Released: March 24
Singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins is liberated on her seventh studio album, the empowering ‘Free Myself’.
Arriving on the back of the 30th anniversary of her debut LP ‘Tongues and Tails’ (1992), the US star’s latest release is among her most powerful material, journeying through the breakdown of a relationship, loneliness and ultimately learning to live alone, in the moment, and embrace life.
Opening track, lead single Love Yourself, encompasses the themes of the collection, which sits in singer-songwriter, acoustic guitar territory – touching on folk, soul and pop influences – with pure lyrics and clean vocals from the Grammy-nominated writer.
Working with a tight-knit band of three musicians who are writers in their own right, the collection is slick yet musically expansive, with elements of spanish guitar on the title song and oboe and brass in Fairy Tails. Meanwhile, there’s a matured grit in her vocal on songs like Angel In Disguise and Consume Me In Your Fire, offering up a reminder of her musical journey to date.
Notably, she leans on fewer electronic elements this time around and the arrangements are simpler than on previous releases, including her most recent collection, 2012’s ‘The Crossing’, allowing her vocals to breathe life into the music.
On tracks like Hunger For Love, it works to her advantage, placing the focus on her heartfelt lyrics, while I’m Tired of Taking Care of You is a frill-free mid tempo anthem of empowerment that, in its subtlety, is one of the most poignant tracks on the LP.
Come the end of the collection, there’s a sense of comfort and belonging from the musician, and closing number You Are My Balloon puts all her focus where it matters most – on her children, who she credits as a constant source of inspiration for her work.
Throughout her career, Sophie’s enjoyed phenomenal success, both critically and commercially, with her songs featured on hit shows such as ‘Stranger Things’, ‘Euphoria’, ‘Ozark’, yet she remains one of the industry’s most under-the-radar artists.
It’ll no doubt be much the same this time around, but take a moment to listen to ‘Free Yourself’ and you’ll be reminded how great a singer and songwriter Sophie is, all these years later…
‘Free Myself’ is out now digitally. Pre-order physical editions, due April 7, here.
