Paul O’Sullivan found people with his name on Facebook. Naturally, they formed a band.

Some of them accepted the random request, and O’Sullivan quickly found that a few had extra in frequent than simply the name.

“Their posts started showing up on my Facebook timeline,” O’Sullivan stated. “One Paul O’Sullivan posted a picture of his Fender jazz bass, another had a profile picture of him singing live, and another had a bucket list of accomplishments that completely piqued my curiosity.”

He determined to individually contact the three strangers with matching names, all of whom responded. Although they had been admittedly skeptical at first, a bond was rapidly solid.

Beyond their shared names, a frequent affinity for music drew them collectively. O’Sullivan received an concept: “I thought, ‘we should start a band.’ It was the natural next step.”

First, O’Sullivan launched the opposite Paul O’Sullivans to one another: Paul O’Sullivan, 57, of Manchester, England, is a former school lecturer who now works in public well being; Paul O’Sullivan, 52, of Rotterdam, Netherlands, is a grief counselor and trainer; and Paul O’Sullivan, 57, of Weatherly, Pa., is an antiques seller and former publicist.

To keep away from confusion, the Paul O’Sullivans began utilizing their distinct geographic places when referring to 1 one other. Paul O’Sullivan from Baltimore turned Baltimore Paul, and so on.

Baltimore Paul ultimately pitched his concept for a cross-continental musical collaboration to his name twins, who instantly received on board. Of course, it didn’t take lengthy to determine on a name: The Paul O’Sullivan Band.

“In the beginning, I thought this guy was crazy, but good crazy,” stated Rotterdam Paul, throughout a Zoom interview with all 4 band members. “But we just dived in and it’s been a roller-coaster ride, especially the last year.”

The 4 Paul O’Sullivans initially related and began making music collectively nearly in 2016, however the band solely took off just lately. Although they informally rehearsed collectively and have become shut mates over time, they had been every busy in their very own lives and couldn’t dedicate a lot time to the band.

Then the pandemic hit, and with their newfound free time, the group spent the previous a number of months recording an album titled “Internet Famous: A Retrospective,” composed of six cowl songs and one authentic, launched Dec. 30.

“We’ve been social distancing since 2016,” stated Baltimore Paul. “We perfected the system of remote collaboration before it was even relevant.”

For the quartet of Paul O’Sullivans, band observe turned a welcome distraction from the pandemic.

“So many doors had closed because of covid, and yet, Baltimore Paul had already opened this door for us, so it was so easy to walk through,” stated Pennsylvania Paul. “From that, we sort of developed our ethos, which is: ‘If it makes you smile, lean into it; if it makes you dance, embrace it; and if it does both, it’s the Paul O’Sullivan Band.”

Rotterdam Paul agreed: “Every day I would wake up to messages from them. It felt like a light at the end of the tunnel.”

On prime of their differing geographic places, “We come from different generations,” stated Baltimore Paul. “But with us, it never mattered. Music really does bring people together.”

“It’s all very exciting for me, being a gentleman of a certain age,” stated Manchester Paul, who’s 57. “When [Baltimore] Paul added me, it was just part of the wonder of the Internet.”

Meeting the opposite Pauls and making music with them, he stated, has been a thrill.

Their first single, “Namesake,” is about a long-distance relationship, very like their very own. The opening line of the tune is, “We’ve grown so fond from across the pond.”

Baltimore Paul and Rotterdam Paul are on vocals and guitar, whereas Manchester Paul performs bass, and Pennsylvania Paul is on percussion.

The group convenes recurrently through Zoom and different platforms from their respective properties to write down, arrange and catch up. Because of the time lag on video calls, they are unable to document music concurrently. Instead, they individually document their components, in an meeting line of types, till the ultimate observe is produced.

Despite being unable to rehearse and document collectively like conventional bands do, “what we can do is create that bond and that understanding that lends itself to the ability to create music,” stated Pennsylvania Paul.

While recording his half, “I close my eyes and think we’re in the studio playing together. Just trying to imagine that we are together is a good feeling,” stated Rotterdam Paul.

Their complementary musical capabilities and character traits work nicely collectively, the Pauls stated.

“I’m so happy to be with these guys. Everybody has a different personality, and we all bring something different to the table,” stated Pennsylvania Paul. “The band is an amalgam of all of our skills, visions and joy.”

Given that the album was recorded remotely from 4 places, “I’m so surprised by how cohesive it turned out,” stated Baltimore Paul. “It’s kind of funny how easily it came together, when you trust in those serendipitous situations.”

The Pauls described their style as “adult pop” and acoustic however stated they are smitten by dipping into new kinds of music.

“We’re open to everything,” stated Rotterdam Paul. “We love to try out new things together.”

The 4 band mates have but to satisfy in individual, except for Baltimore Paul and Pennsylvania Paul, who met for the primary time in September. Baltimore Paul quarantined earlier than driving three hours to Weatherly to shock Pennsylvania Paul at his home.

“I was super nervous in the car outside of his house, but there was a strange calmness when we actually met,” stated Baltimore Paul. “It felt like we had known each other our whole lives.”

The Pauls additionally found that alongside with their shared name and love of music, they have a related trend sense. Naturally, Baltimore Paul and Pennsylvania Paul had been carrying related outfits when they met — a flannel shirt and denims.

Once the pandemic subsides, “having everyone together in the studio is the ultimate goal,” stated Baltimore Paul, including that they have written 24 further authentic songs collectively, which they plan to launch sooner or later. “My idea is to do a four-city tour, where we do a concert in each person’s hometown.”

But the band is about greater than making music, the Pauls agreed. They stated they’re bonded as brothers for all times.

“There is something very difficult to put your finger on about the friendship that you develop with people that you share the same name with,” Manchester Paul defined. “I never thought it was a thing, but indeed, it is a very nice thing.”