Alyssa Hankey “West of the Ohio” - Eighty Unplugged Episode 7
Music, Emotion, and Western Pennsylvania: The Alyssa Hankey Interview
Pennsylvania is a landscape of contradictions that, paradoxically, speak to the heart and soul of its residents in a profound way. The gentleness of the slow-moving Ohio meets the strength of its surrounding mountains. It’s hard work maintaining industries rooted in agriculture, manufacturing, and lumber, but the slow pace of the average small town makes for easy living. Pennsylvanians exist in the story of the overlap, and it’s in the emotional narrative of the in-between space that Alyssa Hankey’s music captivates Appalachia and beyond. In this episode, she delves into that story and the authentic lyrics of the song “West of the Ohio.”
Working Class Artist
Alyssa Hankey recalls a life of being interested in music and visual art, which stands in contrast to the manual labor that her ancestors had traditionally done for generations. Her upbringing in Western Pennsylvania was one of listening to the stories of parents and grandparents talk about factories and businesses that closed down as time went on, a childhood experience many Pennsylvanians relate to. She started playing guitar as a kid and explored songwriting in high school. She went on to study graphic design in college, but decided to pursue music full-time and has been captivating audiences at over 150 shows a year.
Somewhere West
Even though she is a creative, coming from a working class background inspires the narrative behind her music. Generations of people who came from places like Germany and Ireland settled in Central Pennsylvania, working hard jobs that didn’t give them much time to process their thoughts and feelings. Settling and building in the early stages of modern America left no time for travel, either. Alyssa’s music is a way for her to reflect on the Appalachian lifestyle of the past and the present, feeling the emotions for them in a sense. She roams far beyond the sometimes isolating mountains and rivers of the valley, but she loves the rhythm of life she describes in her song “Hippie of the Hills.” The settled nature of Pennsylvania culture is not all there is for her, but she takes it with her somewhere west.
Effortless Authenticity
Alyssa Hankey plans to release an album she describes as a “love letter to Western Pennsylvania.” Her style embodies that sentiment, from the previously released EP Northerner to her live performances surrounded by nature. The purposeful wandering of a raspy, melodic voice is well-equipped to handle the vulnerable topics her songwriting brings to life. The 90’s country influence is just as notable as the folksy instrumentation drawn from artists like Bob Dylan and John Prine.
“West of the Ohio”
Alyssa dives into the lyrics behind her song, “West of the Ohio,” that she plans to feature on her forthcoming album.
Exploring the imagery of emotion, “West” takes us into the inner world of an individual considering the history of where they came from but living in a way that moves beyond it. It is in the act of moving beyond that the sacrifices the previous generations made are recognized and honored. It is a story and an identity that speaks to Pennsylvanians and the spirit of Appalachia as a whole.
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Written by Alyssa Hankey
Forged in fire and filled with smoke
They built their house up in these hills
They dug for coal and worked with steel
That ancient river runs deep and wide
And they never lived to see the other side
So I carry them with me everywhere I go
All that settling down gave me a restless soul
You can’t break a wild horse that was meant to roam
Somewhere West of the Ohio
This mountain chain it builds a wall
From the flatlanders and the western stars
Her waters start down at the fork
In that city I’ve known since I was born
Here in the land of smokestacks
They carried their country upon their backs
So I carry them with me everywhere I go
Arizona, Colorado
You can’t break a wild horse that was meant to roam
Somewhere West of the Ohio
I’m out there running on the western wind
I carry the light and all the sins
They’re still there in all the blood I bleed
So when I die you bring this body back East
Throw my ashes in the river and set me free
And my soul is left to roam
Somewhere West of the Ohio
Follow Alyssa!
Support Alyssa Hankey by following him on these platforms!
Website: https://www.alyssahankey.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssahankey/
A Podcast for Music Lovers!
Our goal with Eighty Unplugged is to create a space where songwriters from all levels of success and all backgrounds can discuss their art! We hope to grow into a community of musicians supporting each other's creations; and of course, hear some great live music!
Stay plugged in to Eighty Unplugged by subscribing to the podcast and following on all socials. I want to give a big thank you to Alyssa Hankey and all the fans for making this episode possible.