O’Neill Fernandes, the exceptional pop music artist, is amusing his audiences with his 60th music album, ‘Lanterns And Footsteps’. This pop music artist from Perth has offered a large array of songs in this album that are captivating global audiences. This album is like the long journey of O’Neill as a music maker. It is his exceptional delivery that has made this music album exceptional in every possible manner. Recently, we got the chance to have a chat with him, and this is how it went-
DMR: Hello, O’Neill Fernandes, first of all, congratulations on your 60th album release, ‘Lanterns And Footsteps’. You have come a long way, and how do you feel about that?
O’Neill: Thank you for the congratulations—it means the world. Reaching my 60th album, ‘Lanterns And Footsteps’, feels surreal. I never aimed for a number; I just kept creating because music is what keeps me going. From the little boy humming tunes in Bombay’s Chuim Village lanes, to migrating to Perth in 1972, building a life and family here, and facing a decade of serious health challenges, it’s been a long, winding road. Looking back, I’m mostly grateful—for every sunrise that lets me pick up the guitar again, for the listeners who’ve joined the journey, and for finally sharing stories I’d carried quietly for so long. This album is my most personal yet—scary to release, but freeing. I’m just an ordinary bloke making music from the heart, and if it touches even one person, that’s more than enough.
DMR: You have given a total of 20 songs in this album. What was your inspiration behind making the album?
O’Neill: The inspiration for ‘Lanterns And Footsteps’ came from a lifelong dream to tell my own story in song. These 20 tracks are chapters of that journey: childhood echoes, enduring loves, hard-won resilience, betrayal turned to truth, and the wide-open Australian spirit that became home. It’s my most personal album yet—raw, reflective, and ultimately hopeful—because I finally felt ready to open and share what I’d carried quietly for so long. Music has always been my lantern through the dark, and this one’s for anyone walking their own footsteps.
DMR: How was your journey of preparing this music album?
O’Neill: The journey preparing ‘Lanterns and Footsteps’ was both challenging and deeply rewarding. As my most personal album, it meant facing memories and emotions I’d carried quietly for years—from childhood in Bombay to migration, family life, and a decade of serious health battles. Many days started at 3:30 AM when pain or insomnia wouldn’t let me sleep, but those early hours became precious time to create. Creating videos helped bring my vision to life, turning raw feelings into evocative scenes. It was tough at times—especially the heavier tracks—but finishing it felt freeing, like finally lighting lanterns along the path I’ve walked. Music kept me going, as it always has.
DMR: Did you have any difficulties in making this album?
O’Neill: Yes, there were difficulties making ‘Lanterns and Footsteps’—mostly from my ongoing health challenges over the past decade, which bring constant pain, fatigue, and early mornings when sleep won’t come. Some tracks, like those dealing with betrayal or my cancer journey, were emotionally tough to face and relive. But those challenges made the album what it is—raw and real. Music kept me going through it all, turning the hard days into something meaningful.
DMR: From what you have got the idea of making this wide array of songs?
O’Neill: The idea for the wide array of songs in ‘Lanterns and Footsteps’ came from wanting to capture the full spectrum of my life’s journey in one album. From the nostalgic echoes of childhood to the raw pain of betrayal and a decade of health battles, right through to the defiant joy and wide-open Australian spirit that keeps me going. I didn’t want it to be one mood; life isn’t. Some tracks are reflective and gentle, others cinematic and swelling, a few edgy or uplifting—blending rock, pop, folk, and orchestral touches—to mirror the highs, lows, and everything in between. It’s my story, unfiltered, and the variety lets each chapter breathe on its own.
DMR: Who has been your true inspiration behind becoming an artist?
O’Neill: My true inspiration behind becoming an artist has always been my father. Growing up in Bombay, we shared a deep love for the big band sounds of James Last, Billy Vaughn, and those classic easy-listening melodies that filled our home. His passion for music planted the seed in me as a young boy, and even after migrating to Perth, that connection stayed strong. Life’s challenges, including my health battles over the past decade, pushed me deeper into creating, to find joy and meaning, but it all traces back to my Dad. He showed me that music is more than sound—it’s heart, memory, and love.”
DMR: You have always made pop music tracks. Do you have any wish to try a different music genre?
O’Neill: While I’ve explored pop elements in many tracks, my catalogue’s quite diverse—blending rock, folk, reggae, hip-hop, country, jazz to cinematic soundscapes, big band tributes, and even classic instrumentals across 60 albums. If you scan my 60 album discographies, you will find that I have covered just about every genre, apart from classical music. Currently, I’m planning originals in that warm, nostalgic vein with AI-assisted vocals, as a heartfelt tribute. It’s not a complete shift away from pop, but more of an evolution to honour those roots while keeping the heart at the centre.
DMR: Are you working on any new music album right now?
O’Neill: Yes, I’m already working on my next album, ‘Great Australian Songbook’, set for release on Australia Day, 26 January 2026. It’s a heartfelt celebration of this land—its vast outback, coastal beauty, people, culture, and unbreakable spirit—across 20 tracks blending rock, folk, and cinematic sounds. It’s shaping up to be a proud tribute to the country that’s been home for over 50 years. After the personal depth of Lanterns and Footsteps, this one’s more uplifting—a love letter to Australia and its everyday heroes.
DMR: Do you have any wish to perform live in recent days?
O’Neill: No, I don’t have a wish to perform live in recent days—my ongoing health challenges over the past decade, with constant pain and fatigue, make the physical demands of stage performances impossible. I’m an introvert at heart anyway, and I find my deepest joy in the studio, creating and sharing music directly with listeners through recordings and videos. The digital world lets me connect with people globally in a way that feels authentic to me, without the strain of live shows. I’m grateful for that reach—it’s more than enough.
DMR: Do you have any message to give to your audiences?
O’Neill: To my audiences around the world—thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening, for riding this journey with me through 60 albums. If there’s one message I’d share, it’s this: no matter how dark the road gets, how heavy the pain or the challenges, hold on to what lights you up inside. For me, it’s been music—my lantern through the toughest times. Find yours, keep creating, keep hoping, and remember you’re never walking alone. Your support keeps me going, and I’m grateful for every one of you.
Thank you so much for taking out your time for us. A big congratulations once again, and all the very best for your upcoming releases.
📱 Follow O’Neill Fernandes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oneillfern
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ONeillFernandes
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/oneill-fernandes
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/o-neill-fernandes-95075996
