Bold, brave, beautiful Hawkins
Rmike.alexander@fairfaxmedia.co.nz ANNA Hawkins has made a bold, brave and beautiful statement on her new album.
The New Zealand-born singer, often referred to as a classicalcrossover artist, but with a voice, range and expressive tone that could turn a nursery rhyme into something beautiful, is releasing her third studio album Bold, Brave& Beautiful on March 10 and, on March 17, embarks on a nationwide concert tour.
The bold – and partly brave – is her decision to move to England. Hawkins, who grew up on a farm south of Morrinsville, and her husband Simeon Clarke uprooted from Tauranga and now live in Oxford, England.
‘‘I have done a couple of recordings overseas now and I thought, ‘we’ve just got to make the move, be brave and just do it. This is our time’,’’ Hawkins says. ‘‘We packed up our place at the end of May last year and I went back to Poland, where I recorded the album.
‘‘Since September, we have been living just out of Oxford. The first time I went to London, I was wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, taking photos and thinking, ‘what kind of world have I arrived in?’ It was a culture shock. It’s great though. It broadens your horizons, your understanding of the world and makes you realise ‘this isn’t just about me. There are actually millions of people out there and many different ways of Supplied looking at life’.’’
The brave – and partly bold – is Hawkins’ decision to include more of her own material.
‘‘Personally, it is both a bold and brave move for me. It is a transition of sorts,’’ she says. ‘‘When you go through a transition, there is always a sense of apprehension and you have to be kind of brave and step out of your comfort zone to do something new.
‘‘I think, with this album, that’s what I have done. I have been performing since I was 14 and primarily I have been doing covers, musical theatre or performing with orchestras You identify yourself as a performer and entertainer. Songwriting was almost a secondary thing for me.
‘‘On this album. I have really got to explore that a lot more... Hence the title of the album. I think it is the season of life that I am in. It is who I want to be, what I want to be. I want to be bold, brave and beautiful and not stop experimenting, not stop trying new things.
‘‘You think, ‘oh gosh, I ampast 25 I should have it all sorted out now’. I think that’s the wrong attitude to have, so I just wanted to keep embracing creativity.’’
The beautiful, aside from what is self-evident, encapsulates the songs and the mood and feel of the album, right down to the red and pink dress Hawkins is wearing on the album cover shot.
‘‘I have always loved colour,’’ she says. ‘‘I have never been one to wear black, I don’t know if it is because I have got dark hair, but it has never suited me. All of the bright and colourful cover design is again embracing that season diversity and all parts of myself. I want to encourage other people to do the same.’’