It gives us great pleasure to have Jeremy Engel, a rock-folk musician from Luxembourg with a reputation for expressive lyrics and striking soundscapes here today. Inspired by his life’s path and events, Jeremy has been enthralling listeners with his mix of rock and folk music. We’re eager to explore his creative path, inspirations, and ideas as his most recent works create waves in the music landscape. Let us begin now!
- Tell us about your path to music. Why were you interested in the rock-folk genre, and how did your career develop?
I’ve always been drawn to both rock and folk music, having grown up listening to The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Who, as well as Neil Young and Leonard Cohen. I love the raw power of rock and the subtlety of folk. I’ve always carried these two influences within me, and that’s what I’d like to convey through my music. My path in music is starting to take shape with this first album that’s about to be released, and I hope the audience will join me on this journey to go a little further.
- Has your sound been influenced by any local musicians or cultural components in Luxembourg?
I’m Luxembourgish, but I grew up in France and soon after left to live abroad. I’ve spent many years in different countries, and I find it hard to identify with just one place, even though my soul is clearly rooted in Ireland. I’ve left pieces of myself all over the world. Ireland is undoubtedly my main musical influence, not just in how I play, but especially in the mindset it inspires. In my guitar playing, I love incorporating open chords from traditional Irish music and using them in a more folk-rock context. I think, perhaps unknowingly, I’ve developed somehow a distinctive style.
- “I Got Caught,” your most recent release, offers an engaging sound and rich story. What motivated this song, and with what message do you wish it to transmit?
“I Got Caught” takes us back to that universal feeling of being torn between our aspirations and the chains that hold us back. While the song references the toxic relationships that trap us, it speaks more broadly about the difficulty of distinguishing things when we’ve lost all sense of direction, when everything becomes blurred, and we lose our ability to discern. In a world that constantly pushes for simplification, I would say that “I Got Caught” is an ode to the complexity and the endless nuances and paradoxes we must navigate.
- You often combine your songs with personal experiences. Could you name a song that has particular significance for you and explain the background of it?
I could talk about the song “I Don’t Want To Stay,” which holds a special significance for me. I’ve always enjoyed layering different meanings in my songs, and that’s also the case with this one. People often interpret it in ways that are very different from the song’s original meaning, and I’m going to keep that original meaning to myself because it allows me to maintain an intimate and exclusive connection with the song. I started writing it some time before the departure of a loved one, and I finished it afterwards, as if the song was accompanying that person on their journey.
- Which musicians most inspire your work, and how have they affected your approach?
Rory Gallagher is without a doubt the one who has influenced me the most musically, in the way he was equally comfortable with both electric and acoustic guitar (though in my case, I’m not as comfortable with electric as I am with acoustic). Leonard Cohen has inspired me the most in his relationship with words and his way of never acting them out. But more than their music, it’s their personalities that influence me the most—I deeply admire the simplicity of true giants.
- Your songs often explore ideas of love, life, and meditation. How do you approach songwriting, and how do you get ideas into songs?
I don’t have a particular routine, and I’m not one to labor over my work. I don’t practice exercises to improve my songwriting because I’m a lover of imperfection (But I’m probably saying that to reassure myself because I know I’ll never be able to achieve perfection). Melodies often come to me without any conscious effort on my part. No two songs I’ve written have been composed in the same way. Generally, I don’t know what a song is going to be about; it’s the song itself that guides me as I write it.
- Collaboration helps music to have fresh angles. Have you historically cooperated with other musicians? If yes, how have such encounters affected your work?
I’ve never collaborated with other musicians in songwriting, and I’m not at all sure that I’d be capable of doing so. However, I did share the stage as a duo with a violinist who managed to perfectly blend her world with mine, which added an extra dimension to the music—it became a co-creation where 1+1 = 3. Those moments are precious.
- Given the fast-changing music business, how do you see your music fitting in the present scene? What actions do you take to expose fresh listeners?
To me, a song should be timeless. I refuse to use certain sounds just because they’re trendy. I create music that reflects who I am, regardless of whether it fits any current trends.
- How do you manage to explore fresh sounds and ideas in your music while also preserving your creative authenticity?
I want to hear the sound of the singer-songwriter genre moving forward without having to reinvent itself, without employing studio tricks or technical gizmo’s to refresh the sound artificially. My sound is part of the modern world because I am part of the modern world. The singer-songwriter format may be long-established but I think it is possible to revive it if you inject your own personality into the mix.
- Being an artist surely presents difficulties. Could you relate a challenging professional event and how did you overcome it?
Honestly, I know it’s always fashionable to say that things are tough, and they are sometimes, but it’s important to learn to appreciate difficulties—they’re part of the picture and they add value to things. When you make music for the right reasons, even the challenges are worthwhile.
- Apart from music, do any other artistic medium or pastimes motivate you creatively?
I really love the fact that everyone is an artist in their own way—whether through their passion, profession, in the way they illuminate others, or the presence they bring to the most mundane aspects of daily life. There are often music lovers who don’t play music but still feel deeply connected to artistry, more than any musician; I have a tremendous admiration for those who are artists without even realizing it. When I’m not making music, I try to spend time with these people, they inspire me.
- If you could pick any artist you could work with, who would it be and why would you choose them?
I would love to work with Marketa Irglova one day; she’s an artist who deeply moves me with her simplicity and sensitivity. I had written a song hoping to one day perform it as a duet with her, but I never dared to send it…
- Live performance may provide a transforming encounter. Could you highlight a particularly noteworthy performance event from your career?
Playing live is truly what I enjoy the most. One moment that particularly touched me was in a pub in Dublin, where I was performing a cover of “A Million Miles Away” by Rory Gallagher. This song holds sacred significance for me, and I always play it with immense respect. It was the first time I was performing it in front of an Irish audience, and overwhelmed by the emotion, I completely forgot the lyrics, as if paralyzed by playing such a beautiful song in front of such a wonderful crowd. That’s when they began to sing the lyrics, and we were able to pick it up together and share that magical moment. They had such a respect for Rory Gallagher.
- Is there any upcoming news for the fans to become especially thrilled about, any forthcoming projects or releases?
Absolutely! “On Your Wire” is the first single from my debut album, which we’ve just finished recording. We’ll be releasing several singles in the coming weeks before the full album drops, and then we’ll be organizing a series of concerts throughout 2025. Stay tuned!
- Finally, what advice would you offer artists just starting their careers in the industry?
As someone who’s just starting out in the industry, I’d love to hear any advice you might have 😉
