Keene Singer-Songwriter Ian Galipeau Explores Life's Uncertainties Through New Album 'Hollow Dreams'

KEENE — For singer-songwriter Ian Galipeau, music has always been about more than melodies and lyrics. It's a way to explore life's complexities, process emotions and connect with people through shared experiences. Now, the longtime Keene musician is preparing to release his latest album, Hollow Dreams, a collection of songs examining faith, doubt, certainty and the impermanent nature of life, all set against a more energetic, rock-influenced sound. Galipeau will celebrate the release with a full-band performance at Mole Hill Theatre in Alstead on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. He will be joined by his band, The Views, with Brattleboro singer-songwriter Mimi Fang opening the evening. The concert marks another milestone in a musical journey that began during Galipeau's childhood in northern New Hampshire, where music was a constant presence in his life. His father had been a professional musician for two decades before stepping away from the profession to raise a family. Although music was always present at home, Galipeau said his father never pressured him to follow the same path. "I didn't think about making music myself until I was in high school, when my best friend bought a drum kit," Galipeau said. "We started playing together and I caught the bug ... and in the midst of all my high school angst, writing songs was a way to process all those feelings. I don't have a lot of angst now that I'm pushing 40, but songwriting is still a beautiful and cathartic puzzle that I can't get enough of." That fascination with songwriting continues to shape his work, which blends elements of folk, rock, blues, Americana and piano-driven ballads. Galipeau describes himself as "a singer-songwriter for hopeful cynics," a phrase reflecting both the emotional range of his music and his interest in examining life's contradictions. "I've always struggled with genre categorization, because I'm inspired by so many different things," he said. "All the songs sound like me, but some are slow folk, some are funky blues, some are straight rock and roll, and some are piano ballads." His latest album, however, represents a deliberate effort to simplify his approach. While previous projects have experimented with different arrangements and production styles, Hollow Dreams embraces what Galipeau describes as an indie-rock Americana sound, emphasizing straightforward songwriting, energetic instrumentation and memorable melodies. "Tom Petty could take three chords and write a rock song with a distinct verse, chorus, and bridge," Galipeau said. "I sometimes have a tendency to get a bit clever, to over-complicate things beyond what most listeners find engaging. This album was a concerted effort to break that habit and try to get back to basics." Despite its more accessible musical approach, the album explores subjects Galipeau acknowledges are anything but simple. Over the past decade, he has maintained a collection of dozens of unreleased songs, often developing albums around themes that connect different compositions. For Hollow Dreams, those themes center on uncertainty, personal beliefs and the realization that life rarely fits into clearly defined categories. "I'm fascinated by the grey areas, especially in our current climate that operates from a place where everything exists as polar opposites," he said. "Almost everything in life is profoundly complex. Almost anything we're certain of, there's some degree to which we're wrong. I find that both unsettling and beautiful." Recent releases have explored piano-driven pop, alternative country and atmospheric acoustic arrangements, making Hollow Dreams a notably more energetic project. "This album is definitely the most fun collection of music I've released," he said. Originally from Coos County, Galipeau moved to Keene in 2007 and has remained in the area ever since. He credits New England's interconnected music scene with helping him build opportunities as a performer. Those experiences have also influenced how he measures success as a musician. "I've seen world-famous artists in arenas, but the most profound musical experiences of my life have been in small rooms with artists who generally fly under the radar," Galipeau said. That emphasis on personal connection will be central to the upcoming performance at Mole Hill Theatre. For the concert, Galipeau will perform alongside The Views, featuring Andy Kuchta on guitar and vocals, Joey Clark on bass and Matt Lawlor on drums. The group has been developing live arrangements of songs from Hollow Dreams, including material Galipeau has previously performed as a solo acoustic musician. Working with a full band has allowed the songs to evolve as each musician contributes ideas and different musical influences. "I'm also playing electric guitar, which is a huge change for me," he said. "Some of the songs feel just like the record, and some of them have evolved and taken on a new shape as everybody brings their own personality and taste to the table." Galipeau said the collaborative process has brought renewed excitement to songs he has worked on for years. The evening will also feature an opening performance by Mimi Fang, a Brattleboro songwriter whom Galipeau met while touring in support of a previous album. He said he was impressed by her musicianship and wanted to invite her to participate in the new release shows. For audience members, Galipeau promises a performance that balances upbeat music with moments of reflection. "There are songs that will make you dance, a couple that might make you cry, and we always make sure to laugh a bit as well," he said. Beyond the upcoming concert, Galipeau plans to promote Hollow Dreams through independent and college radio stations, which he values for their emphasis on human music selection rather than algorithm-driven recommendations. But for now, his primary focus remains sharing the latest collection of songs with audiences in person. "At this point in my career, I'm not particularly interested in maximizing my algorithmic plays or going viral ... I'm interested in building actual connections," Galipeau said. "And there's something magical in sharing music together in a room that you can never get on Spotify." For a musician who began writing songs as a teenager searching for an outlet, that connection remains the driving force behind his work. "Finding that space is my hope every single time I get on a stage," Galipeau said. "This show at Mole Hill is the one I'm most looking forward to, of all my gigs this year." The album-release performance will take place Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Mole Hill Theatre in Alstead.