Lukas Nelson Says He Spends “Every Second Of Every Day” Trying To Be With His Father, The Legendary Willie Nelson

So sweet.

This year, Lukas Nelson released his solo debut record American Romance, which is easily one of my favorites of the year and is much more traditional and decidedly country than his previous work with his former band Promise of the Real, and I think it’s a natural fit and seems to be where he’s taking his sound for the foreseeable future. I think he’s so talented that anything he puts out is going to be great, and I loved the edgier, rock-leaning stuff as much as I do this chapter of his music, so I’m excited to see where his career goes from here.

But he still plays with his father, the legendary Willie Nelson, when he can, and you can find them on the road together pretty often. They’ve worked together musically for many years, and Lukas has talked many times about how he first took an interest in music as a kid in order to get close with his dad and be with him as much as possible.

While obviously, this solo debut and the success of it is a lifelong dream, Lukas and his dad are very close, and so it’s hard when he can’t be with him because he’s in pursuit of his own music dreams. Obviously, Willie isn’t getting any younger, but if anyone understands the sacrifices to make a dream a reality, it’s Willie.

In an interview with Rolling Stone recently, Lukas admitted that “every second of every day I am trying to be with my father,” and he’s always trying to get back to him and spend quality time together:

“Every second of every day I am trying to be with my father. If I can. But he of all people understands the importance of striking while the iron’s hot, and I’ve always wanted to  make him proud by being a hard worker, being self-sufficient, and never needing to ask him for anything. and it takes me away from my dad sometimes, but I know that he knows  why, because he had to do the same thing when he was young.

And so every second of every day, I’m trying t get back. When I’m home, I’ll go see him every day. We’ll go sit and pick, we’ll sit and talk, we’ll sit and listen to music, listen to Django, and Merle, and Ernest Tubb, and Hank Williams and play domino’s, spend good time. That’s what it’s all about.”

It’s such a beautiful sentiment, and something I think many people can relate to as we get older and our parents do too… even if your dad isn’t a music icon like Willie.

The respect he has for his dad is obvious, and you can hear his father’s influence in every song he’s ever written, and the fact that they have such a strong relationship is really impressive considering how often children of incredibly famous people can easily go down the wrong path:

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I’m sure it’s been difficult at times for Lukas to follow in his father’s footsteps, and the fact that he doesn’t resent it or run from it is actually really impressive. He’s incredibly talented as a solo musician, though, and so that obviously helps… Lukas is not some fledgling artist who doesn’t deserve to be making music or is only propped up because of his last name.

And once again I’ll say, if you haven’t checked out American Romance yet, you’re missing out… just give these a spin and you’ll see why this Shooter Jennings-produced album is a masterpiece:

“Montana”

“American Romance”

“Outsmarted”

“Pretty Much”

Lukas and Willie’s duet of Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe” seriously lives rent free in my head too:

“Just Breathe”

The post Lukas Nelson Says He Spends “Every Second Of Every Day” Trying To Be With His Father, The Legendary Willie Nelson first appeared on Whiskey Riff.