublin from Mondo New York, BARQ began touring as part of the Smithwicks Soundtrack Series, recreating the soundtrack of Pulp Fiction in their own agrosoul style. 

 

In 2018 Stephen was voted one of the top ten guitarists in Ireland by GoldenPlec music magazine.