finetune artist: Sophie B. Hawkins

b. Sophie Ballantine Hawkins, 1 November 1966, Manhattan, New York, USA. Born of liberal, wealthy East Manhattan parents (her father a lawyer, her mother British writer Joan Winthrop), Hawkins' family background also boasted an aunt, Linda, who had been masseuse to Paul Simon. By the time she moved with Aunt Linda to the arty environs of West Greenwich, she had already began to develop her musical talent, taking drum lessons at an East Harlem jazz school from the age of nine. Her teens were spent studying New York percussionist Gordy Ryan (she also shared a room with him at the age of 14). By her late teens Hawkins and Ryan also shared a stage together, touring a show around New York State. In the meantime she had started to write her own material, and by the age of 20 had enough to approach prospective record companies. Between bar-tending stints she spent two months rehearsing with Bryan Ferry (who eventually sacked her before taking her on tour), then met Marc Cohn while she was waitressing. Through him she earned jingle contracts for advertisements including ones for Nestl's Sweet Dreams, working in producer Ralph Shuckett's studio, and using his contacts to arrange meetings with record companies. Columbia Records were quick to bite following interest from both Sire Records and Arista Records, seeing in her a marketable songwriting ability which secured her a multi-album deal. She introduced herself with the smouldering worldwide summer 1992 success of "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover". The accompanying debut album, Tongues And Tails, invoked a similar sense of wilfulness and sexuality. Among the supporting cast were percussionist Omar Hakim (ex-Weather Report), though all the other arrangements were conducted by Hawkins.

Listen to Sophie B. Hawkins at Finetune.

(2007) Wilderness
(2007) Beautiful Girl
(2007) Walking On This Ice
(2007) Bad Kitty Board Mix
(2007) Beautiful Girl
(2006) Beautiful Girl
(2006) Timbre
(2006) Bad Kitty Board Mix
(2004) Wilderness
(1999) Timbre
(1994) Whaler
(1992) The Best Of Sophie B. Hawkins
(1992) Tongues and Tails

Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
As I Lay Me Down
Lose Your Way
Right Beside You
Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)