Today, beloved singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ron Hawkins releases his new solo EP titled Trash Talkin’ At The Speed Of Sound viaSonic Envy. Long-revered as one of Canada’s great contemporary singer-songwriters, Hawkins is probably best known for his work as principal songwriter and lead vocalist for legendary Canadian band Lowest of the Low.
The six-song collection showcases the widest sonic array of anything in the singer, multi-instrumentalist, and accomplished visual artist’s back catalogue, seamlessly incorporating electronic elements like vintage synths and drum machines with an ambitious production style. While it’s technically a “solo” album, the EP features “production” from the multi-talented Devon Lougheed (Skye Wallace, Hey Ocean!), the quotations owing to the blurred lines between creator and curator as they navigated through the record-making process.
“What brought us together, and I think what made this collaboration so rewarding, is that we’re both willing to try anything with a big grin on our faces until we’ve exhausted every option,” enthuses Hawkins. “My style is very much about quick combustion – fast, directly to the point – whereas Devon is a master of dynamics. I’d send over demos from my home studio that went in all kinds of directions, and then he really guided them towards the finish line. It was funny when the label asked us to break down who played which instruments and parts, and we really had no idea in the end.” The result is like a dark short film pressed on vinyl, unlike anything else we’ve heard from the notably prolific Hawkins but at the same time, unmistakably him.
The dizzying, danceable “Church of the Chemical D.J.” and amped-up, alt-country-tinged anthem “One Horse Town” would be right at home on any of Lowest of the Low’s triumphant last three LPs while the more sombre “R.I.P. Van Winkle” and “The Undertow” present a sharp reminder of Hawkins’ raw prowess as a composer and lyricist. But it’s “Can’t Be Love” that best captures the album’s essence, somehow creating cohesion at a crossroads of Broken Social Scene, the Beastie Boys, and an Ennio Morricone soundtrack, punctuated with a beautiful verse by guest artist Britta B.
The common thread woven through all is a bold and brazen approach to songwriting – unrepentantly potent poetry anchored by simple-but-substantial melodies comprising some combination of indie, folk, and punk rock. Such is the case with his latest EP,Trash Talkin’ at the Speed of Sound. But while it carries Hawkins’ now signature take on the “three-chords-and-the-truth” ethos, it also circumvents its inherent musical confinements.
Trash Talkin’ at the Speed of Sound is sure to pick up praise and accolades akin to that of its many predecessors; Hawkins is, after all, a perennial Songwriter of the Year candidate from a myriad of outlets and even a Canadian Indie Rock Hall of Fame inductee. But at this stage of such a storied life in music and art, that’s basically just par for the course.
“This EP really captures how blessed I am to have a 40-year career and still get to make this my vocation and livelihood,” he says. “If I sit down and think about it too much, it starts to feel surreal,” so in that regard, it’s as much a gift to the artist himself as it is his ever-growing faithful.
Back by popular demand – Hugh Christopher Brown, Hawkins and Stephen Stanley have dusted off their road cases for another adventure through two countries and three musical catalogues. The shows feature Lowest Of The Low co-founders Hawkins and Stanley pulling from their extensive collective and individual songbooks while Brown’s lengthy resume includes co-founding legendary Toronto soul outfit Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, and his acclaimed folk-rock collaboration with singer/songwriter Kate Fenner. The trio have hand-chosen intimate venues to create an atmosphere conducive to the up-close and personal songs and stories on tap for this tour. See below for show dates.
