Emphasis Records Artist Stevie Hawkins Is In The Studio Recording And Producing His 2012 Album Release

December 1 , 2012 - Atlanta, GA

After a successful 2012 with global radio airplay, sales, press, touring, and winning awards in Hollywood at the Artists In Music Awards, Indie Music Channel Awards, and winner in the November 15, 2012 Los Angeles Music Awards as "Mark Vigil Male Singer/Songwriter Of The Year" and "Record Of The Year" for his CD "What The Funk?," Stevie Hawkins continues his musical quest. He is now in the studio recording and producing his 4th album, tentatively titled, "Freedom Of Ascension." Flipping the switch from Funk, the new project encompasses Blues, Soul, Classic Rock, and Southern Rock, mixed with light Jazz flavors. As with his previous award-winning "What The Funk?" album release, he is co-writing the lyrics with Charlotte Hannon who won the 2012 Los Angeles Music Awards "Executive Producer of the Year" award, and recording with notable multi-national musicians from (USA, Germany, Great Britain and Latin America). Hawkins' blueprint includes a studio session with his band along with Lynyrd Skynyrd members Mark "Sparky" Matejka and Peter "Keys" Pisarczyk, to achieve an exciting, spontaneous 1970s oriented Southern Rock jam for inclusion on the release, of which Hawkins is well known. Matejka and Hawkins have been friends and jammed together on numerous occasions since 2006. There is fire on the mountain when these two get together and play! The new release promises to pack a "vintage punch" with twists and turns of the old school sounds and grooves, while fashioning a stellar new delivery. A wide palette of instrumentation and melody is blended into the tracks, to include abundant echoes of Duane Allman-esque slide guitar. The influences of Little Walter, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elmore James, The Allman Brothers, Foghat, The Who, Steely Dan and more, can be heard throughout the album. Where technique meets soul, the final result of "Freedom Of Ascension" guarantees a fun, satisfying, lyrical and musical journey to the outer reaches.

An additional curious detail about the project, Hawkins has created a delta blues duet edit, featuring legend Eugene Powell (a.k.a. Sonny Boy Nelson) from a 1998 interview and on the fly song Nelson sang A Cappella during the interview, just shortly before Powell's passing. Powell was 90 years old at the time. The song opens with Nelson speaking about his childhood and early musical beginnings, then transcends into the song with Nelson and Hawkins singing.

When asked, why the shift from Funk, Hawkins replies, "To me, this isn't really an altered course in direction, we are still rooted in the Blues concept with this project. Music is music. I simply enjoy creating music for the people, from the heart. Music that I grew up with and love, music that feels natural to me, and have performed live for many years. Funk, Blues, Soul, Country, Pop, Rock, as John Lee Hooker once said to me: it's all the same, just a different groove, but it all comes from the Blues; How true his conclusion. Moreover, one of the beauties of being an independent artist is having the total freedom of ascension, to create and release music in any direction one chooses."

Walking the staircase at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Hooker and Hawkins statement becomes very apparent. From Robert Johnson, to current day, popular music as a whole is derived from the Blues.

Thus far, the "Freedom Of Ascension" tracks are tasting 'magically delicious!' The musicians are world-class, contributing to the project with heart, depth and creativity, communicating a fresh contrastive edge to the Blues. With vintage 1970s Hi-Watt, Marshall and Fender amps, Hammond B-3, Arp and Moog synthesizers, vintage Gibson Les Paul, Gibson Flying-V, Fender Telecaster, Strat guitars, the true essence of authentic classic vibes are being captured. This is an emotional filled, hard hitting record.

Pre-release exclusives will be heard on select radio stations, along with samples online soon at the Atlanta Music Group and Stevie Hawkins websites. As with all previous releases, Hawkins and company are sticking to their guns in classic authenticity, with a fresh sound and vibe.

The new Emphasis Records, "Stevie Hawkins - Freedom Of Ascension," album is slated for an early 2013 release.