Claire Hawkins

A woman with pop in her heart and an Americana spirit, Claire Hawkins just dropped Even These Words by playing a show at New York City’s Bitter End. We chatted about that, and with it came the revelation that she’s leaving the city that never sleeps for Europe very soon! We wish her on her upcoming adventure! But before she jets off, make sure to learn more about this singer-songwriter who balances music with NYU, learned about the Stones from her dad, and more!


Kendra: As soon as you seemed to show an interest in music your dad jumped on you to play some Rolling Stones. Did you eventually become a fan, or are they like a “dad band” you just put up with?

Claire Hawkins: My dad was always really good about sharing music that he thought I’d like, and he was rarely wrong! The Rolling Stones definitely always make me think of my dad, but that just makes me like them more.

Kendra: Sticking with your family for a bit. You’re all really into literature, so if you had to compare Even These Words to a famous tale, which would it be and why?

Claire: Ooh I love this question! I think I’d say Matilda by Roald Dahl because it touches on similar themes of family and growing up (though I have to clarify that my family is wonderful and not evil like Matilda’s is in the book!). It also manages to be a fun book, despite covering some dark topics, which I hope people will find to be true of Even These Words as well.


Kendra: Even These Words just dropped and you played an EP release show that same night at The Bitter End. How’d that go?

Claire: It was great! So many friends and family members made it out, which was really special. It felt like a going away party because it was my last show in New York before I move to Europe for nine months. I’m so glad I had the chance to share this music I’ve spent so long working on before I leave.

Kendra: Were you more nervous to play the new material than you would be any other night?

Claire: I was definitely more excited than anything. I did think about the fact that a lot of people in the room had never heard these songs before, so any nerves just came from wanting the audience to be introduced to these songs in the best way possible, which my bandmates Clara Boudrot (cello) and Mark Grossmann (Cajon) helped me make sure happened!

Kendra: So on top of all, you do with music you’re also a student at NYU…studying music. I have to ask, when and if you ever want a break from music…what do you do?

Claire: Well, I definitely read a lot. I’m also studying French at NYU, which is pretty different from my music classes. When I’m not busy with music or classes, I love exploring different parts of NYC. If I have a free day, sometimes I’ll take a book and find a bookstore or coffee shop I’ve never visited to sit in and read.

Kendra: Perhaps take in a rally or a march? I noticed you attended one of the many Women’s Marches, and you have some feminist reading going on when I lurked your Instagram. When writing, do you feel you have any sort of feminist responsibility in how you present your music to the world?

Claire: More so than as an artist, I feel I have a responsibility as a person to speak out about things I believe in and educate myself on all aspects of issues like sexism (even those that might not directly relate to me). Since songwriting is such a big part of who I am, I think it naturally comes out in my music.

Kendra: Will you be doing any other shows this fall?

Claire: I will, but they’re going to be in Europe! I’ll be living in Berlin from the end of August until December, and then I’ll be in Paris until the end of May. I’m extremely excited to be bringing my music to Europe. I’ll be posting a lot of my travels, so you can follow @ImClaireHawkins to see all those updates!

Kendra: Let’s do this one for dad! If you had to make a mixtape for your pops, what five songs would have to be on it? I’m sure a Stones one!

Claire:
“Mainstream Kid” by Brandi Carlile
“Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones (I had to!)
“Manhattan” by Kings of Leon
“Call off Your Dogs” by Lake Street Dive
“Bleeding Out” by The Lone Bellow - Golden Mixtape

When you think of country and Americana, the clichés might take you to pastures and whiskey and Tennessee. But native New Yorker Claire Hawkins proves that there is room for this genre, even amongst the concrete and taxis of in her hometown. Hawkins debut EP, Even These Words, is a simple, 4 song introduction to the young songwriter's playful, simple lyrics and sing-along melodies. The most memorable line? "My baby got a job at the TSA," she sings on the delightful, sincere "Loaded Gun" (streaming). Hawkins gives Americana a sweet light-heartedness, and I'm interested to see where the next batch of songs will take her. -Geena Kloeppel - The Deli Magazine

As a teacher for the last 18 years, I have learned one central truth when it comes to imparting knowledge to my students – kids learn best by doing.

To a large extent, that is true for adults, too. I know it is for me. If I watch someone do something I need to learn how to do and participate in the activity, I know I am much more apt to retain the skills involved.

Claire Hawkins is getting a healthy dose of learning by doing at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, a department of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, in NYC. Having written her first lyrics at the age of nine, Hawkins is now a rising junior at Clive Davis, learning the all of the ins and outs of the music biz.

Last week, Hawkins shared with the world evidence of her learning with the release of Even These Words, a recording project that features both her impressive songwriting talents while showcasing the production and engineering skills she has learned in school.

I recently caught up with Claire to chat about the new EP, studying music, and being a student at Clive Davis.

BRO – You were involved with all aspects of this EP. What part – production, engineering, songwriting – most got you out of your comfort zone?

CH – The production process was really fun because it was new to me. That did make it intimidating in some ways, but I was really lucky to have some incredible teachers and mentors to guide me through it. I really enjoyed the creative control that producing the EP gave me to make sure that the songs I had written reached their full potential on the record.

BRO – Your release party was just last week. How did it feel to get these songs out there to your friends and family?

CH – It was so much fun. It was really incredible to have so many friends and family there to finally hear the songs I’ve been working on for so long. The night was extra special because it was both the celebration of the release of Even These Words and my last show in New York before I move to Europe for nine months. I couldn’t imagine a better send off!

BRO – Biggest takeaway from your time at Clive Davis?

CH – One of my favorite things about the Clive Davis Institute is how the school prepares you for anything by requiring that we learn about all aspects of the music industry, regardless of our individual focus. It’s really taught me to be open-minded when it comes to music opportunities.

BRO – We are featuring “August” on this month’s Trail Mix. What’s the story behind the song?

CH – This was the first song I wrote for the EP. It came from a place of frustration following a long period of writer’s block. Writing the song was a great moment for me, because it launched me into this wonderful creative period where I finally stopped worrying about not writing enough and I just wrote, which led to the creation of this EP.

BRO – I’ve just gotten to NYC. Give me one place that this folk music fan should visit.

CH – If you’ve never been, I recommend checking out The Bitter End. It’s such an historic venue, and it’s really cool to see all the folk legends who have played there listed above the bar.

With a trip to Europe in the near future, Claire’s stateside show calendar is quiet. Here’s hoping, though, that she totes that guitar with her as she heads across the pond and will be playing some shows over there. Safe to say that, upon her return home, Americana music fans will be waiting to hear her play.

For more information on Claire Hawkins and how you can grab a copy of her new EP, Even These Words, please point your browser towards her website. - Blue Ridge Outdoors