H. Hawkline

Last updated

H. Hawkline
H. Hawkline.jpg
Background information
Birth nameHuw Gwynfryn Evans
Born (1985-03-15) 15 March 1985 (age 39) [1]
Cardiff, Wales
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, graphic designer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass guitar
Labels
Website hhawkline.org

Huw Evans (born 15 March 1985), also known as H. Hawkline, is a Welsh singer-songwriter and radio and television presenter based in Cardiff. He also lived and worked in Los Angeles for several years. He performs in both English and Welsh. His stage name is taken from Richard Brautigan's book The Hawkline Monster: A Gothic Western .

Contents

Life and career

Evans was born in Cardiff and lived in Prestatyn in north-east Wales from the age of 10 until returning to Cardiff at 18. [2] He is the son of TV and radio presenter Hywel Gwynfryn and his wife Anja (who died in 2018) and has four siblings. He also has two half-siblings from his father's first marriage. [3] [4]

Prior to becoming a full-time musician, Evans presented the S4C music show Bandit with Huw Stephens up to the show's cancellation at the end of 2011. He also presented a weekly radio show on the C2 evening slot on BBC Radio Cymru until summer 2012. In December 2015 he temporarily returned to the station to present a Thursday-night show. [5] [6] [7]

H. Hawkline's debut release, the album A Cup of Salt, was put out in 2010 by the then-Cardiff-based label Shape Records. His second album, The Strange Uses of Ox Gall, was released by the same label in 2011. [8]

He supported Gruff Rhys on tour in 2010 in the UK and Ireland. [5]

Following UK festival gigs and touring, in 2012 H. Hawkline released a new EP, Black Domino Box, on the Trash Aesthetics label. His Ghouls EP was released in 2013 by Turnstile Records. [9] The same year his songs Cric Yn Y Cymylau and Llenwi appeared on the "Y Record Las" compilation, the second release from the Cardiff label Recordiau Lliwgar. [2] [10]

In 2013, H. Hawkline moved to Los Angeles with his then-partner Cate Le Bon, and there the two continue to collaborate musically. [11] Stateside, they've also played with White Fence (Tim Presley).

In August 2014, H. Hawkline was signed to Heavenly Recordings. The label released a free compilation of some of his previous work titled Salt Gall Box Ghouls. [12] His debut album of new material for the label, In the Pink of Condition, was released in February 2015. It was produced by Cate Le Bon. In September 2015, the album was nominated for the 2014-2015 Welsh Music Prize. [13]

Evans regularly plays guitar or bass guitar in Cate Le Bon and Sweet Baboo's live bands and records. His own live band has previously also featured Guto Pryce on bass and Andy Fung on drums. [11] Hawkline also played bass on Kevin Morby's albums Harlem River and Still Life. As a solo artist, he supported Foxygen on their 2015 European tour. [14]

In 2017, H. Hawkline supported Devendra Banhart on tour in the US and Europe/UK, followed by a European support slot with Aldous Harding, whom he also played with during her headline set.

His next album I Romanticize was released in June 2017 on Heavenly. It was recorded in LA and in Narberth in west Wales. [15] [16]

Evans also continues to perform as part of ex-partner Aldous Harding's band, and appeared on her 2019 album Designer [17] playing bass, guitar and keyboards.

In November 2022, Evans announced his fifth studio album, Milk for Flowers (Heavenly Recordings), with the title track released as the first single from it. The album came out in March 2023. It was produced by Cate Le Bon and mixed by Patrik Berger, and features Tim Presley and John Parish alongside Steve Black (various instruments), Euan Hinshelwood (saxophone), Paul Jones (piano) and Davey Newington (drums). [18]

Graphic design

Evans is also a graphic designer. In addition to designing all his own albums, he has designed releases by Cate Le Bon (Me Oh My, Cyrk, Cyrk II, Mug Museum, Crab Day and Reward), Kevin Morby (reverse sleeve for Harlem River), Aldous Harding, Teenage Fanclub and Bitw. He also created designs for Gruff Rhys's Ara Deg festival.

Discography

Solo albums

EPs

Compilations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gruff Rhys</span> Welsh musician and filmmaker born in 1970

Gruffudd Maredudd Bowen Rhys is a Welsh musician, composer, producer, filmmaker and author. He performs solo and with several bands, including Super Furry Animals, which obtained mainstream success in the 1990s. He formed the electro-pop outfit Neon Neon with Boom Bip. Their album Stainless Style was nominated for the 2008 Nationwide Mercury Prize. He won the 2011 Welsh Music Prize for his album Hotel Shampoo, which was followed up by American Interior in 2014, accompanied by a film, a book and a mobile app. His most recent album, Sadness Sets Me Free, was released in 2024. He is considered a figurehead of the era known as Cool Cymru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huw Edwards</span> Welsh former news presenter (born 1961)

Huw Edwards is a Welsh former news presenter. He was the lead presenter of BBC News at Ten, the late evening news programme of the BBC, from 2003 to 2023. He resigned from the BBC in 2024, during a police investigation into child pornography offences to which he pleaded guilty.

Heavenly Recordings is a London-based independent record label founded by Jeff Barrett in 1990. Heavenly released the first albums from Saint Etienne, Beth Orton and Doves, and early singles by Manic Street Preachers. Current Heavenly artists include Stealing Sheep, Mattiel, The Orielles, Confidence Man, audiobooks, Pip Blom, H. Hawkline, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Gwenno Saunders, Amber Arcades, Tapir!, Working Men's Club, Katy J Pearson, CHAI and Kneecap.

Huw Meredydd Stephens is a Welsh radio and television presenter, currently broadcasting on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 6 Music.

Steffan Cravos is a Welsh rap and hip hop musician and artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard James (musician)</span> Welsh-born musician (born 1975)

Richard James is a guitarist, bassist and singer-songwriter originally from Carmarthen, Wales. He was a founding member of the band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, who split up in 2006. He performs and records as a solo artist, and as part of the bands Pen Pastwn and Locus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meinir Gwilym</span> Welsh-language singer

Meinir Elin Gwilym is a Welsh-language pop and folk singer. Raised in Llangristiolus, Anglesey, she released her first EP, "Smôcs, Coffi a Fodca Rhad" in 2002. Her website claims that she is amongst the best-selling Welsh language musicians in history.

Hywel Gwynfryn is a Welsh television and radio personality and lyricist. He started working for the BBC in 1964 and joined BBC Radio Cymru at its inception, being the first voice heard on the new station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cate Le Bon</span> Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer

Cate Le Bon is a Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer. She sings in both English and Welsh. She has released six solo studio albums, to date, and is one half of the experimental music duo DRINKS with her partner Tim Presley. Her stage name is a tribute to English musician Simon Le Bon.

Brigyn are a Welsh music act from North Wales, consisting of the brothers Eurig Roberts and Ynyr Roberts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog</span> Welsh folk band

Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog are a folk band consisting of three brothers from Rhos Botwnnog, between the villages of Botwnnog and Llaniestyn on the Llyn Peninsula, Gwynedd, Wales, and accompanying musicians and singers. They experiment with country, folk and rock music. Most of their lyrics are in Welsh.

Colorama is the longest running musical project of Welsh singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Carwyn Ellis, with an ever-revolving cast of collaborators. Stylistically best described as alternative indie pop, Colorama is an eclectic hybrid of genres and languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yr Anhrefn</span> Welsh punk rock group

Yr Anhrefn, also known simply as Anhrefn, were an influential Welsh punk rock group of the 1980s and 1990s.

Stephen Black, also known by his stage name Sweet Baboo, is a Welsh musician. Before becoming a solo artist, he played with the band JT MOuse. Alongside his solo work, he has also played with many other artists, including Gruff Rhys, Cate Le Bon, Euros Childs, Piney Gir and Slow Club. He is bilingual in Welsh and English but usually sings in English.

Race Horses were a Welsh band based in Cardiff, Wales and originally from Aberystwyth. Formed in 2005 as Radio Luxembourg, they changed their name in 2009 due to possible legal problems with the radio station of the same name. Initially the majority of their music was in Welsh, but their final album Furniture was entirely in English.

<i>Mug Museum</i> 2013 studio album by Cate Le Bon

Mug Museum is the third studio album by Welsh musician Cate Le Bon, released on 12 November 2013 by Turnstile Music and Wichita Recordings. It was produced by Noah Georgeson and Josiah Steinbrick and was recorded in Los Angeles shortly after Le Bon had relocated there from Wales. The album was generally praised by critics for its understated musical arrangements and lyrical content based on the theme of relationships, which was partially inspired by the recent death of Le Bon's grandmother. The track "I Think I Knew" features a duet between Le Bon and Perfume Genius.

The Gentle Good is the stage name of Gareth Bonello, a Welsh singer-songwriter and folk musician from Cardiff who performs in English and Welsh. The stage name is inspired by Bonello's, with "Gareth" traditionally meaning "Gentle" in Welsh. In addition to his own material, Bonello has had a longstanding partnership with musician Richard James and has also collaborated with other artists as a session musician.

<i>Crab Day</i> 2016 studio album by Cate Le Bon

Crab Day is the fourth studio album by Welsh musician Cate Le Bon, released on 15 April 2016 by Drag City, Turnstile Music, and Caroline International. It was produced by Josiah Steinbrick and Noah Georgeson and recorded at Panoramic House, a hilltop mansion in the coastal town of Stinson Beach, California. The artist Phil Collins created a short film set in Berlin to coincide with the release.

<i>In the Pink of Condition</i> 2015 studio album by H. Hawkline

In the Pink of Condition is the third studio album by Welsh musician H. Hawkline. It was released on 3 February 2015 under Heavenly Recordings.

<i>Pompeii</i> (Cate Le Bon album) 2022 studio album by Cate Le Bon

Pompeii is the sixth studio album by Welsh singer and producer Cate Le Bon, released on 4 February 2022 by Mexican Summer.

References

  1. ↑ "H.Hawkline on Twitter". Twitter.
  2. 1 2 Ian Lloyd-Hughes (29 March 2013). "Review: Y Record Las a little bit of Welsh music heaven". The Daily Post Wales.
  3. ↑ "Yr ifanc a ŵyr? Hywel Gwynfryn a Huw Evans". BBC Cymru Fyw. 3 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Hywel Gwynfryn: Actio yn therapi ar ôl colli fy ngwraig". BBC Cymru Fyw. 18 December 2018.
  5. 1 2 Dave Owens (20 January 2011). "TV presenter Huw Evans forges musical career as alter-ego H Hawkline". Wales Online.
  6. ↑ "BBC - Cymru - Huw Evans". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "Huw Evans, C2 - BBC Radio Cymru". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "Shape - Label". Shaperecords.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "H. Hawkline – "Ghouls" EP – out now". Turnstilemusic.net. 17 June 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "Y Record Las, by Recordiau Lliwgar". Recordiaulliwgar.com. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  11. 1 2 Craig and Rachel (10 February 2015). "Interview: H Hawkline. An Ear For A Melody". RockShot.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "Announcing our new signing, H. Hawkline and his debut release on Heavenly". Heavenly Recordings. 18 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Nominees Archives - Welsh Music Prize". Welshmusicprize.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ↑ "H. Hawkline – Recent album release and brand new single Everybody's on the Line". The Listening Post. 23 March 2015.
  15. ↑ Bill Pearis (19 January 2017). "H. Hawkline releases new song ft. Cate Le Bon, touring w/ Devendra Banhart". Brooklyn Vegan.
  16. ↑ Omar Tanti (22 March 2017). "H. Hawkline went to L.A. to meet Cate le Bon and came back to Narberth with his 'I Romanticize' LP". Loud and Quiet.
  17. ↑ Kitty Empire (18 May 2019). "Aldous Harding review – conundrums you can dance to". The Guardian.
  18. ↑ Bill Pearis (15 November 2022). "H. Hawkline announces Cate Le Bon-produced album, shares "Milk for Flowers"". Brooklyn Vegan.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.