From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sophie B. Hawkins
Sophie B. Hawkins, 2006
Background information
Birth name	Sophie Ballantine Hawkins
Born	November 1, 1967 (1967-11-01) (age 42)
Origin	New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	Rock, Pop, AC
Occupations	singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1992 - present
Labels	Sony BMG Columbia Rykodisc Trumpet Swan
Website	Official Website

Sophie Ballantine Hawkins (born November 1, 1967, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S.) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and painter. Her biggest hits are "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover," "Right Beside You," and "As I Lay Me Down."

Career

Hawkins's debut album, Tongues and Tails, was released in 1992. It achieved both worldwide commercial success and critical acclaim, earning her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1993. The single "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" went to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles' chart in the USA, and was also a top 20 hit in the UK.

Whaler, her second album, was released in 1994. Produced by Stephen Lipson, it also contained a US Top 10 hit, "As I Lay Me Down," and made gold status. Three singles from the album made the UK top 40, including "Right Beside You" which peaked at #13.

A 1998 documentary by Gigi Gaston, titled The Cream Will Rise, followed Hawkins during one of her tours and captures her struggle to deal with past troubles with her family, including problems with her mother and brother. Music and riffs by Hawkins are included throughout the film.

Also in 1998, Hawkins's record company at the time, Sony Music, delayed the release of her third album. Its executives were unhappy with the finished product, and wanted Hawkins to rework some of the material. In particular, they were insisting that Hawkins remove a banjo track from one of the songs. Hawkins refused to accommodate them, citing artistic integrity as her main reason. After a lengthy battle between Hawkins and the company, the album, Timbre, was eventually released in 1999, though Sony declined to promote it. Hawkins subsequently left the label and founded her own label, Trumpet Swan Productions. In 2001, Timbre was re-released on Hawkins' label, now as a 2-disc set that contained new songs, demos, remixes, and videos.

Her first independently recorded and released album, Wilderness, was released in 2004.

In August 2007, Hawkins headlined the first Los Angeles Women's Music Festival in support of the festival's dual agenda of supporting animal rescue groups and promoting and supporting female musicians. Hawkins is a vegan and a long-time supporter of animal rights.^[1] Despite rumours that she is a lesbian, Hawkins's website states that she is, in fact, bisexual.^[2]

In February 2008, Hawkins re-recorded her hit "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" as "Damn We Wish You Were President" in support of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Hawkins wrote, "Hillary Clinton's achievements come from her heart. She has initiated so much positive change for families, children, victims of crime and the environment in her struggle for the forward movement of America and the working people of this nation."^[3]

Personal life

On November 18, 2008, she gave birth to a son, Dashiell Gaston Hawkins. He was named in part for her longtime partner and manager, Gigi Gaston.

Discography

Albums

• Tongues and Tails (1992) US #51 (Gold), UK #46
• Whaler (1994) #65 (Gold), UK #46
• Timbre (1999)
  • Timbre (enhanced, reissued on Trumpet Swan Prods. 2001)
• The Best of Sophie B. Hawkins (2002 - European Edition)
• The Best of Sophie B. Hawkins (2003 - US Edition)
• Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover (2003)
• Wilderness (2004)
• Live: Bad Kitty Board Mix (2006)

Singles

Filmography

• The Cream Will Rise (1998)
• Rip It Off (2001)
  • Beyond City Limits

See also

• Trumpet Swan Productions

References

External links

• Official website
• Sophie B. Hawkins at the Internet Movie Database
• The Cream Will Rise (1997) - reviews, clips, & commentary
• Billboard Artist Chart History

From Wikiquote

Sophie Ballantine Hawkins (born 1 November 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, artist and actress.

Sourced

• The message I got from my record label at the time — and this was on purpose — was that I wasn't selling enough. Even when the single was a hit, it wasn't enough of a hit — I never got to number 1; I only got to number 5. And MTV didn't like the first video for the song, and we had to do another one. So I never felt anything except how bad I was and like, "Oh, shame on you!"
  • Interviewed by Cathay Che, The Advocate (8 May 2001)

Tongues and Tails (1992)

Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover

• Damn I wish I was your lover
  I'll rock you till the daylight comes
  Make sure you are smiling and warm.

• I am everything
  Tonight I'll be your mother— I will
  Do such things to ease your pain
  Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed.

• Shucks, for me there is no other
  You're the only shoe that fits
  I can't imagine I'll grow out of it.

Whaler (1994)

As I Lay Me Down

• It felt like spring time on this February morning
  In a courtyard birds were singing your praise...

• As I lay me down to sleep
  This I pray
  That you will hold me dear
  Though I'm far away
  I'll whisper your name into the sky
  And I will wake up happy

• It's not too near for me
  Like a flower I need the rain
  Though it's not clear to me
  Every season has it's change
  And I will see you
  When the sun comes out again.

The Cream Will Rise (1997)

A documentary on Hawkins life and career

• This documentary has lifted the lid off a coffin, and now I'm looking at stuff that I didn't know was there.

Quotations from SophieBHawkins.com

Quotations from interviews at SophieBHawkins.com

• So many people are throwing up their hands because the world has gotten so dark, but I went against the current and I actually found more light and positive energy. That was a great feeling.

• The reality is that we're all in the wilderness, and we have to survive on our own, and things constantly change and if we don't accept that, then we're just trying to fool ourselves. But the beauty of wilderness is that sometimes you can wake up in the morning and feel so sweet and whole.

• Before I was signed, I just wanted to get into the system, even though I didn't know what that meant. After I got signed I found that I was confused by all the mixed messages from the label about what I'd have to do to keep their support. I fought and fought to maintain my identity and grow as an artist at the same time, but when I realized that to get their support on Timbre I'd have to start working with schlocky writers and totally sell out, I decided to pack up my marimba and split.

• I used to be more dogmatic, more disciplined and segregated about my time to work; now I have to jump from one song to another, or score a scene in a movie, then get out the door for a performance at a moment's notice. The illusion of control over my schedule is totally obsolete. There is no way to say, 'I can't do that right now.' It's 'Yes, thank you for the opportunity, whatever it takes to get the music out there.'

Unsourced

• Just because I sing about women doesn't mean I'm gay. Just because I sing about guys doesn't mean I'm straight.

External links

Wikipedia has an article about:

Sophie B. Hawkins

• Official website
• Sophie B. Hawkins at the Internet Movie Database
• Review of The Cream Will Rise (29 April 1998)
• The Cream Will Rise (1997) - reviews, clips, & commentary