Q&A: Odhran Murphy Carves a Path Towards Home in ‘Roots & Reverie’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SULLIVAN JORDAN ☆
NAVIGATING THE FLOW OF EMOTIONS THAT ACCOMPANY BEING AWAY FROM HOME AND YOUR LOVED ONES—in order to follow your dreams finds Odhran Murphy in a nostalgic, yet optimistic place. Hesitant to choose one life over the other, Murphy uses warm folk instrumentals and his tender vocals to find a balance between more cheerful rhythms and softer ones. Pulsing with sincerity, ambition and a deep love for home and the people he loves, Roots & Reverie allows Murphy to step into a new chapter. It’s one bursting with confidence as he continues to shape and define his sound, all while embracing who he is and what he wants his music to convey.
Roots & Reverie pays homage to his hometown of Armagh, Ireland in several ways, all of which add a rich texture to the EP’s sound and intricate lyricism. Rooted in traditional Irish storytelling and instrumental techniques, Murphy allows his family’s history and his own childhood spent playing music to shine. While he often feels homesick and pangs of guilt for wanting to chase his ambitious dreams, Murphy discovers that he can carry his family’s legacy with him through his music. No matter where he is, he can be transported back to his loved ones through the music rich with the sounds and passion of his homeland.
Luna had the pleasure of sitting down with Murphy to discuss Roots & Reverie, recording in Nashville, opening for Mumford & Sons and how his family and upbringing influences his music.
LUNA: Your latest EP explores the balance of honoring your home while chasing your dreams. Can you share how you were initially introduced to music and when did you realize music was something you wanted to pursue professionally?
MURPHY: My family was very musical. My grandfather played a lot of music in the show bands years ago. This was passed down to my mother who joined him on gigs and performances. Music has been in the family for decades now. I learned the guitar when I was maybe 13. My first song was a wagon wheel or something like that! It was a bit mad.
LUNA: That’s really cool that you've been surrounded by and been playing music for just about your whole life. I love how this project has a mixture of songs with more upbeat melodies and then some with slower, more relaxed rhythms. For example, I love the song “Dance To You All Night.” Can you tell us a bit about how these songs came together and how you found the balance between upbeat and mellow rhythms?
MURPHY: A lot of the songs on this project are inspired by real life experiences and things that me and my family and friends have gone through. I write a lot about love and romance and heartbreak. “Dance To You All Night” is one of those songs that is more of a crowd pleaser when we play that at live gigs. The crowd goes wild! It's nice how all the stories come together. When you're recording these songs and you play them live, it really does come back to you. It feels great then that you've accomplished something when you play them live.
LUNA: Speaking of that, you recently opened for Mumford & Sons in Dublin. Can you tell us a bit about that experience?
MURPHY: I absolutely love Mumford & Sons. I grew up listening to those guys. Having shared the stage with them was honestly a dream come true. It was a full circle moment for me. When I was up there, obviously I was super nervous for the first song but there was a lot of the crowd singing along to my songs, which kind of made me feel like I could back off and ease off. The crowd loved it and loved my set as well.
LUNA: Who are some of your other musical influences and what is a song or project that you keep coming back to?
MURPHY: I’ve always been drawn to artists who put storytelling first. People like Noah Kahan, Dermot Kennedy and Passenger have all had a big influence on me, just in the way they write honestly and don’t overcomplicate things. There are certain songs and albums I keep going back to because they feel timeless.
LUNA: I love your song “Hearts in the Heather.” In my opinion, it’s one of the most nostalgic songs on the EP and I think it encapsulates what the project is all about. Can you share how the song came to be? Was there a specific moment that inspired the song?
MURPHY: When I wrote “Hearts in the Heather,” I was actually over in Nashville. I was missing my nephew, who was turning two at the time. I was missing his birthday. It's moments like that, that you really cherish. When you miss those moments, it's quite upsetting. So I was like, “I have to write something about this.” “Hearts in the Heather” came around from being away from home and the things you miss and the people you love.
LUNA: Do you feel like that was your most challenging song to write or was there another song that you found difficult?
MURPHY: “Mary-Anne” is one of my favorite tracks. It was one of those songs that I wanted to nail and get right. Mary-Anne was my great grandmother, whom I never met, so my grandmother told me a lot of stories about her and how she played music and her love for my great grandfather. I wanted to get her story right.
LUNA: Can you tell us a bit about your experience recording in Nashville and how this shaped the sound of your EP?
MURPHY: Nashville is definitely the place to be at when you're recording music. Not only are you just surrounded by insanely talented musicians, but it's a great hub for music at the minute. When I first went over there, I just knew that I had to go back over and record. I'd done two of the tracks in the EP, “I See You” and “Mary-Anne.” I had written “Mary-Anne” and “I See You” with my mate Jamie Kenny who produced the EP as well. I knew I had to go back and record those tracks with him. We've definitely formed a good friendship and relationship together, so I'm sure I'll be back working with him again.
LUNA: You also recorded with a live band. Can you tell us about that experience?
MURPHY: That was crazy because I've never done that before. It's normally just me and my computer in this room. Going into an actual live studio room?! That was an absolute experience that was. I was really nervous at first because I didn't really know what to expect. You're tuning up your guitar while these guys are sitting there just playing riffs while you're tuning. And you're going, “oh my god, these guys are insane.” You're really nervous and afraid to play the guitar yourself, but it worked out great.
LUNA: How would you describe your sound and songwriting to someone just discovering you?
MURPHY: I’d say it sits somewhere between acoustic folk and country, with a big focus on storytelling. Everything starts with a guitar and the lyrics, that’s always the core of it. The songs are quite personal, but I try to write them in a way that people can see themselves in them. It’s honest, stripped-back at its heart, but with moments where it opens up and grows emotionally.
LUNA: What advice would you give someone chasing their dreams?
MURPHY: I think the biggest thing is just to stick with it, even when it feels like nothing’s really happening. Progress isn’t always obvious, and a lot of the time it’s happening quietly in the background. Also, don’t compare your path to anyone else’s. Everyone moves at a different pace. If you believe in what you’re doing and you’re willing to keep showing up for it, that’s what really makes the difference in the long run.
