[1][2] He became interested in performing music from an early age, and he played guitar in a number of bands in school.

[4] He began working in radio, initially for More FM in New Zealand, and then for 6 years on breakfast shows in Manchester, Liverpool, and Lancashire in England.

[5] It was reported (incorrectly) in the Sydney Morning Herald after his Debut album went to Number One in the UK that O'Brien is from Melbourne, Australia.

[6] After being made redundant, O'Brien decided to pursue a career writing and performing children's music, using the stage name Mr Yipadee.

[15] In 2016, under the name Deano Yipadee, O'Brien's first children's book Jingle Bells, Rudolph Smells was released by publishing house Scholastic.

[22] Deano Yipadee's second book, Nee Naw The Little Fire Engine, debuted in the top 3 in the best sellers charts in the first week of February.

[31] The second book, Jingle Bells, What's That Smell, was released in October and spent two months in the top 10 of the Children And Teens best sellers charts in the weeks leading up to Christmas, 2021.

The voice of the character Dusty that sings on the song with Deano is host of Dancing With The Starts NZ, Sharyn Casey.

[34] In April 2023, Nee Naw The Little Fire Engine was featured vs Wonky Donkey and The Little Yellow Digger on TVNZ's Lego Masters (TV2).

[37] In June 2023, Deano Yipadee released a new book called Dusty the Digger - Nee Naw and friends.