Steafan Hanvey Makes His U.S. Debut With "Desperation"

When I interviewed Ireland’s Steafan Hanvey a few weeks ago, we came up with a short-lived plan to rob a bank to finance the promotion of his U.S. debut album, Steafan Hanvey and the Honeymoon Junkies. I was very excited, because I was going to be the getaway driver. Then I realized that if I drove the getaway car, we would probably only get a few blocks before I hit a fire hydrant and got both of us caught. It didn’t take long for us to scrap that idea.

Instead, I am going to just help Steafan the good old-fashioned way, and write about him. Here’s the first in a series of articles pieces about Steafan, and a preview of his video “Desperation (Failed in Loving You)”, which will be on Fuse on Demand starting October 24^th.
FW: What are your main musical influences?

Steafan: Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Wings, Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Brady, Nina Simone, Soundgarden, Kings X, Stevie Wonder.
FW: Whom do people say you sound like?

Steafan: Paul Simon, Wings, Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake, Richard Thompson, Dylan.
Some people have said I write songs in a similar way to Roger Waters. Lyrically perhaps.

FW: Do you think that you sound like whoever people say you sound like?

Steafan: I never thought about it until they said it. I find that really interesting, that we are the sum of our experiences and what we've been exposed to. Makes sense. Something touches you, it enters your bloodstream. Though, sometimes, people will hit you with something you've never heard before. That's kind of strange.

FW: What's the most personal song you've ever written and what was it based on?

Steafan: All my songs are personal. I can’t write about what I don't know, or rather, doesn’t inspire me. But the song that first came to mind was a song from my new album, Nuclear Family, entitled 'Secrets & Lies', inspired partly by a family member & an ex-lover.
FW: If your life were a song, what song would it be?
Steafan: In my Life by The Beatles, or Old Friends by Simon & Garfunkel.
FW: Have you ever been inspired by an author or a book to write a song, if so, which one?

Steafan: 'The Road Less Traveled' by Scott Peck inspired me to write 'Love's a Decision' from my debut album.
I was down in Malaga several years ago, and my then girlfriend was sunbathing a lot. I was stuck inside (sensitive Irish skin) with the air conditioner, writing songs and reading. 'Love's a Decision' was written during that time.
Books are always inspiring me; a word here, a line there. I usually have about 10 books on the go at any one time. A bad habit, perhaps…Books, I love.
FW: If the color gray were a food, what would it be?
Steafan: Meat & two veg! The Irish/English dinner, which was, thanks to my mum, interspersed with curries, pasta dishes and various other world cuisines.