From Game of Thrones Locations to Acoustic Folk: Robbie Boake’s New Musical Journey as Love From Belfast

Robbie Boake, the film location scout who spent a decade finding the dramatic landscapes for HBO’s Game of Thrones, is now embarking on a new creative path as a folk musician under the name Love From Belfast. Boake, a Belfast resident for 23 years, is releasing original music inspired by his travels and personal experiences.

A Decade Searching for Westeros

For over ten years, Boake scoured the Irish countryside and coastlines to identify filming locations for the globally popular series Game of Thrones. He recalls keeping voice memos during his scouting trips, capturing song ideas triggered by the beautiful landscapes he encountered, from Binevenagh mountain in County Londonderry to the region of Kerry.

Returning to Musical Roots

Prior to his work in film, Boake was a full-time musician, touring with the South African indie band Sunways in the early 2000s. He first visited Belfast during that tour and ultimately settled there. Now, he’s returned to his musical roots, recording songs in a homemade studio in his garden in east Belfast.

“Connemara” and the Inspiration Behind the Music

Boake recently released his new single, “Connemara,” written during a family trip to the west of Ireland. The song, released on March 2, 2026, Love From Belfast captures a moment of peace and presence on a sunlit beach. He describes the song’s creation as a natural process, with the landscape itself inspiring the structure and lyrics. He recalls a positive experience playing the song for a group of people on the beach, and adding a bridge section to reflect the “total ease” and “complete calm” he felt.

Personal Reflections and Influences

Boake’s first single, “Waiting For The Rain,” is a personal reflection on both Belfast and the recent loss of his father, who was a forester in South Africa. He describes his music as alternative, acoustic-folk, treating songs like landscapes and experimenting with structures. His musical inspirations include Paul Brady, Bob Dylan, Sufjan Stevens, Neil Young, Sam Amidon, and Bon Iver. He cites Paul Simon as the first artist he saw in concert, and Queen’s “The Works” as the first record he purchased. His favorite song currently is “The Island” by Paul Brady, which he describes as “like drinking a beautiful glass of wine.” He also fondly remembers the lyric “It’s a shame, the way she makes me scrub the floor, I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more” by Bob Dylan.

A Creative Philosophy

Boake emphasizes the importance of completing projects, learning from his wife and other artists that “it’s better complete than perfect.” He is dedicated to releasing his backlog of song ideas, fueled by his yoga practice and a welcoming letter he received with his Irish citizenship, which affirmed his place in Ireland and encouraged him to share his culture and stories.

Where to Find Love From Belfast

Listeners can find Boake’s music and more information on his website.