Published: March 1, 2009 6:09 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight March 2009 Edition
Andy Hawk
Andy Hawk
Andy Hawk recently completed an online interview with our Webzine. The talented artist who is heavily influenced by such great iconic music legends as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon to name a few will win you over with his good time good feeling music. Check out this this fantastic spotlight that our Webzine completed with Andy as he gives us the 411 about his music.
Isaac: Hi Andrew, Welcome to your interview with Junior's Cave. Now that 2008 has officially ended, what are your reflections of the year 2008 for you as a solo artist?
Andy: One thing that was great was pulling together the band for this CD. Some of these guys helped on my fourth release last year, and it was so easy and so fun right away that we decided to form a band. We've garnered some good reviews and have generated some great excitement at our shows. It's been a blast.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Andy: All my "influences" questions begin with the Beatles. I think they retired the trophy of the best ever. They've always hit me right between the ears. I also love Tom Waits, Paul Westerberg, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, U2 and also guys like Josh Ritter, Matthew Ryan, Josh Joplin, Rhett Miller, Colin Hay (his solo acoustic stuff is unreal!), and even Billy Joel. Most are songwriters who all the rest of us try to catch.
Isaac: Let?s talk about what you feel Andy Hawk will bring to the music industry?
Andy: I don't know how to answer that one because it could be nothing and it could be something I've never dreamed of. I guess that although I'm my own harshest critic, I feel like I can write a decent song. For every five bad ones I maybe get lucky and write one good one. Maybe I'll be the oldest breakthrough artist of all time! I'd really be happy to have someone else record something of mine. That would be a great rush.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Andy: I'm just happy to work with anyone who's into their music and likes to bounce around ideas. As for working with someone established, I don't know because I'd probably be intimidated and more interested in picking their brains about their writing process.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Andy: It's mid-'60s Bob Dylan singing the Old 97s. Right now I've taken a deliberate swing toward Americana and blues. I'm utilizing the strengths of the guys in the band. Before, I was probably more pop/rock/folk, but I like the direction the band has me taking.
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from your previous releases?
Andy: Pretty decent, really. They're all very different, which I like. The first one was recorded in a real studio with real musicians helping out, then the second and third were homebrews that had a few people helping. The sound on those is rough for me to hear now, but it was all part of learning how to record, engineer, and mix. The last two have been really well-received in the local press and by strangers, which is always the barometer. It would be an easy job if my mom could be the critic of record (ha,ha). I'm really proud of this CD, though. It captures the best of the band's talents, and they've helped sharpen my songwriting and production skills as well.
Isaac: What can fans expect from your latest CD, you are working on currently? What is the inspiration behind the CD?
Andy: The next CD might be similar to this one instrumentally, but I actually have a couple of different genres to mix into it, and a couple more ballads maybe. I'm also writing with different people more frequently, so their influence will keep things fresh. I used to write alone, but I've taken a shine to the input of others. Some interesting songs have come of it.
Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?
Andy: My website is www.andyhawk.com, and all my solo CDs, and this one with Andy Hawk & The Train Wreck Endings, are available on iTunes, most music download services, and at www.cdbaby.com.
Isaac: What can fans expect from Andy Hawk in 2009?
More songs and more live shows! I think we'll record an EP to get it out by late summer so we can keep our momentum going strong.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans?
I'll say a special hello to my students (I'm a high school teacher by day) who have helped with recording, artwork, and with their talents over the years: Kevin Knight and Sean Cunningham, two great songwriters already; Anthony Schneck, whose guitar work on the last two CDs has been phenomenal; Anna Badyoczek for the beautiful cover painting for "Tin Can Town"; Hannah Pettit, Krystal Cochrane (co-wrote a song on my first CD); Mel Kobran and Graham Ohmer for their photography. And to Joe Weeks, who directed two full-length videos for me that look very professional.
Isaac: Final words from Andy Hawk?
Andy: I hope you like my songs, and thanks for all your help.
