Girl With A Hawk

20 BEST TRACKS OF THE MONTH – OCTOBER 2024

Posted on by JL

ALL TOGETHER


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TRACK BY TRACK

Band: STRAND
Who: Power pop quartet from Dublin, Ireland which
changed their group’s name from Soundstrand to just
Strand.

Track: PROGRESS
Their first single as Strand, part from their
upcoming 5-track EP that’ll land early next
year.

“Progress is a song about changing places, people and times.”

TUTV: Epic. Grandiose. Staggering. Amplified guitar-pop at its mind-blowing best.
Get the exciting picture? Progress has a promptly goosebumps impact. It’s one of
those not-everyday puissant standout tunes that overwhelms your emotions from
the first listen.


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Linktree
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Artist: FATHER JOHN MISTY
Who: Drummer for dream pop ensemble
Fleet Foxes from 2008 until 2012.

Now he’s almost ready to launch his new solo album
named Mahashmashana. It arrives on November 22.

Track: SHE CLEANS UP

A solid retro rocker. Something we’re not really
hear often from the well-known crooner.

Instagram
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Band: AVALANCHE PARTY
Who: Hefty bohos from Yorkshire, UK.

Track: JOHN COLTRANE’S MOSCOW SKYSCRAPER
Definitely one of this year’s weirdest song titles.

TUTV: I have no clue what this vociferous punk headbutt has to do with
the late legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, but this deafening
wall-of-hells-bells havoc we experience here isn’t exactly a bebop tune.

Imagine two trains coming from opposite directions at an insane
speed crashing into each other. That’s what happens here. Beware.


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Linktree
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Band: AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS
Who: The punk rock whirlwind from down
under fronted by the utterly cool Amyl Tylor.

Track: JERKIN’
One of the singles of their brand
new 3rd LP Cartoon Darkness.

Another punktastic Aussie outburst.

Instagram – Website
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Band: DITZ
Who: Post-punk dropouts
from Brighton, UK.

The turbulent bohemians have their sophomore LP, named
Never Exhale. It’ll show up on 25 January 2025. Pre-order
info here.

Track: SPACE/SMILE

TUTV: Space/Smile is a slash/trash stormer, pushed by fulminating percussion,
schizo guitars and fronman Francis‘ spitting and sneering, fueled by his three
lungs, without breathing, for 108 seconds. DITZ is a mean raging machine.
They mess up your head, whether you like it or not.

Linktree – Bandcamp
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Band: THE SMILE
Who: 2 radioheads, Thom Yorke and Jonny
Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner.

Track: ZERO SUM

From Cutouts their new, 3rd LP
in just 2 years. Their best.

This is a far-out highlight. Motorik Kraut-rock dynamics
boggle your mind from start to finish. Masterstroke.


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Instagram – Spotify
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Artist: GAVIN FRIDAY
Who: The former flamboyant spearhead of Irish
new art wave act Virgin Prunes (1977-1986).

Track: THE CHURCH OF LOVE
Piece from his brand new album
Ecce Homo.

24-carat dancefloor stomper.
Trust me, you’ll want to join
Friday‘s church afterward.


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Instagram
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Band: HEARTWORMS
Who: Psych-pop act led by fast up-and-coming British songstress Jojo Orme.
They drew a lot of aural attention with last year’s EP A Comforting Notion.

The band have now announced details of their debut LP. It’s baptized
Glutton For Punishment and will land on 25th February 2025.

Track: WARPLANE

Warplane is a head-over-heels missile that speeds up sky-high from the get-go, propelled by a disco-vibe infused synth/guitar/bass collaboration and Orme‘s feverish vocals rollin’ all over it. Every time the choir-like chorus comes up your adrenalin’s production doubles . Supersonic stunner.

Linktree
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Press photo

Artist: LAUREN MAYBERRY
Who: Scottish frontwoman of
synth-pop act Chrvches.

Track: SOMETHING IN THE AIR
From her forthcoming solo debut,
out December 6.

Something In The Air is a gigantic tune, a bone-chilling piece of
elevating music with an ace chorus and Mayberry‘s crystal voice
going sky-high.

Instagram – Spotify
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Act: COLD CAVE
Who: Otherworldly LA synth-Goth-wave project.
The brainchild of Wesley Eisold.

Track: HOURGLASS
Single from their new,
3rd longplayer Passion Depression.

A New Order-esque synth-pop gem.
Glossy, trippy, and effervescent.

Linktree
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Artist: KAT KOAN
Who: Berlin-based singer-songwriter.

Track: LOOSE WOMAN

Press info: A light-hearted, humorous, autobiographical documentation of a semi-dramatic nervous breakdown that happend when “one morning all plans went pear-shaped and patience went down the drain”. No longer feeling the need to pretend that everything is shiny and running smoothly, Koan lets rip on this catchy tongue-in-cheek art-pop tune. Influenced by her favourite artist Baxter Dury (yes, the son of).

TUTV: Koan‘s most explicit, unbridled and personal reflection/introspection
so far, bundled in a sensual bass-juiced melody with a nightclub vibe. Explicit?
Well, life itself is explicit, right? Let us dump our shit, ignore what people think,
and feel loose.


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Linktree
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Press photo by LaMendola

Band: GIRL TONES
Who: High-energy rock duo brought to life by two sisters, Kenzie and Laila. Both classically trained musicians, Kenzie transitioned from cello to guitar and Laila from piano to drums in an effort to electrify sentient beings from this galaxy to the next.

Track: FADE AWAY

TUTV: Who needs a Hole reunion if we have these two rock chicks who challenge your
stereo’s potency with inflammable swagger and ablaze gusto. Aggressive guitars, battering
drums, fiery vocals, and a hell-bloody-helly-yeah chorus.

Instagram – Website
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Single artwork

Band: DUMB POSH HIPPIES (hilarious name!)
Who: Psych-influenced, three-piece punk band from
Dublin/Derry with a love for big riffs and pace.

Track: SCRUNCHED UP FIST

Ciarán Fitz (vocalist/guitarist): “This is definitely one of the most outright punkers we have, probably. ‘Scrunched Up Fist’ was literally written in the jam room in 10 minutes. Matthew and James were just playing this thing as I was coming back from a smoke, and I knew I had lyrics
in my phone that would work with it. Added some guitar but not much, and it was donezo”

TUTV: Wham bloody wham bam. Expect a sharp-splitting punk rock juggernaut. Amps up and full steam ahead. No rest for the wicked with this razor-blade cutting, head over heels bombshell spiced with sneering vocals. Wham bloody wah-wah guitars bam. Scrunched Up Fist hits your face really hard. Hurry-scurry stroke.


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Instagram
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Band: DHARMA GUNS
Who: 4 indie rockers
from Helsinki, Finland.

Track: M.I.D.L.I.F.E. CRISIS
Third shared cut from their upcoming debut LP
Ex-Generation Superstars, out November 1st.

Pete (singer): “Some guys buy fast cars and fell for younger women; others purchase expensive guitars and hang them on the wall. And some of us wish to leave a mark in history and/or do the right thing. The verse riff is a bit ‘stonesian’ whereas the chorus of the song is a classical punk rock sing-a-long.”.

TUTV: Yes! Yes! Do you need a badass booster today to get you through the outside
rat race? Here it comes. Dharma Guns offer you a noisy piece of rock’n boogie ‘roll to test your stereo’s resilience with. Think The Black Crowes with a 70s Britpunk attitude. Get the picture? You’ll never get a midlife crisis with these Finnish wackadoos. Yes! Yes!

Instagram – Spotify
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Band: THE WOOD
Who: Indie duo from
the UK.

Track: LET IT LOOSE
Cut from their debut LP Days,
out on November 20.

TUTV: This guitar/drum beat-driven groove melt Southern rock and Motown soul, with its glowing horns and backing gospel vocals. Well, that’s what my ears tell me. Anyway, this catching cracker will active several of your limbs.

Linktree
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Artist: JAMES BAY

Track: GO ON
From the English award-winning songsmith’s his
new, 4th longplayer Changes All The Time.

Tune. Tune. Tune.
Voice. Voice. Voice.

Instagram – Spotify
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Photo by Emily Joy Ashman

Band: THE BROTHER STEREO
Who: Alt-rockers from Massachusetts led by songwriter
and multi-instrumentalist Michael Robert Kelly.

Track: The Ballad of the Washed Up (and Seemingly Forgotten)

Kelly: “It’s about being at the top of your game and being a human under a lot of pressure. It’s about the superficiality of the people you meet, keeping up the facade of fame in the eyes of the world and trying to relate to others… I just had Hollywood in mind for some reason and what it must be like for people who are so famous and desirable they can’t walk down the street. Then what it’s like to be the person who used to be that famous and the shit you get for not being as ‘perfect’ or ‘beautiful’ as you used to be. Washed up, if you will.”

Infectious, mixed emotions piece
that moves and grooves with a
doom and gloom sonority.


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Linktree
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Photo credit: Alex Lake

Band: MANIC STREET PREACHERS
Who: Welsh veteran heroes.

Track: HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
Singe from their upcoming 15th LP. It’s baptized
Critical Thinking and will be rolled out on
31st January 2025.

As on their last 2 albums the Manics, sonically, go poppy and
mainstream again (and they’re good at it). The days of barbwire
rock are long gone.

It’s the first single with bassist
and lyricist Nicky Wire on vocals.

Instagram – Website
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Credit Kelly Davidson

Band: GIRL WITH A HAWK
Who: The musical moniker of songstress Linda Viens
and some of Boston‘s rock legends working together.

Track: #VOTE (Rock The Boat)

Viens: “Most of us do not want to live in a world where LGBTQ+ people are not safe;
where people of color are not safe, or have the same opportunities as whites; where children are being gunned down daily; where books and education are devalued; and where women don’t have control over their own bodies. No candidate is perfect. We must vote while we still can, especially in this election, to ensure that future generations continue to have the sacred power of their freedom, their choices, and their voices.

TUTV: This song was written about 20 years ago by a Boston musician when George W. Bush was running for re-election against Massachusetts’ own John Kerry and it’s highly relevant again.

GWAH, rockers at heart, turned the encouraging tune, into a jaunty country folk pop
gem you can hum, sing and whistle along all day long. Here in Europe, we are also waiting with anticipation for the election results. Whoever wins the White House, it’ll have an impact on the rest of the world. Here in Europe want democracy to prevail, it takes care of humanity in all aspects. While waiting for November 5 , let’s rock the boat, and vote for GWAH today.


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Linktree
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Band: THE CURE

Track: A FRAGILE THING
Gloomy piece from their 14th album, their first in 16 years, titled
Songs Of A Lost World, and lands on planet Earth tomorrow, Nov 1.

“This song is a fragile thing
This song is my everything
Nothing you can do to change the end
There’s nothing you can do to change the end”

TURN UP THE VOLUME
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GIRL WITH A HAWK Call To Action With Country Folk Gem ‘#VOTE (Rock The Boat)’

Posted on by JL

Daily electricity to load your batteries

28 September 2024


Credit Kelly Davidson

Band: GIRL WITH A HAWK
Who: The musical moniker of songstress Linda Viens
and some of Boston‘s rock legends working together.

New single: #VOTE (Rock The Boat)

Viens: “The lyrics of ‘#VOTE’ retain a kind of neutrality, in that ‘sides’ are not taken, there is no reference to ‘right’ or ‘left’. The lyrics emphasize the ideas of liberty, justice and freedom for all.”

“Most of us do not want to live in a world where LGBTQ+ people are not safe; where people of color are not safe, or have the same opportunities as whites; where children are being gunned down daily; where books and education are devalued; and where women don’t have control over their own bodies. No candidate is perfect. We must vote while we still can, especially in this election, to ensure that future generations continue to have the sacred power of their freedom, their choices, and their voices.

This song is really an homage to the great, profound privilege of living in a country where we have a vote. And a call to action when something crucial at hand needs our vote, and our voice.”

TUTV: This song was written about 20 years ago by a Boston musician when George W. Bush was running for re-election against Massachusetts’ own John Kerry and it’s highly relevant again.

GWAH, rockers at heart, turned the encouraging tune, into a jaunty country folk pop
gem you can hum, sing and whistle along all day long. Here in Europe, we are also waiting with anticipation for the election results. Whoever wins the White House, it’ll have an impact on the rest of the world. Europe wants democracy to prevail, it takes care of humanity in all aspects. While waiting, let’s rock the boat, and vote for GWAH today.

STREAM


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BUY


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Linktree

TURN UP THE VOLUME’s JUKEBOX 2023 – 10 New Tracks Added Every Week

Posted on by JL

Every week 10 new rad tracks added

In order to not miss a beat Turn Up The Volume scans the musical
horizon daily (doing it for years now, actually) to stay in touch with
all new things sonically great and shares the results on a weekly
basis.

Check the 10 new rad cuts just
added to this rad 2023 playlist.

TRACK-BY-TRACK

1.’Shame’ by LNC (Nottingham, UK)


📸 Joe Walchester Photography

British band formed in Nottingham in 2016, based upon
a childhood dream and driving ambition to write music
from four school mates

These British gunslingers’ new single is a track inspired by how it feels to be
young and in a constant losing battle to survive in such a competitive world.

Frontman Josh Price roars all over this striking stroke. Shame is a wham bloody wham bam punk fireball. His voice resembles Artcic Monkey’s Alex Turner voice a bit, not his present crooner’s one, but rather his young angry man’s one. LNC is another post-Brexshit band (think Bar Italia, Deadletter, Lmabrini Girls, Ditz, Silverbacks, and several more) that produces turbulent turmoil in these tumultuos times, that reflects their worried state of mind caused by today’s merciless rat race.

Ace.


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2. ‘The Knock’ by FEEDER (UK)


(Press photo)

Welsh veteran rockers FEEDER – Grant Nicholas and Taka Hirose as key
members – drop a new LP, their 12th, a double one, titled Black/Red
on 5 April 2024.

One of the new share track, THE KNOCK is a straightforward,
hefty post-grunge rocker with a huge chorus.

Rad.


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3. ‘The King’ by SAFARI ROOM (Nashville, TN)

Safari Room is the indie rock outfit and brainchild of
Alec Koukol. Omaha-native, now a Nashville-local.

A new album is canned and named ‘Time Devours All Things’.
It lands next year, on February 23rd.


Album artwork

Newest single The King is an ongoing-charged groover driven by a mindbending non-stop bass riff that clashes now and then with a frantic guitar but never backs down. Koukol‘s storytelling vocals complete the stellar sonic picture.

Tune in.

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4. ‘Beside Myself’ by THE 76 CLUB (UK)

Formed in 2022, in Burton-Upon-Trent, England The 76 Club are a 5 -piece alternative rock outfit. Combining ethereal guitar tones with punchy, bass ridden choruses, the group are certainly not afraid to demonstrate their various individual influences.

‘Beside Myself’ is all about the uncertainty that comes with breaking up with someone
and the rollercoaster of emotions, wondering if it was the right decision. The lyrics capture
the vulnerability and the longing for closure. It’s a relatable and heartfelt song that
many people can connect with.

Beside Myself is only their second piece. It’s a fiery cry out whit the guitar and bass
amps turned up and the band’s front Amazon adds vocal fervency, especially
on the flustered chorus. Bingo! Btw, is that Debbie Harry on the single’s artwork?

Go.

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5. ‘West End Girls’ by SLEAFORD MODS (Nottingham, UK)

The mods will have a new limited-edition 7″ single out next month – pre-order info here – with all profits going to Shelter, an organization that helps people with housing issues and homelessness.

For the occasion they covered Pet Shop Boys‘s
gigantic hit West End Girls (more than 245 million
streams on Spotify).

Enjoy.

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6. ‘Brambles’ by FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES (UK)

Frank Carter about this second new shared track: “Brambles is a melancholic bop born
from the bramble thorns of love we let grow around us until we are tangled with no method
of escaping unscathed.”

Again we hear the romantic side of Carter, delivered
with avid heart-and-soul passion. Impressive.

Play.

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7.’Globe’ by IRINA IMME (London, UK)

This London-based songstress wrote, in her short musical journey so far, already
250+ songs. Wow, The Beatles fabricated only 1988 tunes in their 10-year career.

Globe is a standout track from her versatile new 6-track EP Blue Forever. Her third. The song is a haunting tale of a lost soul navigating the ups and downs of life. It’s a heartfelt mood swing piece, going forth and back with Imme‘s emotive voice shining in the middle.

Top!


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8. ‘Feel Me’ by GIRL WITH A HAWK (Boston, MA)

Girl with Hawk is an American rock band formed
in 2021 and led by musician Linda S. Viens.

The song is dedicated to Justine Covault, the founder of
Boston‘s Red On Red Records who passed away last summer.

Viens: “I can’t say that we have closure yet; as it has only been six months since we lost Justine, but I would say that the way the song seems to embody our heartache, and at the same time confirm that our relationship is still a living them, whether you believe that or not, does bring some comfort.”

Music, as we know, has a healing power. Hopefully, the electrifying guitar energy at work here and Viens‘ poignant vocals can have that healing impact on everybody involved, family and friends, in this tragedy.


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9. ‘Lovers‘ by PILLS FOR TOMORROW (Grenoble, France)

This fresh French band cites shoegaze and neo-psychedelica and
related bands such as BJM, My Bloody Valenne, Mogwai and Spacemen 3
as influences.

Lovers is one of the two cuts on their debut EP, titled Castle Rock.

It’s a dreamy and smoothly progressing jam that grows slowly but surely in
intensity and anxiety along its exhilarative path caused by inflamed guitars
going while singer Nathalie Valion‘s vocals float all over it.

Check in.


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10. ‘Roadrunner Vs. Your Mother by THE MAGIC CITY (Boston, MA)

The Magic City is a new Boston-based rock band.

Roadrunner Vs. Your Mother is a provocative debut offering,
with roots that stretch from Britpop to post-punk to glam to
classic alternative.

It’s an amplified, melancholic-sounding reverie that triggers your daydreaming moments.
Its astounding guitar-infused and vivid vocals/harmonies coloured chorus takes the song to a zippy level. Splendid debut!


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ALL TOGETHER

Steam to Spotify and stream all.


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TUTV: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter

GIRL WITH A HAWK Don’t Pretend On New Jaunty Guitar Pop Single ‘THE ROMANTIC’

Posted on by JL

New striking strokes

13 May 2023


(Photo by Kelly Davidson Savage)

Band: GIRL WITH A HAWK
Who: The musical moniker of songstress Linda Viens
and some of Boston‘s rock legends working together.

New single: THE ROMANTIC

Viens: “The Romantic is a declaration – a burning flare shot into the vast night sky
that says: no matter how many times my heart has been beat up and broken, in spite
of divorce, and lost loves, and longing, I’m still here and I still believe in true love, because
I’ve lived it, and I know it exists and we should never give up hope for it. At the same time,
the song celebrates independence and self containment and the idea of not settling for an experience that is not worthy or fulfilling. The song holds both ideas at once: that we can feel utterly whole and even happy as a single person, but also be open to love, and that when the time comes and the right person comes into our lives, we will be willing to surrender.”

TUTV: Yesterday Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders announced details of the release
of their 12th LP and shared the first single. I swear, if somebody had told me that it
was this song called The Romantic and played it to me I would have believed it was the Pretenders (and I still would). Why? It’s an instantly working guitar-pop earworm, both frolic and punchy, just like the Pretenders made lots of and Viens‘ glam voice resembles Chrissie Hynde‘s vox. It’s magic in motion. It’s a solid gold hit. A tantalizing triumph. Trust me, Girl With A Hawk are for real.

Buy/Stream


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GIRL WITH A HAWK: Facebook – Instagram – Bandcamp

Boston’s Outfit GIRL WITH A HAWK Share Video Clip For Their New Emotive Single ‘SAME STARS’

Posted on by JL

24 February 2023


(Photo by Kelly Davidson).

Songstress Linda Viens and some of Boston‘s rock legends operating together under
the moniker GIRL WITH A HAWK released their new piece SAME STARS a couple of weeks ago. An emotive story about Viens brother’s incarceration and the toll the situation took
on the family.

Viens: “There are times, lucky times, when songs come through the ether to the writer fully formed. ‘Same Stars’ is one of those songs. In the middle of the night as I tossed and turned, feeling my brother’s body and mind and spirit simultaneously tossing and turning and trying to get comfortable in a jail cot, in a metal cell, where the lights never went dark, and the cries and complaints of men could be heard all night long, I got up and picked up the guitar and the song emerged. Songs that come like this are not difficult, they are a gift, a release, and a relief.”

Turn Up The Volume wrote: “‘Same Stars’ is a heart-and-soul touching story, a longing ballad, bittersweet siblings love-inspired reverie with Linda Viens‘s moving voice sending
shivers down your spine. Stirring.”

The band have a brand new video out now for the sensitive song with alternating shots
of the band performing the tune and Viens wandering around in slo-mo, like in a feverish dream, reflecting on her family, especially her troubled brother and his two children.

Watch/listen.

GIRL WITH A HAWK: Facebook – Instagram – Bandcamp

Soulful Sunday With GIRL WITH A HAWK And Her Heart-And-Soul Touching Story ‘SAME STARS’

Posted on by JL

Reveries for the laziest day of the week

29 January 2023


(Photo by Kelly Davidson).

Band: GIRL WITH A HAWK
Who: Singer/songwriter Linda Viens‘collective of
Boston rock legends producing gorgeously emotive
indie rock with Americana, garage, and punk roots.

New single: SAME STARS
Their first for Red On Red Records .

Info: In 1998 Linda Vien’s brother was arrested for armed robbery. A long-time
heroin addict, he had used a toy gun wrapped in a bandanna to rob a convenience
store. He was sentenced to 11 years in a Federal Prison, and had to leave his wife and his two young children behind. He was released in 2010. During his time in prison Linda drove from Boston monthly to visit him During those visits, Linda witnessed the devastation of her brother’s separation from his young family and witnessed firsthand the damage and pain caused by long term, and in some cases, unjust incarceration.

Same Stars was written from her brother’s point of view; from a sister’s vantage point of empathy and sorrow in identification with his daily suffering, shame, regret and grief. In the end of the song, as in the end of the story, he is released into the world a free man who has paid his debt to society, and who must find his family again and begin the long journey of reconciliation and healing.

Same Stars is a heart-and-soul touching story, a longing ballad,
a bittersweet siblings love-inspired reverie with Linda Viens‘s moving
voice sending shivers down your spine. Stirring.

But you see the same stars as me
And someday your daddy will be free
And we’ll ride through the night,
And everything will be alright,
you’ll see, you’ll see

Stream buy here.