The new album follows O'Hara's debut A Peaceful Kind of Fun, released in November 2025. How Could I Hate You? is described as O'Hara at his most ambitious, striking a balance between humour and tenderness with a band that combines baroque, country, rock, and classic folk.

Lead single “Never About Money” arrives as the first preview of the song, and is described as a tongue-in-cheek song of frustration — a playful "do one" to rich daddy's boys trying to bend O'Hara to their will.

"This song was so much fun to record with my wonderful band," O'Hara says. "The first word on the track being 'yeehaw' sums it up really, the lyrics aren't meant to be taken too seriously and it's a tongue in cheek diss track about certain bigwigs in the music industry. The arrangement is playful and energetic and was really inspired by mid-1960s Bob Dylan, taking a walk down 'Positively 4th Street'."

How Could I Hate You? was written on a secret tour of the US West Coast in January 2026 and recorded in March 2026 at Real World Studios in Wiltshire with James Trevascus (engineer for Billy Nomates, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Young Fathers). The album features musical contributions from O'Hara's live band, His Burley Chassis, as well as a guest vocals from contemporary folk artist Naima Bock.

O'Hara and his band will play at Sŵn Festival and tour throughout the UK, including dates in Cardiff, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, London, Birmingham, Brighton, Southampton, Bristol and Llanarthney.

How Could I Hate You? artwork

How Could I Hate You? tracklist

"Never About Money"
"Bywyd Braf"
"Pass The Blame"
"I Knew You"
"Oherwydd Y Glaw"
"Two Balloons"
"For Now, We're Apart"
"Psycho"
"Windowsill"
"Memory"
"Beth Bynnag A Ddaw"
"How Could I Hate You?"