Artist Information
Biography
LATEST NEWS:
Award winning Australian artist Hopkinson is headed to SXSW to showcase alongside some of the world's best up and coming bands.
Hopkinson's single 'Throw Your Arms Around Me' is tearing it up on itunes!
WARNING: This bio was written by a journalist friend, it is not Hopkinson writing about himself in the 3rd person!!
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Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Hopkinson spent many years crossing the Pacific Ocean between Australia and America, suitcase in hand, writing and performing his music, before eventually relocating to Los Angeles in 2006.
"I came to America not really knowing who I was, but in time I began to find all the missing pieces, says Hopkinson. “Strangers To Ourselves is a story of self discovery that hopefully many people will relate to."
Hopkinson's influences are worlds apart. Classically trained from the age of nine, he started a grunge/rock band just out of high school, eventually finding his voice in the modern pop and rock sound, with much loved bands like U2, Pearl Jam, Live, Travis, Cold Play, Portishead, Train, and Crowded House.
The album, Strangers To Ourselves, is co-written and produced with George Merrill, best known for writing Whitney Houston’s hit songs I Wanna Dance With Somebody and How Will I know.
“Hopkinson has a lovely knack for the memorable lyric and melody,” says Merrill. “(Life After) No. 5 is a stand-out. He’s an astounding and gifted writer.”
Another key creative addition to the album was mastering engineer Tom Durack, whose prolific career has included collaboration with the B-52s, Lou Reed, They Might be Giants and Diana Ross. “This project was my favorite this year,” said Durack.
Hopkinson has already performed in some of LA’s most iconic music venues, including the Whiskey, Key Club, Hotel Café, House of Blues, and the Viper Room.
In addition to his own songwriting and performing, Hopkinson is also the founder of Oz City, an event showcasing the best Australian songwriters living in, or passing through, Los Angeles and New York. Featured artists have included Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci, MiG Ayesa (Rock Star: INXS finalist), Tex Perkins and the Beasts of Bourbon, Cameron Daddo, Aya Larkin and Porcelain.
Hopkinson's Oz City regularly collaborates with the Viper Room to run quarterly Aussie Band nights at the famous club on Sunset.
The official album launch date of Strangers to Ourselves will be announced shortly but it's likely to be release in mid May 2010, just after the great SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, where Hopkinson is headed with his band.
Check out Hopkinson live and see the promo video for Stranger To Ourselves for yourself...
http://www.youtube.com/ianhopkinson
Instrumentation
Hopkinson (Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar)
Serg Dimitrijevic (Guitars)
D Henry Fenton (Guitars)
Kristian Attard (Bass)
Tim Davies (Drums)
Discography
Class Clown (2001)
So Far Gone EP (2002)
Dreamed Of You EP(2003)
Throw Your Arms Around Me SINGLE/EP (2009)
Strangers To Ourselves
(2010) COMING SOON
Links
Photo Gallery
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taken by fan at House Of Blues on Sunset
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The Viper Room
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Hopkinson @ Viper Room Industry Showcase
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Music Video Shoot
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George Merrill & Ian Hopkinson working on record Strangers To Ourselves
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Single Cover Shoot
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taken by a fan at The Viper Room
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Single Cover
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Album Cover
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Music Video Shoot for 'The Dust At My Feet'
Press
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"Astounding and gifted writer..."
[+ Show ]
"Hopkinson has a lovely knack for the memorable lyric and melody, "(Life After) No.5" is a stand-out...
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"...my favorite this year."
[+ Show ]
"This project was my favorite this year." Tom Durack (B-52s, Lou Reed, They Might Be Giants, and ...
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"...Hopkinson's music enthralls..."
[+ Show ]
"Fluid melodies, sharp lyrics. Hopkinson's music enthralls . . . it's in heavy rotation on my iPod ...
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"...U2 meets Crowded House?!"
[+ Show ]
"Hopkinson's record sounds like U2 and Crowded House smoked a big doobie together and then rolled ou...
Setlist
Trampoline
(Take Away) The Drama
Angel (Wanted You To Be There)
(Life After) No.5
High Street
Stand Up Straight
Throw Your Arms Around Me
Sydney
Always With You
As Far As I Can See
The Dust At My Feet
