NMC Artist in Residence: John Wort Hannam

Folk singer-songwriter John Wort Hannam shares the story and songwriting process behind his tune, “Lucky Strikes,” inspired by a conversation with a woman one late night at a bar. The song brings a three-hour conversation and 30-year personal history to life, resulting in one beautiful, striped-down three-and-a-half-minute song.

In 2022, while an Artist in Residence at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (NMC), the Lethbridge-based artist recorded this song and gained access to NMC collection items such as Neil Young’s 1935 Martin guitar.

The self-directed Artist in Residence program offers access to unique studio environments, technical assistance from NMC staff, including an audio engineer and technical assistant, and access to NMC’s living collection, spanning 450 years of music technology and innovation.

Learn more at studiobell.ca/artist-in-residence.

Watch John Wort Hannam perform “Lucky Strikes” live in studio: