Emerging UK artist Iona Luke continues her ascent in the indie rock and alt-pop space with her newest single, “Can We Still Hang Out?” She explains more about the track:
“Can we still hang out is a song about when devotion becomes destructive. There is a terrifying line between loving selflessly and wanting to absorb someone fully into yourself, perhaps because just yourself doesn’t feel like enough, to you or to them. Where the song begins in dejection and acceptance, it ends in a reclamation of selfhood in a reckoning of anger and of noise.”
That balance between vulnerability and intensity has quickly become a defining characteristic of Luke’s artistry. Drawing inspiration from artists like Patti Smith, PJ Harvey, Florence + The Machine, and Portishead, the 23-year-old songwriter blends indie rock with alt-pop. Many of her songs reportedly begin as poems first, which is something that becomes immediately apparent throughout “Can We Still Hang Out?”
Originally from Shepherd’s Bush in London, Luke studied English Literature at the University of Cambridge while simultaneously building her music career, even writing her dissertation on Patti Smith. That poetic background bleeds naturally into her songwriting.
Following recent releases like “Existential,” “Violence,” and “Voices On The TV,” “Can We Still Hang Out?” further showcases her ability to turn internal conflict into something cinematic and resonant.
With millions of streams already accumulating across her catalog, growing BBC and UK press support, and performances at festivals like The Great Escape, Iona Luke continues building serious momentum as one of indie music’s most compelling emerging voices. “Can We Still Hang Out?” feels like another major step forward, highlighting her songwriting ability.
