Respected and revered alt-rock songwriter Ron Hawkins boasts a celebrated catalogue over 20 records deep – some are solo offerings, and others feature backing bands the Do Good Assassins or Rusty Nails.
“Church of the Chemical D.J.” is a song about how we sedate ourselves against the hardships and austerities of capitalism in the 21st Century – less an Orwellian hellscape of authoritarian control and more a Huxleyian wasteland of self sedated automatons. Ron was trying to make a cool tune first and foremost, but by the time he was finished, he realised he couldn’t stop himself from getting into the deep shit.
It’s the focus track from the six song EP, Trash Talkin’ at the Speed of Sound, which was produced by Devon Lougheed (Sky Wallace Band / Altered By Mom).
We caught up with Ron for an exclusive interview, below.
What can you share with readers about your new project?
Well it was originally meant to be a collaborative affair with Devon Lougheed (Skye Wallace/ Altered By Mom). It was going to be a “two producers” album wherein I would produce 5 of Devon’s tunes and he would produce 5 of mine, but when Covid hit that all got kiboshed and I decided to ask Devon just to produce a 6 song EP for me. We wound up doing it remotely – I recorded tracks and sent them over to Devon’s place, then he would tweak them and mix them. As for the theme – it turned out to be a six song collection about alienation, isolation and self medication. Though the songs were written before the pandemic it turned out to be a very fitting comment on the times we were living through.
How does this release compare with your other projects you had in the past?
I was in a very experimental phase and was looking to employ some new sounds and textures, kind of in order to challenge myself and see what new roads it might take me down. Part of that was employing drum machines (808s and other old machines) and some of the synths I have in my home studio. I’ve found in the past that just switching up the instrument you write on can take you down roads you never expected. It just shakes up the snow globe a bit and maybe makes you fire along different neural paths. I found that was particularly true when I used an old Roland Re-201 Space Echo. I bought a vintage one because I used to see them in all the analogue studios I’d recorded in back in the 80s and 90s. Just plugging into it made me choose guitar effect sounds that led me down some darker paths and more cinematic choices were made.
What about this single makes you most proud?
It’s very satisfying to know that between my little home studio and Devon’s we could create what I feel is a very contemporary and sonically sophisticated EP. It was an absolute pleasure to work with Devon. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
The same goal as every release – save the world. I’m only half joking.
What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?
I learned early on in my teens that music can be a powerful motivating force. It can be an incredible mirror and it can be an inspiration. I don’t believe in god and I don’t believe in politicians but I believe in music. It tends to make people understand their shared humanity and though I don’t think it makes revolutions I think it is a powerful fellow traveller that can beat the drum for a progressive movement through history. What motivates me to keep going is that I don’t live in the world I would like to see and I won’t stop putting my music and art to the service of that new world till it’s achieved. I may never see it but I figure, what the fuck, what a great way to spend a hopeless cause than to do it through art.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
I don’t really know how to answer that one. I get to work with some pretty amazing people as it is, and that keeps my plate and my heart full. I also worry about the whole “meeting your heroes” thing. I think I’ll just be grateful for the amazing people I’ve surrounded myself with and try not to let them down.
What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?
Literally? The last song I listened to was Tim Armstrong’s (Rancid) new project Bad Optix. The song is called “Raid”. Kind of a political screed set against an old Blue Beat kinda vibe. My fave all time band would have to be The Clash. If I had to pick one. They just seemed to nail the stuff that’s important to me – melody, lyrics with something to say, cool attitude, tight aesthetic, open minds musically and they tried to move the needle on humanity, albeit in their loose stumbling kind of way.
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
The usual suspects – Facebook, Instagram, ronhawkins.com, lowestofthelow.com. Or you could just shout out your apartment window and I’ll drop by and play a tune or something.
I really appreciate your time. Is there anything you’d like to share before we sign off?
Try to be kind, both to strangers and yourself. Oh, and try to have some fun.
