Born and raised in the leafy Boyne Valley, Cuan Muyllaert grew up surrounded by creativity and music. Cuan's father, Jan Muyllaert, is one of Ireland's few remaining Irish harp makers and Cuan grew up in a house full of instruments of all kinds. Despite this, music was never forced upon him and it was through his own choice and interest that he began writing and playing.

 

Initially he played at home with his brother and dad just for fun. Later on he formed bands with school friends, one of whom was Oisín Leech, who now forms half of “The Lost Brothers”. Cuan's first band, “Ninted and the Skinners” was a punk outfit who were proud and loud in the summer of 1997. In true punk fashion they had the power switched off by the management of the local foresters hall no less than four times during their first gig because of the riots they were inciting on the dance floor.

 

The Skinners disbanded as young lads tend to do, but Cuan kept searching for ways to play. While studying photography in Dublin he played on the streets, at open mics and anywhere he was allowed (and sometimes where he wasn't) in a quest for musical adventure. He played the open mic night in The International bar alongside the likes of Damien Dempsey in a time that saw great growth in quality Irish musicians.

 

He moved to Galway for a time where he acted in Galway youth theatre productions and continued to write and play music and mingle with other musicians. Using his acting experience he gained entry to Speech and Drama Studies in D.I.T. A course which offered 20 places to more than 300 applicants. Delighted with such an opportunity, Cuan gained valuable performance skills from this course and ace'd his singing exams. He played the leading role in his final year production of Bertold Brecht's “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” and you can see a full list of Cuan's acting experience here.

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On leaving college, Cuan was offered a place in the four-part harmony male group “The Werewolf Quartet” and they sang many gigs, most notably at the 2005 Galway Races ball.

 

Cuan worked full time for the next 7 years as a special needs assistant in schools in Navan and Cork and for a time with “Cork Music Works” - an organisation run by Evelyn Grant leading music sessions and performances with young people with learning disabilities.

 

In 2010 Cuan completed an MA in Applied Drama in UCC focusing on the use of drama in the special needs classroom. Once this was done, Cuan began freelancing, doing drama and music sessions with mainstream schools and disability organisations such as John of Gods in Dublin.

 

In 2013 Cuan moved to Cork for a better social life and a change of inspiration. It's been a graft but he's just finished recording an EP with Ray Barron, Songs of Loss and Forgiveness, and continues his work in disability.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this bio!