As one of the members of Canada's legendary indie band,
LOWEST OF THE LOW, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist
RON HAWKINS has enjoyed many accolades showered on that band
over the years. In 1996, 2000 and again in 2005, Chart Magazine
honoured the group's 1991 debut album, Shakespeare My Butt, with
spots in the top 10 of the Top 100 Canadian Albums of All Time alongside
Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and The Tragically Hip.
After a second Low album in 1994, the band parted ways and Hawkins
released a solo album and EP in the subsequent two years. Forming a
fast-
paced big band complete with a horn section, Hawkins released three
albums
with a new group THE RUSTY NAILS from 1997-2001, at which point the
call from the masses had to be heeded: the LOWEST OF THE LOW reunited
for a series of shows, a live album and a new studio album. Hawkins
started
tinkering on some of his own songs in the Low rehearsal space, playing
all the
parts and laying down tracks that would eventually become his 3rd solo
record, Chemical Sounds, being released January 19th, 2008, at the
Horseshoe.
Named in homage to the Toronto studio where the album was recorded,
Chemical Sounds is the last album ever recorded at the venerable
Chemical
Sound space, having since moved location and changed ownership.
Produced by Hawkins and Rudy Rempel, Chemical Sounds shows off
Hawkins' trademark range of style and emotion. He jotted down a list of
life
lessons for his baby daughter in "A Brief History," featuring the
in-utero heartbeat
of the as-yet-unborn Ruby B., to whom this album is dedicated.
"Sofa Star" is a punk-tinged rock track that tries to talk someone out
of
committing suicide, while other tunes bear a signature Hawkins social
commentary and that unmistakable, unduplicated voice. "Born To It"
shows that
he is just that, followed by the sure-fire hit "Anonymous," feathered
by strings and
piano showing a more mature and experienced man writing the songs now.
Don't worry, though - it still has a searing Hawkins electric guitar
solo in the middle of it!
Accompanying the new album will be an online diary for fans to hear the
genesis of each track, from the first chords to the demo to the final
version, under
the banner of Evolution Days, a section on <http://www.ronhawkins.com>
that
will be posted closer to the album's release date.
Since 2001, Hawkins has been working double-duty an artist, splitting
his time
between songwriting, performing, and making a living as a painter. He
sells
paintings all over the world from an artist collective web site that he
helped found,
called VictimlessCapitalism.com. Check out his samples posted there and
you'll find
some of Canada's rock who's-who, including great portraits like that of
Ian Blurton
who produced two of the Rusty Nails albums and the 2004 Low studio
album.
Hawkins is also currently in the studio producing fellow Low member
Steve Stanley's
next solo album, due out next year.
RON HAWKINS releases Chemical Sounds, his 10th album since 1991,
Saturday, January 19th, 2008 at the Horseshoe, 370 Queen St. West,
Toronto.
Doors open at 9:00 p.m., cover is $15 at the door.
To request a photo or set up an interview with Ron Hawkins, please
contact
Karen Pace at Pacemaker Productions (416) 918-6525
<karen@gokarenpace.com>
