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Declan Galbraith

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Child of Mind
Background information
Birth nameDeclan John Galbraith
Born (1991-12-19) 19 December 1991 (age 33)
Hoo St Werburgh, Kent, England
GenresPop Rock, folk -rock, rock -electronic, ballad
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active2002–2008, 2012-present

Declan John Galbraith (born 19 December 1991) is a British singer and songwriter. He became known in 2002 with the release of the single "Tell Me Why", which peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart[1] and helped break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest simultaneous sing-along. Galbraith later found success in Europe and China, where his music was used in schools to support English language learning. Since 2017, he has released music independently under the stage name Child of Mind.

Early life

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Declan Galbraith was born on 19 December 1991 in Hoo St Werburgh, Kent, England, to parents of Scottish and Irish heritage. From a young age, he showed an interest in music, often accompanying his grandfather—who played tin whistle and bodhrán at local folk events—to concerts. This early exposure to Scottish and Irish musical traditions shaped his vocal style. His grandfather, to whom his first album would later be dedicated, died in 1996 while performing on stage.[2]

Galbraith’s first notable performance occurred at his grandmother’s 60th birthday party, where he sang the traditional song "Tell Me Ma". Encouraged by his family, he then began entering local talent competitions at the age of eight, winning sixteen titles in just over a year. During one of these competitions, he was discovered by renowned songwriter Barry Mason, who introduced him to publicist Max Clifford. Galbraith subsequently signed a three-album deal with EMI Records, reportedly worth £1 million.[2]

Musical career

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2002–2007: First albums

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Galbraith’s first professional recording was a rendition of "Walking in the Air", released on a Christmas compilation album alongside tracks by Westlife, Elton John, and Elvis Presley. In 2002, at the age of ten, he released his self-titled debut album, Declan, which included a mix of traditional songs such as "Danny Boy" and "Amazing Grace", covers of contemporary tracks such as "Angels" and "Imagine", and original material written for him.[3]

His debut single, "Tell Me Why", reached number 29 on the UK Singles Chart and gained attention for both its message of peace and the large-scale sing-along campaign it inspired. During the Young Voices tour in 2002, Galbraith performed in Belfast to an audience of 10,000 children, while being simultaneously linked via satellite to over 80,000 children across the UK—setting a Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous sing-along.[4]

Galbraith soon became a familiar face on UK television and radio, with notable performances at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebration at St Paul’s Cathedral and at a concert headlined by Elton John at Hull Football Stadium. His rising popularity abroad led to a deal with Saban Music Group and later a contract with Starwatch Music, a label under ProSiebenSat.1 Media in Germany, distributed by Warner Music.[3]

In December 2006, Galbraith released his second studio album, Thank You, produced by German hitmaker Ully Jonas. The album achieved commercial success in Germany and Austria, earning gold certifications in both countries and spending over 26 weeks on the German Top 40 chart.

A third studio album, You and Me, followed in November 2007, again released under Starwatch Entertainment. The album featured a more mature musical selection, including covers of "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica, "The Living Years" by Mike + The Mechanics, and "Ruby Tuesday" by the Rolling Stones. Notably, the album included "Moody Blues", the first original song written by Galbraith himself—marking a personal and creative milestone. Though less commercially prominent than its predecessor, the album was supported by continued promotional touring in Europe and a growing fanbase abroad, also charting in Germany and reaching the Top 40 for 10 weeks.[4]

Galbraith’s music found an especially enthusiastic audience in China, where his songs were incorporated into school curricula to support English language instruction. In May 2008, he completed a three night tour of Beijing and Shenzhen, further expanding his international fanbase.[3]

2012–present: Child of Mind

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Following his early success, Galbraith took a step back from public life to explore songwriting and production, as well as other interests outside of music, including a degree in social and political science. He returned occasionally for special performances, such as the 2012 London Olympics cultural programme, during which he appeared on Chinese national television in a broadcast estimated to have reached one billion viewers.[4]

In 2017, Galbraith reintroduced himself as Child of Mind, a new artistic project focused on self-written, independently released music. Under this name, he embarked on a 10-date concert tour across China, performing in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. A live CD/DVD, Child of Mind: Live in Shenzhen 2017, was released to document the tour.[4]

Although further concerts and releases were planned for 2020 and 2021, they were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, Galbraith resumed activity on social media, announcing new projects and the forthcoming release of a self-produced studio album. Since adopting the Child of Mind moniker in 2017, all of his music—whether released on platforms like SoundCloud, Spotify, or YouTube—has been published exclusively under this new name, marking a complete and ongoing new chapter in his career.[4]

Discography

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Albums

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As Declan Galbraith

As Child of Mind

  • Live in Shenzhen 2017 (2017)
  • From Castle Röhrsdorf (2018)

Singles

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References

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  1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Ltd. p. 146. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ a b Weale, Sally (23 September 2002). "A boy's own story". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Declan Galbraith biography". Last.fm. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e "About". Child of Mind. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
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