John Oates has always had one foot in pop stardom and another in the roots of American music. These days, he’s leaning into both more than ever.
The Hall & Oates legend called in to talk about “Philly Forget Me Not,” the duo’s first new song in over a decade, his rootsy solo album Arkansas, and a memoir that’s just the beginning of a longer story.
Let’s start with that new song—a surprise collaboration with Train’s Pat Monahan, born from a tune by a pair of up-and-coming songwriters. “It came together really quickly,” Oates says. “Pat got the song, worked on it with Daryl while I was on the road, and suddenly we had this great track.”
The production feels modern, but the soul is vintage Hall & Oates. “It’s kind of got this modern pop production, but there’s just something about the sound—Daryl’s voice, Pat’s voice, my voice—it’s immediately recognizable.” As for the lyrical nods to the past, including a sly quote from “Rich Girl,” Oates shrugs, “Daryl can’t help himself.”
The song’s opening line references “being gone,” which Oates admits could read like a meta-commentary on their legacy, but insists they’ve never gone anywhere. “We’ve taken some time off, sure, but we’ve never done the fake reunion tour thing,” he says. “We’ve always been here.”
But don’t expect a full Hall & Oates album anytime soon. “I don’t think either of us are interested in that right now,” Oates says. “But singles? That’s how the world works now anyway. I wouldn’t rule anything out.”
Meanwhile, Oates’ solo journey is digging deep into his musical roots. His latest record, Arkansas, is a love letter to early American folk, blues, and country. Originally intended as a tribute to Mississippi John Hurt, the album grew to encompass songs from the ‘20s and ‘30s—music Oates calls “the first pop songs.”
“This was the stuff I was playing before I met Daryl,” he says. “Sun House, Doc Watson, Jimmie Rodgers… it was the music that shaped me.” Inspired by writing his 2017 memoir Change of Seasons, Oates began reconnecting with that side of himself. “Going through all those memories made me want to translate it into a musical statement.”
The album’s title track came to life after a show in Arkansas near the Mississippi River. “We went out to the cotton fields by Highway 61 and I said, ‘This is it. This is where the music came from.’ It felt like a musical touchpoint that needed to be honored.”
The guest list on Arkansas reads like an Americana all-star jam—Sam Bush, Russ Pahl, and members of Dan Auerbach’s band among them. “They just embraced me,” Oates says. “It’s been so joyful to play with these musicians.”
That joy also comes from toggling between solo shows and the arena spectacle of a Hall & Oates tour. “One night it’s a down-and-dirty blues set, the next I’m on stage in front of 20,000 people with video screens and production. I never get bored.”
As for his memoir, don’t worry—there’s more to come. Change of Seasons only goes up to the year 2000, and Oates says he’s already outlining the next volume. “The last 20 years have been some of the most profound of my life—moving to Nashville, starting a solo career, everything that’s happened since.”
So, no, he’s not bored. Not even close.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to hit the sweet spot a lot over the years,” Oates says. “But now, I get to stretch every musical muscle I have. That’s the best part.”
Listen to the interview above, and then check out some tracks below.
