Dawn & Hawkes — New Album Light Inside, Out Now
Dawn & Hawkes play irresistible country-folk music, designed to calm the heart and ease the strain when the breakneck pace of the modern world gets a little too much.
They’ve been doing this for quite a while now. As a duo, they’ve been together since 2011, but each member has been making music for far longer than this. This year, the pair have released another collection of tracks that could soothe the soul of even the most savage of beasts. That new collection is called Light Inside, and it’s out now.
Released in August 2024, Light Inside brings the warmth, love, and harmony of late summer but also a tinge of sadness along with it. The slight melancholy of a season slipping by, the departure of summer for another year, is well and truly present on tracks like “Almost for a Minute,” while album-closer “Need Love” is a plaintive, intimate missive that moves with its gentle power.
This is really the theme that runs through the entire record — the simultaneous strength and fragility of life and love, the way these contradictory natures co-exist, bringing both happiness and sadness in equal measure. Of course, it’s made all the more impactful when you take into account the authors of this beautiful work — Miranda Dawn and Chris Hawkes, a married couple themselves, navigating their own journey of music and life together.
Miranda Dawn
Miranda Dawn is from Austin, Texas, and never set out to be a full-time touring musician. She earned a degree in business entrepreneurship before training as a therapist and counselor. Today, she works as a life coach and psychotherapist.
In 2011, Miranda met Chris Hawkes. Their connection sparked a creative and personal transformation, fueling her growth as an artist. The strength and inspiration she discovered are evident in the heartfelt and powerful music they’ve crafted together.
Chris Hawkes
Chris Hawkes, originally from North Texas, has called Austin home for the past 18 years. He’s been writing, performing, and recording music for almost three decades. His first release was a contribution to a compilation record entitled Garage Nights at Laser Trax, released in 1998.
The next decade was spent honing his musical craft. Studying graphic design and studio art at the University of North Texas and then audio engineering at Dallas Sound Lab, he gained the skills he needed to take his artistry and music to the next level. He also recorded and released several albums’ worth of songs.
Meeting Miranda in 2011 changed…well, you know the story. It changed everything for Chris just as it did for Miranda. Chris had met his partner in life and in music. The melding of their talents — whether on stage or on record — is really something to behold.
Dawn & Hawkes — New Album Light Inside, Out Now
Light Inside is packed with stunning sonic works of art, and it’s difficult to pick just three out of such an excellent collection. But that’s the nature of the game we’re playing here. So here goes…
Even the Darkness
“Even the Darkness” is track one on the new record. It gets us started with a sorrowful vocal line as Chris Hawkes takes the solo. Miranda Dawn soon joins him, harmonizing beautifully to bring us into the rueful chorus. “Take me back to another time, I want to sleep tonight with you by my side” — it’s powerful stuff.
Miranda’s own lead vocals on the second verse really showcase what the duo are all about. The understated but still undeniably resonant dynamic between the two voices — between the two creative talents at the heart of this project — adds a special frisson to the work. There are plenty of great solo artists out there, and I’m sure Miranda and Chris could count themselves among them, but together, they are creating magic.
Father’s House
Miranda’s vocals are front and center on “Father’s House” — a paean to a timeless culture and way of life. And those vocals are something truly special. With depth and power and a bluesy edge, she takes us on a journey through a home, a family, a childhood, a life, shining a light into every corner as we go.
There’s a jam-like quality to this one. It feels like a bunch of musicians sat around, kicking back and playing the music they all love together. In the hands of a lesser set of artists, it might sound loose and ramshackle, but Miranda, Chris, and their band never put a note out of place. And the easy, relaxed nature of the composition just adds to its charm.
Songs like this have a long and storied tradition. Miranda and Chris are tipping their hats to this tradition, but with “Father’s House,” they’re writing a whole new chapter.
Wild and Free
There’s a delicacy to the acoustic chords that run through the heart of “Wild and Free,” but the warmth of this instrument is contrasted with the chilly, electric shimmer of the guitar line over the top. By the time we reach “Wild and Free,” the second last track on the record, we’ve already been on one heck of a journey. But Dawn and Hawkes still hold all the musical cards, and they’ve got plenty left to awe us with.
“Wild and Free” offers a slow, swaying rhythm, recalling the closeness of slow-dance songs from days gone by. But the emotional fragility of the vocal performances gives it a raw and ragged edge — reminiscent of the masters of indie folk, like Leonard Cohen with his “Chelsea Hotel #2.” With no disrespect intended to Mr. Cohen, Dawn and Hawkes have a little more vocal range.
You can enjoy Light Inside on CD or on your favorite streaming service. But to really experience those songs in all their glory, you need to witness Dawn and Hawkes live — which you can do on four dates in Texas in January, February, and April 2025. Stay tuned for more dates to follow.
Local Music Somewhere Live interview
Involving Your Audience In Your Story
Miranda Dawn and Chris Hawkes are an indie folk duo whose partnership began with songwriting and blossomed into marriage. Their journey has taken them to stages alongside Chris Isaak, Patty Griffin, and Jay Leno. Their blind audition on Season 6 of The Voice is hailed as one of the show’s best duets. Their cover of The Beatles’ “I’ve Just Seen a Face” topped the iTunes Rock Sales chart, selling 24,000 units in its first week. In this episode, Dawn and Hawkes share how their unique story unfolded on stage in front of their audiences.
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