Sophie B. Hawkins

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Sophie B. Hawkins
Musician
Wednesday, April 10, 2002; 3 p.m. EDT

Singer, songwriter, musician Sophie B. Hawkins has been busy. After gaining rights to the album "Timbre," Hawkins recently re-released an expanded version on CD. Self-produced, the new CD includes two new songs, home demos, remixes and never-before-seen videos. Now, in the midst of a world tour, she's also penning a novel and writing and recording new songs.

Hawkins began studying music in her native New York wiehn she was 14 years old. She studied classical percussion at the Manhattan School of Music. She played in various bands -- writing all the parts and singing from behind her drumset. While working as a coat check girl, she gave Martin Cohn a 50 song demo tape, which included what later became her signature song, "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover."

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

washingtonpost.com: The discussion will start shortly.

washingtonpost.com: Stay tuned, Sophie should be with us momentarily.

Harrisburg, Pa.: What inspired you to go into music? Obviously, if you were studying it at age 14, you know at early age this interested you. How soon in life were you aware that music would be a major part of your life, and were there inspirations or events that helped you realize this interest?

Sophie B. Hawkins: First of all, I think that I was born with a desire to express my feelings through pictures and music and words. Because even when I was just really really young, before I remember anything, I thought I was a musician, even though I didn't play any instruments.

I remember times in my past when I went on a rampage with my parents to play the drums and they never acquiesed. I remember trying to find a drum school in Harlem at nine. Physically, I always acted out musically. Then I would try out for school plays, singing, and never get the parts and I'd always wonder when who I knew I was would actually manifest. So I think my soul knew, but it was a longtime coming for my body to execute my vision.

I don't think that other in my present life have ever caused me to do creative things, but I think sometimes they help me get it out. The cause is always there inside waiting to be born. In a way it doesn't matter what inspiration and influences are and that's why people who are comfortable with their creativity can move so easily from culture to culture, from medium to medium. Because the truth is the truth.

Washington, D.C.: Do you play any instruments besides drums?

Sophie B. Hawkins: Yes. I play and write on piano, guitar, banjo, vibraphone and marumba, cello and then anything anyone ever leaves at my house, I try it. I have no boundaries really with instruments and stuff. I actually practice, too. I'm now praxcticing and studying Cello, and that brings me back to the beginning and that's really great.

In this show that I'm doing I'm going to play a song I wrote on the Kalimba. It's a little thumb piano with a metal sort of tongs. They're really small and sweet.

Washington, D.C.: It seems as if you've been a musician -- or known that was your calling -- from a very early age. Were your parents instrumental (no pun intended) in encouraging you to pursue music? Do you think that your talent might have been stifled or put on a back burner in another family?

Sophie B. Hawkins: I think that my talent was stifled and put on the back burner in my family. My parents did not believe that I was gonna be a musician and they also -- when I started at 14 -- were discouraging mentally and in some ways physically because I remember my father saying "She'll never amount to anything" and all these horrible things that made me want to prove him wrong. And always going it alone. Everything in isolation. Everyone yelling at me all the time, "You're a nothing. Why are you bothering us." Completely the opposite of supoprt.

My soul chose my family, so I don't know what I'd be in another family.

I think if I'd had a supportive family, things oculd've come easier. Like reading music and having more technique, but that wouldn't necessarily have become a better songrwiter. It's the struggle that makes me so passionate.

Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: And how long do you go WITHOUT writing a song? What does that mean to you? I sort-of wonder 'is there anything wrong' because I'm not inspired to write a song. Last three weeks, I didn't write anything, then all of a sudden, the other night, I wrote a song! In other words, what does your 'dry spell' mean to you, and how do you quench it?

Sophie B. Hawkins: I don't think of life in terms of dry spells and wet spots. I think of it as you've got to respect the song's time. I do believe that every song comes when its ready. Like a child, you nurture it, but when it comes the point is to be there and let it come through. I always feel there are angels around me and when I get frustrated playing chord changes and sh---ty songs come out that aren't magic, the angels always tell me "This is important, too, it won't come till it's ready."

So I think of things in terms of getting the concious and ego out of the way and learning from every process. And another thing about it, the process, to me -- and this is important -- every song comes in a different way and by now I've learned that. SO, in a way, it's harder, but it's more fun because there's no pattern.

That's like reality -- nothing's set in stone. We all have to get out of the programmed way of thinking and prolific means nothing to me. Quality means everything.

Harrisburg, Pa.: Would you please tell us what your novel is about? How far along are you in writing it and when may we possible be able to purchase copies?

Sophie B. Hawkins: I'm pretty far along in it, but the only thing is, again, it's like I've gotta go back and take it to the next level. I guess you'd call that editing. And that time hasn't come yet and I've been busy writing songs for my next record. So I know the time will come soon to be quiet and finish this. I can never give a when, I can give a "soon," but I can't say what it's about... what I think it's about today may not be what it's about tomorrow.

Arlington, Va.: Hi Sophie,

I think your stuff is great, and I loved your appearance on the "Chris Isaak Show" recently. How was it doing the show? Had you done much acting before?

Sophie B. Hawkins: That's a cute question. First of all, I loved Chris Isaak. He was so fun. He was curious and generous and really great to work off because he's such an individual.

I haven't done a lot of acting, but every time I do it, I have so much fun.

It was really like vaudeville to me, everything really quick and very in the moment and me trying to bring as much to it as I could. I didn't know how much they'd cut out.

I thought everyone on the show was really good. All those actors are. The number of times Chris made me laugh... His band is so intelligent and so great. I'd love to be with them. I wish I could have toured with him and used his band.

It was nice being around Chris because he's a real song writer and his staying power is not his ability to market himself, it's his real interest in music. I thought we were kindred spirits.

Washington, D.C.: Who are your favorite musicians?

Sophie B. Hawkins: Yes, I'd rather listen to NIna Simone. I love her. I'll tell you people to re-occur:
Nina Simone, Beethoven, Arvo Parts, and lots of classical stuff. Modern stuff, I always return to Billie Holiday, Thelonius Monk, Charles Mingus, Van Morrison, and then I'll find new people who are dead, like John Denver. His songs -- he's really an incredible soul. I have to mention, I just put my record player together, and the first thing I played was all my Beatles records, CSN&Y. The Brothers Johnson, I could go on and on.

Harrisburg, Pa.: I appreciate your concern for sea turtles and for nature. What got you involved, and what projects have been involved with lately?

Sophie B. Hawkins: The turtles I got involved in because I actually own a shack and it's on an island, pretty much on a cliff and down below, from my porch, a lot of turtles come and eat and they're so friendly and loving. I swim with them and people come and kill them, club them in the night, and I can hear it. I knew it was against the law and then I found out this was an endangered species. So I began studying them. I felt like part of their world, so I went and protested in Los Angeles before Bush and it's not even political. I was part of the green party. I did this rally and this rally consisted of me and only one other person. Then we realized how few people knew about the turtles. THen I did a documentary with the Turner channel.

I did some charity events.

I think to me religion has killed the world in some senses. Everything that people have used to keep them in balance, it always turns against them. Nature is in balance, its our greatest feature, where God really is and humans are best when they are in the minority and nature's in the majority. So I really like to protect nature. Human beings are so disgusting and selfish. So it's really about where I find God, in nature. I don't understand missing God in nature. So, for me that's what it is.

Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: Hi there Sophie, Are there ever times when you're compelled to write because you know you've got an album as part of your deal? I write songs as well, and there was a time when I would write ideas because I had them, but lately I've had opportunities to perform, and it's an impetus to write! Does this happen to you?

I'm wondering, because once in a quick second, I feel a bit guilty that I'm writing to perform, not to just "write." It seems a bit overwhelming that I'd want to write a song because I want to write a song for ALL my life, I don't know. I'm new to this, so forgive me for my naivete.

Sophie B. Hawkins: You have to just keep going and get your own reference points from your own center because your experience won't be my experience and i don't think my experience can help.

The main thing is to try and be joyful and not think to much. Do whatever you're doing with integrity and wholeness. And if you stay open everything will find its right balance and size.

I do think it's important for human beings to be their own map, their own guide.

Washington, D.C.: Hi Sophie:

That's so sad -- a coat check girl. Gimmie a break!

Enjoy your new famed lifestyle! Although there is a part of me that wants to say stay grounded. Your success doesn't place you anywhere but on concrete.

Your "id" can get in the way.

Sophie B. Hawkins: I think that you're right and I've often felt the worst thing for the writers is fame. I have a great struggle getting my work out and I don't think anyone puts me on a pedestal. I agree, but there's never been any worry for me about getting filled with the approval, because luckily there's so much rejection and there's so much criticism that I always do the work to do the work.

I'd be happy to be a coatcheck girl again.

Alexandria, Va.: Your bio says that you gave Martin Cohn a 50-song demo. Who is Martin Cohn?

Sophie B. Hawkins: Marc Cohn. He did the song "Walking in Memphis." At the time he was jingle singer. And so that's who he was and he came into the restaurant where I worked and he liked my speaking voice and I t hink he was flirting with me, but I think he was surprised when I gave him my demo. But he really liked the songs. He left the songs at his next jingle gig and some guy who was a piano player picked up the songs and called me up and said "You should be making records. Come to my studio. I'll help you formulate a plan." He ended up producing my records. His name was Ralph Schuckett.

Bethesda, Md.: Do you feel typecast in a specific genre?

Sophie B. Hawkins: Yes, I think I'm typecast in AC Pop and I think it's par for the course of having been on Sony and having had to find somewhere to break. So, either the fact that "As I Lay Me Down" was such a huge song, typecast me. I'm happy to have a genre, it's better than having no genre. I get my music out. People talk about me as top 40. As long as people enjoy my records, that's all that matters. If people buy the records, they get more than they bargained for.

Alexandria, Va.: Didn't you do the song "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep?"

Do you yearn for another mainstream radio hit?

Sophie B. Hawkins: Well, the honest answer is no, because I know what a mainstream hit brings to my life and it brings so much promoting of a nature that is not that personal and it brings so much time away from the things I love. So in a sense, it would be really lucky, but you never feel you have a hit when you have a hit. People are so sensitive and you try not to insult anyone. They'll pull your song. I don't need a maistream hit for my identity. I'd be grateful, of course, because it would mean another opening in the world. But I'm grateful anyway, because my work fulfills me. The hit part doesn't fulfill me, the actual work is what fulfills me.

I think people should realize how much the world is changing. Having a hit now, when we're about to have world war three, doesn't seem so important. I've got other things on my mind.

Washington, D.C.: Why did you re-release "Timbre?" If you do another album do you plan to release it on a major label?

Sophie B. Hawkins: I re-released "Timbre" because Sony buried then Michael came and said it's your best record, so why would I say no. I got the support, they gave me this second chance. So that's why I did it and it gave me a tremendous amount of joy.

The next record -- I"m still deciding. All songs are done in demo form. The band has learned a lot of them. Three are done in album form and I have two really great offers and I"m in a quandary. The record industry is so different. If you sign to a label, you don't know who's going to be there the next day. So I'm in this place of having to make decisions. Because every day brings new information. And, also, I know have the goods, so I know that it is not good to rush into things. Because great songs are forever and eventually I'll find my way. Right now I'm not quite sure what road to choose.

Washington, D.C.: I just read your response on religion: that in many ways it has killed the world. I could not agree more. Nature's consciousness is overwhelming in it's expression of beauty.

The book by Michael Pollan "Botany of Desire" probes into a plant's perception of the world. There is so much to explore and experience. Why so many people chose to spiritually embrace those disjointed absolutes written in "holy" books is beyond me. P.S. I like your songs too.

Sophie B. Hawkins: I love this person. That's a wonderful review of the book. I'm going to get that book and read it on the plane to my show. thank you so much!

Falls Church, Va.: The only song of yours that I know is "Damn, I wish I was your lover" I really like that song and I wonder if your more recent work is of the same style.

Sophie B. Hawkins: Ask somebody for a record or something.

Even if its not the same style, it's the same woman.

Sophie B. Hawkins: It's great for people who've already seen me. I have four new songs. It's always a great experience, a great show, really spontaneous. I hope with people who are on the fence will come out. I'm very interested in feeling the temperature of the world today, with what's going on. It's so dismal out there. I want to know how other people feel about what's going on.

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