As the world slowly emerged from the haze of lockdowns, music continued to be a lifeline for many—an emotional anchor during uncertain times. For acclaimed singer-songwriter Robin James Hurt, it was also a period of unexpected collaboration and creative renewal. His new single, “Take Me Home,” co-written with Tony Floyd Kenna, captures the bittersweet tug of belonging, identity, and memory with raw emotion and lyrical beauty. Ahead of the release of his full album, A Song, A Story Told, Robin sits down with us to share the journey behind the music, his evolving sound, and his reflections on creativity, tradition, and live performance.
On the New Single & Collaboration
“Take Me Home” feels like a deeply personal and powerful anthem. What inspired the story behind this song?
Tony Floyd Kenna wrote the original lyrics, which were my starting point and the lightning rod for the musical energy. He wrote it as a memoir of a character who came into his mind almost fully formed.
This is your first co-write with Tony Floyd Kenna. How did that collaboration begin, and what made this particular song the starting point for a full album?
Going back to the days of the COVID lockdowns, I was performing regular livestream shows from my front room. Tony saw me online, we kinda knew each other already. Towards the end of all that, around Christmas 2020, he reached out and sent me the original draft of Take Me Home. He had written the words but couldn’t find music to fit and thought I might have the right touch. It was a bit of a reach out into the void during the confusion of COVID times and it came good!
The lyrics of “Take Me Home” speak to the emotional tug of Irish emigration. As someone born in Belfast and now based in Wexford, how do themes of home and identity resonate in your own life?
My family background is even more complicated, including England, Ireland, Germany and France! The idea of a home-place and identity from a location is a very strong part of the Irish psyche and fascinating for me, partly because I don’t really have one! My family have always moved around and I’ve always been strongly influenced by where I am at the time as well as my past. Home is where the heart is, to throw in a cliché.
You’ve described this song as being written during the 2020 lockdowns. How did the context of that time influence its tone and meaning?
(See #2)
The track blends searing folk instrumentation with lo-fi textures. Can you tell us more about recording on a vintage Tascam cassette recorder and what that added to the sound?
Recording on cassette is fascinating and fun! There is a balance to be struck between precision and throwing sounds at the (very thin) wall of tape to see which ones stick. When you hit sonic gold, you get a sound that is warm and not digitally harsh or brittle but also with darkness and a certain raw growl.
On Musical Style and Influences
You’ve cited The Chieftains and Guided By Voices as primary influences for this release. That’s an intriguing combination. How do you balance the tradition of Irish folk with a raw, lo-fi aesthetic?
It’s the sort of combo that has really been playing around in my head as long as I’ve loved music; the mix of pure, heartfelt folk music with great emotional heft and the directness and ability to break boundaries that you find in punk and lo-fi.
“Lofolk” is a term you’ve used—can you expand on that and what it means to you artistically?
Yes! I wanted to take lo-fi recording techniques and sounds—specifically recording on cassette—but use them to capture (ideally) high-quality performances, in a folk music context. I started off with the idea in my head of, “what would it sound like to take amazing trad players and record them on an old four track cassette recorder?” Because these machines are normally associated with “amateur” players and bedroom recording, but you can create great things with them.
Your arrangements often feel intimate yet anthemic. How do you approach production to keep that emotional core intact?
That’s an excellent question! I guess I draw a lot on musical instinct. Also I imagine the song as a fully finished recording playing in my head and then try to figure out how to make those sounds in my head into actual sounds with the tools I have.
You perform multiple instruments on this track, from guitar to mandolin to bass. How do you decide what instrumentation serves a song best?
It comes down to listening to what I hear in my head. Am I hearing this song with a full band, if so what would (for example) the bass player or the drummer be playing in this band? My main instrument is guitar but I like to try different things. One song on the album mostly involves a broken drum machine, a melodica and a mouth organ!
On the Upcoming Album & Future Plans
“Take Me Home” is just the beginning—your new album A Song, A Story Told is on the way. What can listeners expect from the project as a whole?
A variety! I have never used so many different styles, instruments and ideas in one album. But there is a coherent theme of warmth, positivity and hopefully tunes that will reach out to people. It is the first time I have released a solo album with no traditional material, every note is original.
Are there recurring themes or stories across the album that emerged naturally through your work with Tony?
(See #10)
Can you give us a glimpse into your writing process—do lyrics lead the way, or does music come first?
When working with someone else’s words I generally start totally afresh. I’ll print the words out on paper and leave that lying around somewhere where it keeps catching my eye. After staring at them a lot on multiple occasions, I’ll hear a melody in my head, often based around how I hear the words syncopate.
On Irish Music, Identity & Live Performance
Irish folk music often weaves history, longing, and rebellion into its DNA. What responsibilities, if any, do you feel when writing within that tradition?
Another great question! I feel a responsibility to keep the integrity of the tradition and to strive for authenticity. Try to know when the respectful thing is to take it forward and push the envelope and when it is best to respect the traditional ways.
You’ve played with iconic figures like Ronnie Drew and Sinéad O’Connor. How have those experiences shaped your evolution as an artist?
The more time I have over the years to remember them, the more special they become, genuinely. Playing with a legend like either of those irreplaceable souls is also a great motivation to focus on your playing! Fools not suffered gladly, on your toes!
You’ve got a number of live shows scheduled across Ireland this spring and summer. How do these new songs translate to the stage—and what can audiences expect from your upcoming performances?
The new songs have been workshopped at some of my performances over the last while and audiences have really taken to them. They really come through and connect with people, which is so good! I live for playing live, it’s just what I do, I love it so much. The shows will be energetic and passionate and unstoppable.
After such an intense and introspective creative process during lockdown, how does it feel now to return to the stage with new material?
Oh, it is wonderful to finally have Take Me Home recorded and released and to have the song I heard in my head out there in the world. I feel the same about each of the songs on A Song, A Story Told, but Take Me Home was the starter and the anchor of the album and it is so exciting to see how people are responding to it.
Final Reflections
“Take Me Home” has the potential to become a St. Patrick’s Week staple. What would it mean to you to see this song become part of the season’s musical tapestry?
I would be so happy to have anyone taking it to their hearts, especially at such a poignant time of the year, I hope it resonates!
Looking forward, do you see yourself continuing to collaborate on future releases, or returning to more solo-written work?
Definitely more collabs short-term, long-term a mix of both, also keen to take on recording projects for other acts!
Lastly, what do you hope listeners feel when they hear “Take Me Home” for the first time?
That time stops for a minute and they get carried away on the train.
A Journey Only Just Begun
Robin James Hurt’s new chapter is already making a deep imprint with “Take Me Home”—a song born in the quiet of lockdown and released into a world eager for connection and renewal. As he moves forward with A Song, A Story Told, Robin’s instinct for storytelling through sound promises to resonate with even wider audiences. Whether crafting songs at home, collaborating across distance, or returning to the stage, one thing is clear: Robin’s music is not just heard—it’s felt.
