Recorded in Belfast’s Start Together Studio with Producer Rocky O’Reilly, loud and soft Irish band HAVVK releases new album, To Fall Asleep.
HAVVK (pronounced ‘Hawk’) is a three-piece band signed by Veta Records and made up of Julie Hawk (bass, vocals), Matthew Harris (guitar), & Nigel Kenny (drums). Album, To Fall Asleep, uses 11 songs to explore the things that keep us awake at night.
“The songs look at sleep – or lack thereof – from many different angles; the frustration and panic of not being able to control something so fundamental to us, the unresolved fragments of daily life that catch up with us when we’re sleeping, and the joy and privilege of having a safe space to call your own.”
The first song, ‘Daylight Robbery,’ starts the album off with a dramatic sense of panic roiling notes, and frantic energy.
“They say daylight robbery is good for business, nothing stands between us and the perfect witness”
Lyrics from, ‘Daylight Robbery’
The dramatic unnerving guitar and drum notes of panic never leave, only ebbs and floods like waves from song to song. Similarly, the vocalist switches from singing in conversational tones, to pleading, chanting, and yelling. There is a song for everyone in this album, loud or soft. My second favorite song off the album was Track 3, ‘Strong Possibility’ I was hooked immediately by the chanting lyrics.
“is it over, the pressure it drove her, to give up the ghost, of the dreams, that she wanted the most”
Lyrics from, ‘A Strong Possibility’
HAVVK experiments playfully with sound to capture the sometimes restless nature and startling wake-ups that make up our nights. The way HAVVK turns a phrase, however, is what is keeping them in my playlist this month. My absolute favorite song off the album was, ‘Waste of Time’ which was so good it’s making me want to purchase the vinyl which is now available in their merch store.
“I didn’t want to face the noise, everybody singing at the top of their lungs, you never recognized my voice.”
Lyrics from, ‘Waste of Time’
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