A tender, evocative album, ‘Hawk in the Nest’ is a treasure-trove of soul and R&B-leaning material, a gentle slice of retro and organic goodness delivered by the luscious, hypnotic vocals of American troubadour Avi Jacob. Now operating under the guise of Hawk in the Nest – sharing its name with the album – Jacob has embraced a more collaborative character, teaming up with a series of talented musicians and fellow creatives.
The help of drummer Wolfgang Zimmerman (producer of Band of Horses #1 hit Crutch) and bassist Joel Hamilton (also producers on the record) proves crucial in developing a heartwarming, analogue-sounding body of work, alongside the stunning artistry of piano virtuoso Noah Jones of the Psycodelics, and Michael Quinn of Doom Flamingo on horns. Overall, this is a timeless, old-school record, one that throws it back to vivid songwriting and elegant arrangements.
Intrigued by Hawk in the Nest, we have caught up with Avi Jacob to learn more about his artistry and creative process… Interview below!
Hey Avi, thanks for chatting with us! You have dedicated your entire life to music and art, developing your craft with honesty and authenticity. One thing that particularly stood out was the transition from your folk-leaning (your solo project in particular) beginnings to more elegant soul and blues-flavoured territories, as is the case for your current project, Hawk In The Nest. What sparked such a transition? Is it all part of your natural growth as an artist?
Funny enough, it’s a growth and a return to the music I loved as a boy. I started singing and dancing on stage when I was a boy, and I was obsessed with Boyz II Men. I realised that my songs were more pop/R&B than I assumed, because I was always singing them solo with an acoustic guitar, but I didn’t change my songs. I changed the instruments and the feel.
Do you see Hawk In The Nest as a collaborative project? It seems to me that live performances and a certain sonic nostalgia are central qualities to its heartwarming ethos.
For sure, even though it is my creative effort primarily, I have a great appreciation for the musicians and singers who record and perform with me, and what they do is absolutely part of it. What comes across, I hope, is the genuine sweet time we are having during every Hawk in the Nest session and song; It should be a fun experience to create.
In that regard, your latest album is the perfect point of entry for anyone keen to know more about the Avi Jacob musical universe. ‘Hawk in the Nest’ (homonym) sees you delivering eight wonderful tracks steeped in soulful energy and old-school charisma. How long has the record been in the works? Are you proud of the final result?
I am incredibly proud of it. It was finished a while ago, but the delay was self-imposed. I was set to release it last fall when I was canvassing for Harris. When Trump won, and we saw the country choose white supremacist, anti-trans ideology, bigotry, and hate, it put me in a depression. How do we choose these evil men to lead us when it is so obvious they are hateful, selfish liars? How dumb are Americans to vote for this again? It boggles the mind.
Let’s widen the conversation a little, throwing it back to teenage Avi Jacob, growing up in a musically fertile Boston. What were some of your musical heroes back then? When did you understand that songwriting and performing were going to be your calling?
I have always felt it was my calling, and I’ve been hoping the world would affirm that at some point. I am not sure it has happened yet, to be honest. I write and I perform because I love it, but it is still a struggle. It doesn’t help when Spotify steals every artist’s pay and uses it to build AI bombs to murder innocent people overseas. When I was in Boston, I wasn’t listening to music, to be honest, I was practising all the time and focused on creating something original.
A lot has changed since then, both in music and in the world in general. What’s your view on the state of the music industry and the way mainstream music is constantly evolving? In fact, I believe there’s a resurgence of live instruments, as far as I can see (excluding AI, of course). What’s your view on the artistic landscape around you?
The overall talent level in music is far better than ever before, and it gets better every year. The mediocre bands of the 90s (Matchbox 20, Everclear, Sugar Ray, Creed, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc) would never have made it today. That was a popular music industry that almost exclusively promoted mediocre white men. Today, there are so many femme artists and POC artists that run circles around that crap. Modern country is the last stronghold of mediocre white men (Morgan Wallen, that Combs guy, or really any artist on pop country radio), and that’s because most of the listeners are MAGA voters who want vapid music to match their values. To them, ‘great’ America is a thinly veiled call for the white supremacist music industry they had growing up. It’s pathetic, really, but what else could describe ‘Christians’ electing a child rapist over a capable woman other than ‘pathetic’?
Zooming in on your creative process: Do you usually write alone or with others? What comes first, the lyrics or the melodies?
I have never written with anyone else. It usually starts with a chord progression, the melody and the first lyrics come at the same time, and usually the original inspiration, the first words or feeling, sets the tone for the rest of the song. I have a vague idea of what I want to say before any lyrics come out.
Here’s something I always ask, and it always pays dividends: based on your unique life’s journey, is there a piece of advice or a nugget of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers? Many of them are music makers themselves
Yes. My advice is don’t isolate. Spend every day with friends or family, or lovers. Don’t let capitalism brainwash you into going it alone or seeing other musicians as competition. As a society, we are being exploited by billionaires who steal our labour and art for profit, and they are nothing without us. Billionaires do not create anything; they exploit and steal. As Patti Smith said, ‘the People have the power’.
What’s next for Hawk in the Nest? Any live performances scheduled for the new year?
Lots of performances, the first that come to mind are release shows in Boston on January 2nd at Club Passim, and Providence on January 8th at Myrtle. There will be more, though!
