Okehampton memories rooted in Haniell’s new music

An Okehampton artist has released a new album focussed on the town and Dartmoor.

This is the third solo album to have been released by Haniell Langton-Laybourn and places around Devon are mentioned, including South Zeal, Okehampton Castle and Dartmoor.

Haniell grew up in Okehampton and lived in the same house on Castle Road until he was 19, giving him a deep understanding of the town. He now lives in London and this album was created during lockdown, a time when he was unable to travel back home. It is essentially his ‘dream-memory’ of Devon.

Haniell attended South Tawton Primary School and Okehampton College - first starting playing guitar when he was eight-years-old and writing songs when he was 15.

‘It was around that age, studying GCSE music with Val Berry at Okehampton College, that music really became the main focus of my life. I played in and briefly conducted the big band there, and I was in a band that won the 2014 Okehampton Battle of the Bands.

‘I’ve released 3 solo albums, and they’re all largely about growing up in Okehampton. These are People Doing Things (2017), Ocmundtune-mastix & Now (2019) and Harry Anne Linseed (2021).' 

Harry Anne Linseed was recorded during the nationwide lockdown at the start of 2021, when Haniell was furloughed from his job in a bookshop. 

‘I recorded it all in my bedroom, with a few cameo appearances from housemates of mine (playing violin and saxophone),’ he said.

‘As usual, the songs are mostly about Okehampton. “Haunted Keep” is about seeing a ghost at Okehampton Castle; “Harvest Festival” is about a mysterious playing card that was stuck to the ceiling of the Victory Hall in South Zeal - we had school assemblies there, and I was always curious about why the card was there; “I Was Walking Again in Dreamland” is inspired by a painting by local artist Sandy Carter called “Walking With a Lion on Klondyke” and is about travelling onto the moor across the A30 footbridge; “Fall of the Granite Man” is a creation story about Dartmoor.

'The album's artwork is by Thomas Gooch, and he’s incorporated lots of images of Okehampton, including the castle, All Saints Church and the Okehampton Argyle FC kit. He’s done the artwork for all my albums, and has illustrated many places in and around Okehampton.' 

To listen to Haniell’s new album, visit https://haniell.bandcamp.com/album/harry-anne-linseed