Luan Parle is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Free, with a series of special solo acoustic performances, filmed at The Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny and released on her social media channels. We asked her the BIG questions . . .
The Wicklow singer signed to Sony Music aged 12 and has toured internationally and released four studio albums.
She signed to Elton John’s management company early in her career and toured extensively with James Blunt.
In 2026, Luan founded Songs of Our Place, an intergenerational community songwriting initiative that brings people together through storytelling, creativity and song.
Working with schools, youth groups, community organisations and older adults, “the project transforms local stories, memories and experiences into original songs that celebrate place, identity and connection”.
Tell us three things about yourself…
I signed my first record deal at the age of 12, so music has been part of my life from a very young age.
For the past 18 years, alongside performing and writing, I’ve been facilitating songwriting workshops across education and community settings, helping people of all ages discover their own voice through stories and music. Earlier this year, I founded Songs of Our Place (link), an intergenerational songwriting project celebrating stories, history and identity through original songs.
My album Free, released through Sony BMG, turns 20 this October. To celebrate, I’ve re-recorded the songs as solo acoustic performances at the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny. I’m releasing one song per day across my Facebook and Instagram pages and YouTube channel in the original album order. It’s been a really special experience revisiting these songs 20 years on.
How would you describe your music?
It’s always tough to describe your own music. I grew up listening to country and folk music, and I think that early love of storytelling has always stayed with me. Although my sound has evolved over the years, I keep coming back to the same thing – the song itself, the lyrics, the story, the melody. I love a song that I can really get my teeth into as a singer, where I can lose myself in the performance and bring the story to life. That’s why it was so lovely to revisit my album Free 20 years on and strip the songs right back to how they were originally written, with just a guitar and a vocal, or piano and a vocal. It was a chance to return to the heart of the songs and rediscover them in their simplest form.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Dolly Parton was a huge part of my childhood. One of the first songs I learned was Me and Little Andy from her Here You Come Again album. There’s actually a video on YouTube of me performing the song when I was six years old. I was always drawn to the storytelling and characters in Dolly’s songs from a very young age and that love of storytelling has stayed with me throughout my own songwriting. Patsy Cline was another big influence. I spent time studying her vocal style and loved the emotion and phrasing in her singing. Emmylou Harris is another artist I love, and earlier this year I was lucky enough to see her perform at the 3Arena in Dublin, which was just incredible.
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I’ve also been inspired by artists I’ve had the privilege of sharing a stage with. I remember opening for Camille O’Sullivan at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin over 20 years ago and being absolutely blown away by her. Watching Camille perform felt like attending a masterclass in performance. I recently got to see her again at Cleere’s in Kilkenny, which was a real treat. I also opened for Nanci Griffith on her Irish tour, and watching her perform night after night was like a masterclass in songwriting.
I’m a big fan of Grant-Lee Phillips, who I first discovered through Gilmore Girls. I loved his music on the show and eventually got to see him perform live when he played in Dublin. I’m also really influenced by Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, Prince, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Iris DeMent, Shawn Colvin, Alison Krauss, Shelby Lynne . . . honestly, the list goes on and on. A book I’ve been reading recently, The Year Grunge Broke by Clive Barnes, has introduced me to some incredible bands and albums from the ’90s grunge and alternative rock scene. It’s been a real education and has added a whole new collection of artists and influences to the mix.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My first gig was Picture House at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin. I’d seen them perform Sunburst on The Late Late Show, so I organised a minibus from Wicklow to bring a group of us teenagers to see them live. It was the first time we’d headed off to a gig together by ourselves without our parents and I still remember the excitement of it.
What was the first record you ever bought?
The Way That I Am – Martina McBride.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Martha by Tom Waits. An oldie but a goodie.
Favourite lyric of all time?
It’s actually really tough to pick one favourite lyric because I have so many, but one that stands out for me at the moment is Shane MacGowan’s A Rainy Night in Soho: “Sometimes I’d wake up in the morning, the ginger lady by my bed, covered in a cloak of silence, I’d hear you talking in my head.”
The lyrics are incredibly poetic and haunting. It captures the struggle of addiction and how alcohol can become almost like a companion, offering comfort and escape while also bringing torment and loneliness. I love how Shane MacGowan gives the bottle a human presence, creating something both beautiful and so heartbreaking at the same time.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Moonlight Kiss by Bap Kennedy. I absolutely love that song!
Where can people find your music/more information?
You can find my music and more about what I’m working on at my website or follow me on social media @luanparle for music, videos and latest news. You can also sign up to my mailing list to be the first to hear about new music releases, live performances, songwriting workshops and upcoming events along with occasional subscriber-only updates and early announcements.
Alan Corr