Born and raised in the deep south of New Zealand, Arun O’Connor has been heavily involved in the local music scene for the past 17 years mostly performing as a session musician and musical director for established international country artists such as Jody Direen, Kayla Mahon, Susanne Prentice, Tom Sharplin and The Heartleys as well as fronting for local cover and tribute bands.
O’Connor has fast garnered a reputation as one of the most talented musicians to work with in New Zealand and with a voice that will stop you in your tracks.
O’Connor took out the 2018 NZ Gold Guitar Awards Senior Overall Award which gave him the opportunity to record his first single “Following The Line” in Nashville with producer Jay Tooke. The song hit #2 on the NZ iTunes Country Charts and #11 on the Official NZ Music NZ Hot Singles Charts
This was followed by his next single “Let Go Of My Heart” which went to #1 on the NZ iTunes Country Charts.
Following the global pandemic O’Connor started writing songs to put towards his debut album “Songs From The Reading Room” which was released on April 22nd to critical acclaim. The album featured singles Too Far Gone, Star Of Your Own Show and When The Lights Go Down ( In This Town ) and his music video for Too Far Gone has amassed over 50,000 plays in its first month on YouTube.
O’Connor is set to embark on his first NZ tour in July 2022 with fellow NZ Gold Guitar Winner Jaydin Shingleton.
