Luke Walker’s private studio is nestled deep in downtown Wichita Falls. So deep that it would be impossible to locate without his guidance. It’s a sanctuary for him to escape and find the music deep within. He let us in and shared his love affair with music, what inspires him, and what he’s learned along his journey.
I started with piano when I was about seven years old. My mom thought it would be a good idea to have me and my sister take lessons. I hated it. I dreaded the lessons and the drills at home. When I finally got old enough to tell them that I didn’t want to take piano lessons anymore they let me stop and it wastn’t too much longer after that I picked up a guitar for the first time. Because of my piano background I took to it really quickly. From then on I couldn’t put it down. My dad had a vintage Ovation that he gave to me once he notice that I was really taking to it. I was about 13 years old with a really nice guitar to play. Growing up my mother sang in the choir at First Baptist Church and she’s a great singer. We’d go on road trips and she would tell me to take the low harmony and tell my sister to take the high harmony so I was always singing. I wrote my first song when I was nineteen years old. It was about that time that I started hitting a bunch of the open mic’s. Iron Horse Pub was my main one.
Who inspires you?
Ryan Adams, Radiohead, and stuff like that. I could relate to their lyrics and their vocal capabilities. It all just kinda started building over time.
You lived in Austin for some time though, didn’t you?
I moved down to Austin in 2010 and I had no idea what I was in for. Wichita Falls is small compared to Austin and I got pretty depressed for the first six months or so. I doubted my decision for the first few months but what kept me sane was writing. Some of the favorite songs I’ve ever written was during that time. It was therapeutic. I didn’t know anyone there but I just wanted to go. With irony and realization came knowldge and understanding. Doors opened, and life didn’t stop. Enjoyment occured and fruitfulness showed itself.
How long have you been back in Wichita Falls?
Two months. I’ve been working on this new recording project ever since I moved back. What brought be back to Wichita Falls was the necessity of recording this project. I feel like I can focus more here. There are a lot of distractions in Austin.
Tell me about the current recording.
I did all the instrumentation on this project, the keys, the guitar, the vocals, djembe, and I also used drum loops. My cousin did do some bass on the project. There will be a CD release party Saturday, October 22nd from 8-10pm at The Maplewood. It will be a listening party and I’ll play some live.
