After spending a short period in the family business, he began playing music full-time at 18 cutting his teeth on the Bohemian busking scene around Europe in the early 90s.

Lukeman established himself as a solo artist and songwriter with his live work and his breakthrough 1999 multi-platinum selling album Metropolis Blue, gaining record deals and touring extensively in the US and Europe, and becoming a regular fixture on U.S college radio with the singles "Rooftop Lullabye", "Georgie Boy" and "Ode to Ed Wood".

His range too is impressive, from the deep baritone resonance of 'When The Moon Is High' to the aching falsetto of the magnificent 'Rooftop Lullaby' ... this is a timeless collection of fine songs, beautifully delivered, from an artist as unique as Ireland has ever produced".

In May 2011, Lukeman presented a series of radio shows with fellow Irish singer Julie Feeney on Lyric FM called "High Fidelity" tracing the history of recorded song from Edison to the IPOD.

During his musical career Lukeman has worked with composer Brian Byrne, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic and producers Greg Wells, Craig Armstrong and Martin Clancy.

Lukeman has also performed over the years supporting or alongside U2, Ronnie Wood, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, John Lee Hooker, Elvis Costello, Jools Holland, and Marianne Faithfull, and has appeared at venues such as Olympia Paris, Royal Albert Hall in London, and The Lincoln Center in NYC.