In celebration of his recent fusing of formats that is The Gunfighter and the new single Ride, we caught an interview with actor and singer-songwriter Malek Hanna, to find out more about this creative journey, the rock and roll energy of the song, and his plans for the year ahead. Here’s the conversation in full.
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Hi Malek, great to connect with you. Huge congrats for the new single! To introduce things, where are you currently based, and what’s been your main creative focus so far this year?
Thank you, I appreciate it. I’m currently based in Los Angeles. This year has really been about building momentum and alignment across everything I do. I’m not approaching music as a separate lane anymore, it’s part of a larger cinematic vision that connects directly to my work as a filmmaker and producer.
The focus has been on creating records that feel intentional and immersive, not just songs that live on playlists, but pieces that belong to a bigger world. At the same time, I’ve been actively developing and packaging film projects, so everything is moving in sync and building toward something cohesive.
How did you come to connect with The Gunfighter crew, and was the song written with the story in mind – is that an easier process for you to have a given theme and idea to work with?
I’m one of the producers on The Gunfighter, so the connection was very organic. “Ride” came directly out of that world. I was immersed in the tone of the film, the psychology, the tension, and the music started forming from that space. For me, having a strong narrative foundation doesn’t limit the process; it sharpens it. It gives everything direction and weight.
“Ride” isn’t just inspired by the film; it feels like an extension of it. Same energy, same DNA, just expressed through sound.
How long was the creative process from thought to finished song, and how collaborative was the completed rock sound?
The initial idea came together quickly, but refining it into what it is now took time and precision. I’m very hands-on across the entire process, from writing to production, so I stay close to the vision all the way through. It was collaborative in terms of musicians and energy, but the tone was always very specific. I wanted something raw, cinematic, and powerful. A rock sound that feels like it belongs in a film but still stands on its own.
Everyone involved really leaned into that and elevated it. I reached out to a few incredibly talented musician friends and we made it happen. Alex Reyes on bass and guitar, Carlos Beltran on drums, and the cherry on top, violin by Alen Agadzhanyan. Vincent Ott came in to engineer, and I co-produced the track with Max Herman while he was in London.
Does it feel more exposed for you being a singer and songwriter on a stage than performing as an actor in a specific role, or vice-versa perhaps? How do the two disciplines intertwine?
Music is definitely more exposed. As an actor, you step into a character, there’s a layer between you and the audience. With music, it’s direct. There’s nowhere to hide.
At the same time, my acting background shapes everything I do musically. I approach songs like scenes, there’s intention, emotional arcs, tension. I’m always thinking in terms of storytelling, which is where the two disciplines really merge.
Will you be hitting the stage with Ride in the coming weeks, and if so, where can people catch you?
We’re currently lining up live performances. I want to bring “Ride” to the stage in a way that matches its intensity, something immersive, cinematic, and performance-driven. We’ll be starting in Los Angeles, with more announcements coming soon.
What else do you have planned for 2026?
2026 is about expansion, consistency, and scale. More music, more visuals, and continuing to build out the film slate in a meaningful way. “Ride” is the beginning of a larger rollout, with more records coming that connect both sonically and visually.
On the film side, we’re pushing forward with The Gunfighter and other projects in development. The goal is to build a body of work that feels cohesive, elevated, and impactful across both music and film.
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Find all things Malek Hanna.
