Ria Hanley

With “Antonia,” Ria Hanley transforms a brief train encounter into a heartfelt story of connection. In this interview, she reflects on the moment that inspired the song, its emotion-led creation, and the influences that shaped its nostalgic yet modern sound.

1. “Antonia” is inspired by a real-life encounter with a woman you met on a train. Can you take us back to that moment — what was it about her presence or words that made you realize she needed to be immortalized in a song?

I met Antonia on a train , happened to be seated next to her. I think I saw myself in her and she saw her younger years in my eyes. She was a woman with such lust for life and has lived her whole existence purely to live? Every moment encapsulating “life is for living”.

2. Your sound beautifully balances nostalgia and modernity. How do you find that equilibrium when writing and producing — what elements help you capture both timeless warmth and contemporary emotion?

I think my world will always have some form of nostalgia, the old soul in me with forever see the world in that way? I love mixing warm acoustic guitars with more contemporary sounds.

3. You’ve mentioned that the recording process was built entirely around emotion and spontaneity. Can you describe a moment in the studio when the music took on a life of its own — something unexpected that shaped the final track?

I spoke in the studio about meeting Antonia on the train and in the end we decided to make the intro all suited around the “setting the scene”. finding creative ways to incorporate the business of the train and how these encounters to feel meant to be.

4. “Antonia” feels deeply personal yet universally relatable. What do you hope listeners take away from the story — and how do you think it speaks to ideas of love, freedom, and self-discovery?

I think there’s no wrong answers in terms of what listeners should take away from the story of ‘antonia’ and the lessons she taught me that day? Any lessons learnt from her story is something beautiful , shows the impact music can have on us. The art of human connection and how the smallest conversations with someone for a couple of hours on a train can alter their whole perspective.

5. You draw influence from artists like Stevie Nicks, Florence + The Machine, and HAIM. How did these inspirations manifest in “Antonia,” either musically or lyrically?

I love artists that are honest with their lyrics and tell a story – that’s one thing my music will always promise.

6. You’ve supported artists like Declan McKenna, Sunny Sweeney, and Big Country recently. How have those live experiences shaped your growth as a performer, and how do you see “Antonia” fitting into your live shows moving forward?

I played Antonia at all of the shows listed and it’s always gone down really well live. I think that’s how I knew it was one I needed to get recorded in the studio – it also meant i’d learnt ways of getting the song stronger – what worked and what didn’t.

https://linktr.ee/riahanley