More about: George O'Hanlon

George O Hanlon is a bit of an enigma. Even trying to write this short info, there’s little to no information on the musician beyond release dates and track titles. Signed to EMI amongst some huge names, George is amongst the big leagues despite being right at the start of his career.

With an EP and a couple singles under his belt, we fired some quick questions at him to try to uncover the mystery a bit.

Gigwise: Finding any info about you like where you come from etc is near impossible, so could you give us a little intro into who George O'Hanlon is?

George O'Hanlon: Haha! That’s how I like it. Well… really just a songwriter I don’t do much else anymore, that was my hobby and now it’s my life so I’ve just been getting on with that.

GW: What was your first memory of music and thinking ‘yep I want to do this’?

GH: Honestly not until really recently. I’ve always loved music and singing and I definitely had thought about how cool it would be to play a gig but I didn’t really think I had a shot at it til a couple years ago. 

GW: In the age of hyperpop and bigger, more electronic sounds taking lead - what is it about singer-songwriter work that keeps you hooked in?

GH: I’m into lyrics and guitars that’s always done it for me above all else. Not to say I haven’t got into anything else I certainly have but for me it’s the story telling and the intimacy of a guitar and a voice that just makes sense. 

GW: Can you talk us through your writing process? 

GH: I have an idea and I’ll sit down and try to force myself to finish it before I start getting anything recorded whether it’s on piano or guitar. Then I’ll get a little demo together put it in my headphones and go for a walk, have it as background music and see which bits stand out and change other bits to match them.  

GW: Please tell us about the first ever song you wrote, no matter how bad it was…

GH: I think a song called Face On Mars when I was very little I’d seen a satellite image on TV something like that. I actually still remember it. 

GW: Compared to The Storm, ‘How Are You Feeling’ builds to a bigger, indie-rock climax - how do you see your sound progressing? When you look 30 years in the future, what would you like to be doing?

GH: Hyperpop, no maybe not, I don’t know, possibly. I think in 30 years I will have driven myself a little bit crazy. Lots of big songs hopefully getting more and more instruments involved but I think my best songs I’ll always be writing on the guitar or piano.

GW: What's your favourite album?

GH: Couldn’t pick one but I’m listening to Grace by Jeff Buckley a lot again recently 

GW: And what’s your least favourite album? 

 I don’t think I have a least favourite  

GW: And finally, what would be on your dream rider if you could have anything in the world?

GH: Dairylea dunkers not the nachos one’s though they’re a bit fiddly, Bombay Mix, Prawn Toast and crate of Guinness.

George’s new track ‘How Are You Feeling?’ is out now and he features in our upcoming print issue.

Issue Three of the Gigwise Print magazine is preselling now! Order here.

More about: George O'Hanlon