SERIES ONE – EDITION FOURTEEN
In the fourteenth edition in our Faces of Liverpool series we caught up with Oisín Hassan, a Musician from West Kirby.
What do you love about Liverpool?
I love the people. I’ve met a lot of caring and funny people from Liverpool. There’s a sense of togetherness/community in Liverpool I think.
There’s so many bars with live music too, the history of Liverpool and music is unbelievable really. I feel very luck to be from Liverpool.
Name one main thing about living in Liverpool that makes you proud?
We’re proud people I think, we work hard and we stick together when it’s important. The way we fought for justice for Hillsborough was a very proud moment for me.
We have a great music scene too, there’s so many talented musicians and bands from Liverpool.
I really love George Harrison and John Lennon too. I love their music but what they stood for more importantly and the message in their music.
If you could describe Liverpool in 3 words what would they be?
Heart, Community, Passion.
Name one place in Liverpool that holds a special place in your heart?
I grew up in Anfield between Goodison Park and Anfield Stadium, so I could hear when someone had scored from my backyard. I used to love sitting out there after school and listening out for when someone cheered. I started going to the games after that and have a lot of good memories as a kid at Goodison Park watching Everton play so I’d say that’s my place and around that area too.
Is there anything on your ‘Bucket List’ to do in Liverpool that your still yet to achieve?
There’s probably lots of places I would love to play In Liverpool that I haven’t played already.. but I’d say the Philharmonic Hall may be my favourite of them. It just looks like a beautiful venue to play and I’ve always wanted to play there for some reason.
Do you have any tales of Liverpool or claim to fame while in the city?
Growing up in Anfield I didn’t really have big dreams of becoming a musician and writing my own songs. It just unfolded from itself I think, starting off playing local open mics was a great confidence boost for me, I remember how nervous I used to get at first and I still do today but It’s a different kind of nerves now. Also meeting other musicians doing the same thing and learning the trade.
Meeting my partner Em was really a big moment for me. We met at ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ where she booked me to play at her event and we just carried on doing the events together and also found each other.
Her support for me has been amazing, she’s really encouraged me to go for it and supported me through some harder times.
It helps having someone who understands your struggles and encourages you.
Her dad was a musician too so we had that connection straight away. I think that’s the biggest thing to happen for me really, I found my feet from that moment and I’ve just tried to grow from there I think. Now I’m doing what I love and I’m lucky to have lots of supportive people around.
Meeting ‘Keith Xander’ from ‘Xander & The Peace Pirates’ was a really big moment for me too. Having someone you really respect and look up to was a great learning process for me. He’s taught me a lot about myself and I really feel I’ve grown musically just from being around people like that.
I’ve now played in some of my favourite little venues across Liverpool and been played on a few local radio stations like BBC Radio Merseyside, Parr Street Studio 2, Thornton Hough Village Club.. on the Wirral and was due to play at Prohibition Studios just before lockdown. I’ve supported Keith’s band and some other great musicians now too. I am proud of how far I’ve come so far just hope it continues to build.
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