By Dara Bradley

Rob Wade only began playing guitar two years ago; he even admits to singing out of tune when he entered a song he coined into an international online YouBloom Music Awards . . . but he has been praised by Bob Geldof, one of the judges, and has qualified for the final.

The 30 years old self-employed electrician from Ballybane in Galway City said the lyrics to most of the ten songs he has written and recorded come to him while driving between jobs in his van – his first song ‘My Life Story’ electrified the judges, including Geldof, and he has progressed to the semi-final of the awards.

After winning the ‘qualifier’, Q2 final earlier this summer, despite being out of tune, Rob used the €2,000 prize to re-record a more polished version of ‘My Life Story’, which will be judged again in November.

If he makes it through that, then there will be a week-long public vote on the six finalists and the winner will receive €10,000 prize money plus a headlining performance in The YouBloom Music Awards in London. YouBloom will also seek out recording contracts for all the finalists.

“Everyone else in the awards was a professional, so I’d say I probably made them sick when I won,” says Rob.

“Bob Geldof, one of the judges, said it was the best song in the competition. One of the judges questioned my credentials and said I’ve only been in music for a couple of years and all the judges said a bit about my vocals – I just sang it once and recorded it so I was out of tune! But I used the €2,000 to re-record and make sure the vocals are right this time; I’ll have improved a good bit for November (when he will be judged again)”.

‘My Life Story’ is autobiographical about a young man growing up in Galway City.

“The first verse is about when I was 16 – when you’re young, you’re stupid and think you’re cool,” says who adds that suicide and death of friends when he was aged 19 and 25, also inspired his writing.

For more information about Rob visit: www.robwademusic.com. To register to vote in the awards visit : http://www.youbloom.com/.