Hamish Hawk

2025–present: Covers II and Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 0

In January 2025, Hawk appeared at the Rockaway Beach Festival, and covered two tracks at the Celtic Connections' Roaming Roots Revue in Glasgow. In May of that year Hawk premiered a version of Madonna's "Burning Up" (1983) on Steve Lamacq's BBC Radio 6 show, the single was part of the EP Covers II, which was released in September 2025. Hawk's version of Pet Shop Boys' "So Hard" was featured at number twenty on The Quietus Tracks of the Year list.

Hawk premiered a one-man show at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, inspired by Ivor Cutler's Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 2 and featuring backing music from Pearson and Maurice. Cutler's own harmonium was used for the performance. Hawk was motivated to create the show at the suggestion of festival director Jenny Niven, who approached him about making a bespoke project. An album featuring tracks performed at the show was released in December 2025, it received a four star review from Fiona Sheperd at The Scotsman. Hawk featured on "Ultra Aura Glow" a track from Voka Gentle's third album, Domestic Bliss.

Artistry Influences

The first albums Hawk recalls buying and owning as a teenager were by the White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, and the Libertines. He has named Stephen Fretwell as an influence as he encountered his music while learning guitar chords for the first time, "That record [Magpie] was it. Whatever it is that I've got going here, it started because of that record. I know it back to front, and there are songs on it that my hands habitually start playing when I pick up a guitar to this day". Hawk credited Arctic Monkeys for inspiring him to explore new sounds: "They really did take something from the indie movement, but consistently, in my mind, do it better than all of their contemporaries. They evolve."

Hawk has said some of his favourite albums are Antony and The Johnsons' I Am a Bird Now (2005), The White Stripes' self titled record (1999), The Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs (1999), Camera Obscura's Let's Get Out of This Country (2006), Withered Hand's Good News (2009), Bill Callahan's Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle (2009), Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks (1975), Purple Mountains' self titled (2019) and The Velvet Underground's The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967).

Some of his lyrical heroes include, Leonard Cohen, Stephin Merritt, Randy Newman, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, Dory Previn, Vic Chesnutt He has also cited Scottish poet Ivor Cutler as a source of inspiration. Hawk has described himself as a "perfectionist", and the process of writing as, "an all-consuming experience where everything else in my life falls away". He often includes references to pop-culture or other artists in his music: "I don't want people to think that I'm shoehorning references in to appear literate, wise or worldly. [...] Lots of these references are all about the sound of the words and so on. As much as the references need to have that personal connection, you can bank on me not bringing it in for a frivolous reason." and chamber pop, with influences from post-punk. Hawk has referred to his sound as "Lyrically driven alternative pop music". Nevertheless, he prefers not to label his musical style, "We don't deal in genres, my career has been an exercise against that. I don't want to be pigeonholed. I've always felt quite comfortable with the fact that the songs on the album will be cohesive, insofar as they all involve the same people putting them together." Hawk's third album A Firmer Hand, further incorporates art rock, gothic rock and new wave sounds.

Voice Hawk has been described as a baritone crooner. And has been compared to Neil Hannon, Scott Walker, and Morrissey. He has cited Charles Aznavour, Jaques Brel, Morrissey, Cohen and Merrit as vocal influences, citing their "high drama sort of voice" as a reason. He described their vocal technique as "storytelling, very witty, very funny, but very dramatic. Everything sounded like something was going to happen. It feels like watching a play" He has had relationships with both men and women,

Backing band

Current members Andrew Pearson – guitar (2015–present) Stefan Maurice – drums (2015–present) Lizzie Reid – bass (2025–present) John Cashman – keyboards, synth (2015–present) Oliver Brown – guitar, keyboards (2024–present)

Past members Barry Carty – drums (2015–2018) Alex Duthie – bass (2015–2024)

Discography Studio albums

as Hamish James Hawk Aznavour (2014) Mull (2015)

as Hamish Hawk & the New Outfit From Zero to One (2018)

as Hamish Hawk Laziest River (2019) Heavy Elevator (2021) Angel Numbers (2023) A Firmer Hand (2024)

Extended plays Covers (2022) Covers II (2025)