Nathan takes Le Crunch

The musical talent of Mullingar can’t help but rise to the top, and this time it’s Nathan Johnston from Kilpatrick in Ballinea. He has won Today FM’s Le Crunch Apple of My Eye music competition.

The first year business, economics and science student at Trinity College plans to invest the €8,000 prize money in promoting his own music which he has been penning since the age of 12.

Used to playing live, Nathan said the nerves really kicked in when he sang an amazing jazzed up version of Louie Prima’s I Wanna Be Like You, which you will all know from the Jungle Book, live on air last Thursday to over 180,000 listeners.

“I played it for my Leaving Cert practical last year and I absolutely love that song, and I love the Jungle Book,” Nathan told the Westmeath Examiner just after the broadcast.

“I knew all of my friends were there listening so that made me even more nervous,” he admitted.

His biggest fans – Dad Shane and mum Tracey – were taking Nathan for some well deserved celebratory drinks and a meal afterwards and are thrilled for their son.

“I’m definitely going to save the money and use it to promote myself and my music in general, and to basically pursue what I want to do,” said Nathan, who entered the competition when his flatmate saw it on Facebook. He only learned he was in the top 10 when friends texted him to say well done.