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Follow on Google News | Kirsty Hawkshaw To Release Children's AlbumSinger Kirsty Hawkshaw, who rose to fame with early 1990s club classic It's a Fine Day, talks about her forthcoming album of children's songs set for a Christmas release and preceeded by a Halloween single.
By: Niki Goddard The artist - famed for her signature atmospheric vocals and many club music collaborations – is working on the record with actress friend Rebecca Rainsford. A self produced album two part album celebrating seasons Spring to Summer and Autumn to Winter made using using “real” instruments including harp and metallophone, is said to be a “sublime” album of beautiful songs for children aged four and up that adults can also enjoy. The sound is described as “fluffy and light, soothing and imaginary”, sharing a folk inflection reminiscent of the The Wicker Man soundtrack by Paul Giovanni and Magnet, and also the work of little-known psychedelic singer-songwriter Linda Perhacs. Hawkshaw says The Felt Dolls have been driven to create an album of songs “past and new” that is “reminiscent” self made using organic wool and needle felted then printed by Kirsty. The title names are yet to be announced for each seasonal release. Speaking from her home in X, Hawkshaw, 41, said: “This project has been born out of a genuine love of the music Rebecca and I were exposed to as children. “Timeless shows such as Bagpuss, Mr Ben, Fingerbobs, have all been points of influence. “Our intention has been to craft soothing music for the soul reminiscent of a golden era of childhood and made with real instruments such as harp, harmonium, vibraphone, glockenspiel, singing bowls, metallophone - anything with a good vibration.” This is also an album that Adults may like with or without children. OPUS III AND SOLO SUCCESS The artist, daughter of British composer and disco record producer Alan Hawkshaw, first came into the public consciousness with groundbreaking dance anthem 'It's a Fine Day' in 1992. The single, recorded with Opus III, became an international success, reaching the UK top 10 and #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in America. Opus III naturally broke up in 1994 but Hawkshaw has continued to enjoy a celebrated and varied solo career with over 50 collaborations in the dance, house, Eurodance, trance, and electronica scenes to her name. She has had hit dance records with DJ Tiesto (Just Be, and Walking on Clouds), Bt (Million Stars and Running down the Way Up, Dreaming), and has maintained an independent and contemporary career for over 15 years. SONGWRITING FOR CHILDREN AND MOTHERHOOD Though she may have forged her reputation in Electronic Dance Music, Hawkshaw is no stranger to children's music. She contributed a track titled “Telephone Song” to 2004 album For the Kids Too! and more recently, in 2008, composed and produced The Sun and the Moon (Water Music) released under the guise “Kirsty Greenwood'. "We are living in very different times now as far as the music Industry goes, and I'm keen to spend more time being involved with my two beautiful children,” said Hawkshaw, who has a son aged 8 called Ike and a Daughter aged five called Edie-moon. “Rebecca Rainsford is also a mother and the idea for The Felt Dolls just grew organically out of our desire to entertain, educate and delight our children like our parents did for us. “I spend my free time in the studio writing songs for them and for those I like working with. It's a rich and happy time in my life.” FELT DOLLS AND OTHER CURRENT PROJECTS While The Felt Dolls put the finishing touches to Autumn to Winter mini album is set to be released independently, versatile Hawkshaw continues to explore other musical avenues. Already in 2010 she has contributed a track – “Million Stars” - on American electronic musician BT's new album These Hopeful Machines, has been venturing into the world of liquid drum and bass with ambient DnB producers 'Paradox' and Seba, and in 2010 toured with Chapterhouse and German musician/producer Ulrich Schnauss in Japan and the States. Hawkshaw is also planning to release a follow-up album to the critically-acclaimed EP Two Trees made in collaboration with Schnauss and released earlier this year. She said: “Schnauss is incredibly talented and Two Trees is just a taster of what's to come. The album's been three years in the making, done off our own backs, and though we've been in no rush to release it, I think it will have been worth the wait.” Children, however, wont have that long to wait until they hear the first track from Simple Truths. “Halloween” All Hallows Eve is available on I-tunes: http://itunes.apple.com/ About Kirsty Hawkshaw: Singer and songwriter Kirsty Hawkshaw was born in London, in 1969. It was through her record producer father Alan Hawkshaw (of Love De-Luxe with Hawkshaw’s Discophonia fame) and German opera singer grandmother that she would go on to pursue a career in music. She started recording sounds and her own vocal recordings at the age of three years old after her father gave her a tape recorder. Her big break as a vocalist arose in 1991 after being noticed by producers Opus III, who at the time were known as A.S.K. First single “It’s A Fine Day” (a cover of a 1983 single by Jane & Barton) from Opus III's début album “Mind Fruit” was an international smash hit, reaching number 5 on the UK charts and topping the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1992. The song is now considered a house music classic and a reversed sample of Hawkshaw's singing from the track was used in Orbital's 1992 track "Halcyon”. Opus III had another US #1 hit on the Dance chart in 1994 with “When You Made The Mountain” from second and last album Guru Mother. The album outsold Prince and Madonna in Japan. After the group broke up in 1994, Hawkshaw pursued a solo career and wrote her first solo album which ended up being produced by Mark Pritchard from Harmonic 313. Since then her unique, pitch-perfect voice has been in demand by other acts in the dance, house, Eurodance, trance, and electronica community including Delerium, DJ Tiesto ("Just Be”, “Walking on Clouds”, and “Battleship Grey”), Fragma and Hybrid on albums 'Morning Sci-Fi' and 'I Choose Noise'. Kirsty has a close friendship with musician BT and sang on his album 'Movement in Still life' on the songs “Running Down the Way Up” and his cover of Judie Tzuke's classic song “Dreaming” MULTIMEDIA LINKS: http://www.youtube.com/ http://www.youtube.com/ LINKS: Kirsty Hawkshaw Website: www.kirstyhawkshaw.co.uk Kirsty Hawkshaw's Blog: kirstyhawkshaw.wordpress.com Kirsty Hawkshaw Music Official Fan Page: www.facebook.com/ The Felt Dolls fan page (Facebook): www.facebook.com/ End
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