Kieran Phillips releases new single “Houston”

Liverpool-based singer-songwriter Kieran Phillips occupies an unusual position within modern music; by day, he works as a full-time airline pilot, flying routes through the skies. Outside the cockpit, however, he channels a different kind of journey through music, drawing on blues, country and classic rock stylings to create songs built on strong melodies, engaging storytelling and timeless musicianship. Influenced by artists including Eric Clapton, Chris Stapleton, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Rolling Stones, Kieran has a clear appreciation for classic sounds while offering an original voice that feels entirely his own.

His music sits comfortably within a context of vintage guitar-driven songwriting, but it avoids feeling nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake. Kieran takes familiar ingredients and reshapes them through personal experience and a natural flair for storytelling through sound. In April, that balance was first introduced through his debut single “Evil Woman,” a blues-driven release that established his love of classic tones and expressive songwriting. Now, with his sophomore single titled “Houston,” he expands that vision into something even more cinematic.

“Houston” is driven by movement while taking cues from the film Planes, Trains and Automobiles and his brother’s home in Houston, the track plays out like a scene from a road movie. It follows a protagonist trapped in escalating travel chaos, desperately searching for a way forward as every possible option disappears. The initial sense of frustration gradually transforms into something much larger, becoming a tale of escape, risk and relentless momentum.

Faced with no flights and no alternatives, the central character steals a Ford Mustang and tears down the highway in a last-ditch attempt to reach their destination, police pursuit close behind. It’s a tale that revolves around jeopardy and freedom, two themes that have long fuelled some of the most enduring songs in the country and rock canon. “Houston” captures the sensation of open roads and endless horizons through a blend of country, blues and rock influences. The arrangement is based in classic songwriting aesthetic but delivered with enough energy and conviction to feel modern and thoroughly new.

A significant part of the track’s character comes from Kieran’s guitar work, using his left-handed Gibson ES335, strung with 12-gauge strings and tuned to D standard, he creates a thick and powerful tone that drives the song forward. Particularly notable is the soaring guitar solo that’s driven through a Fender tube amplifier and an Ibanez Tube Screamer, taking inspiration from Stevie Ray Vaughan to serve up a burst of expressive energy that perfectly complements the track’s sense of movement.

Recorded at Crosstown Studios in Liverpool, “Houston” brings together a tight group of musicians who help bring to life Kieran’s vision. Alongside Kieran on lead vocals and guitar, Jon Lawton contributes bass and organ while also taking on production duties and Peter Roper completes the lineup on drums, providing the rhythmic propulsion that keeps the song charging forward.

As Kieran Phillips continues to record new material on a monthly basis and prepares for the release of his upcoming EP Uncle Sam, “Houston” serves as a compelling indication of where his musical journey is heading. Alongside his regular appearances at Liverpool open mic nights and his work as a lead guitarist with local bands, the single highlights an artist dedicated to keeping the spirit of classic blues rock alive and we can’t wait to see where his artistic adventure takes him next.

Listen to Houston below

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