Q: Can you both tell us a bit about yourselves and how your childhoods impacted your musical direction?
A: Growing up, one of my earliest memories was hearing Yesterday while I was in the back of the car. My mum had all these great tapes on rotation, Paul Simon, Steely Dan and this was on the old Beatles Love Songs compilation. I was three maybe four. It just resonated. Not just the song but the performance and the arrangement. Everything. I had this immediate image of a guy alone in an empty house with no furniture. Like a short film in my little three year old brain. It amazed me that a song could do that to me, affect me like that. Years later an uncle of mine lent me an old vinyl Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan and I listened to it while I was falling asleep. In the morning I woke up certain that I had dreamed it. So I put back on while I’m getting dressed for school, and there it was: Girl From The North Country and Don’t Think Twice and I hadn’t dreamed them and they were real. That was a profound experience and was like a door opening to a wider world – books, movies bands. Just life on a deeper level.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Luke O’Hanlon in three words?
A: Honest, unpolished, compassionate
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: So the feedback for the recent album has been overwhelming. I write and record a lot, but only recently have I started to promote myself. I’m hustling like a rapper now and using social media to find an audience. I’m completely out of my comfort zone but it amazes me how much these songs seem to resonate and how well received they are. I’ve been doing this for a long time, so every comment and every supportive gesture is like validation and is deeply appreciated. I have a few dates planned for some live performances soon. Watch this space.
Q: You have just released your new album, The River Only Runs One Way. Is there a story behind it?
A: Definitely. The album is really about change — how life moves forward whether we’re ready or not. It’s about grief, growing older, identity… but there’s hope in it too. The river in the title became this symbol for time and memory — you can’t turn it back, but you can try to understand it as you move with it. And you better move with it. Cause folks get drowned fighting against it.
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: It’s hard to choose, but Stevie means a lot to me. It’s probably the most personal song on there and definitely the most vulnerable. It was also a complete surprise. I hate it when I know what I’m doing. I like to be instinctive and responsive and that means sometimes when the song arrives you hadn’t seen it coming. That was what happened here.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, The River Only Runs One Way?
A: It was a very personal process — I recorded it over about two years, completely on my own. No collaborators, just me playing everything. It started with rough demos, just voice memos and guitar sketches, and then I slowly built the songs layer by layer at home. When I began I wanted to record something like Teenage Fanclub or Big Star – melodies and 12 strings and harmonies and girls’ names. But at some point it shifted and I realised I had to let it be something else.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for Luke O’Hanlon so far?
A: There’s a church in Liverpool called St Brides that I’ve always enjoyed playing in. Its just a perfect spot for what I do. And it feels so homespun and communal. I love that.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: There’s a song on my first album called The Last Days of Rome. That is one of the best things I’ve written and one of favourite to perform. It just connects. It was another that I wrote very quickly and didn’t think much about it until I played for my girlfriend – wife now. It just seems to resonate – the idea of kindness emerging from tragedy. I think everyone understands that.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Luke O’Hanlon’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: Usually it starts with a line — a phrase that has an emotional weight to it. I’ll sit with it, see if it unfolds into a melody or a bigger idea. I try not to force the process. Some songs come quickly, others take months. I think my biggest approach is to stay honest and not chase trends. I want every song to feel lived-in and true, even if it’s messy.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for Luke O’Hanlon, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: Honestly, my dream is to just keep writing songs that matter — even if it’s to a small group of people. I’d love to tour more, release more records, and keep growing as a songwriter. And to the people who have listened, supported, and shared the music: thank you.
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