Kirsty Hawkshaw: Queen of Ambient Electronica

When I first heard Kirsty Hawkshaw's music at 'MySpace', my initial impression was, "Just another Electronica artist". Was I ever so wrong.

When I decided to really listen, only then did I see a multi-talented persona behind the music. A visionary Indie artist - like a hidden gem engulfed in the mass of MySpace musicians, all striving to create a better image of their talent - I was truly surprised by what I had discovered.

Being the daughter of the British production music/film composer and disco record producer Alan Hawkshaw, and with her love for dance music, she naturally became inspired to pursue a career in music.

Kirsty's career launched at a rave event in 1991. Her versatility came through shining when she was noticed by producers Ian Munro, Kevin Dobbs and Nigel Walton. Together, they formed a techno and house music group called 'Opus III' that triumphed on the UK singles charts, as well as on the US Dance chart.

Their first single, "It's A Fine Day" from their debut album Mind Fruit, became an international success and reached the UK Top Ten Singles Chart, and then later hit #1 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1992.

After the group's separation in 1994, Kirsty pursued a solo career (hence Indie) and since then has been quite actively involved in the music industry. (One only needs to visit her website for further detail).

Today, Kirsty still continues to plunge herself forward. Whilst pursuing to further broaden her career, she strongly propagates messages on the world's environmental issues and one's personal health.

An avid earth 'raw-food' eater, she doesn't hesitate to share her values and secrets on proper nutrition, advocating a significant message in an effort to wake a dormant world to the realization that healthy food is a necessity, to serve all strata of one's existence: Spirit, Mind and Body.

In Kirsty's own words, "In 1991, I was living in squat with my raver friends. Everybody was broke, and taking lots of drugs. Luckily due to the knowledge I had of raw foods, I was able to live healthily on the small amount of money I had by sprouting mung beans, chick peas and alfalfa. I would get my vegetables at the end of market cheaply, and I would eat raw foods all day and then take guarana before going out raving all night. People thought I was crazy. People thought I was 'on something'. I was. I would tell them 'I'm on apples mate', and they would hunt around the party looking for somebody selling small pills by the name of 'Apples'. They didn't find them, because I had eaten them in the form of fruit. If you are a lover of life, if you want to survive and live healthily and happily, then this is the blog for you." And she would share this: http://ravefood.blogspot.com

The message, in her experiences, comes through clear: People today don't have to blow their minds out on drugs. Most susceptible are adolescents searching for their 'knowledge nirvana' by looking for it in a 'drug high' instead. If you want to dance, dance. If you want to sing, sing. Don't destroy your talents and potentials by doing unhealthy actions.

Without a doubt, Kirsty is definitely an activist for well-being in all dimensions of an individual's life.

Naturally exuberating a warmth and vitality that is really soul-lifting, and being completely non-judgmental, she focuses her talent more on the 'cure' rather than the 'self-profit'. Totally sincere, open and unabashed, one cannot walk away from Kirsty without wanting more of her radiating optimism, that is able to transpose any soul with a virtuous signal.

We need more "Kirsty Hawkshaws" in our world today, but I'm glad I've had the opportunity to communicate with the original one. I hope you do too.

Kirsty Hawkshaw's Collaborations

1997 "Isolation" - (with Pulusha)
1998 "State of Grace" - (with Swayzak)
1999 "Stereo" - (with Stereo People)
2000 "Dreaming" - (with BT)
2000 "Running Down the Way Up" - (with BT & Hybrid)
2000 "Nature's Kingdom" - (with Delerium)
2000 "Inner Sanctum" - (with Delerium)
2000 "Where the Sidewalk Ends" - (with Silent Poets)
2000 "Visions" - (with Ian Pooley)
2001 "Stealth" - (with Way Out West)
2000 "Hidden Agenda" - (with Sandor Caron)
2001 "Urban Train" - (with Tiësto)
2002 "Underwater Lady" - (with Harmonic 33)
2003 "Calling You" - (with Ikon)
2003 "Blackout" - (with Hybrid)
2004 "Just Be" - (with Tiësto)
2004 "Walking on Clouds" - (with Tiësto)
2004 "Sincere For You" - (with Firewall)
2004 "Don't Sleep Tonight" - (with Clashing Egos)
2004 "Maris Stella" - (with Digitonal)
2005 "Faith in Me" - (with Pole Folder)
2005 "Halcyon and On And On (Live)" - (with Orbital)
2005 "All I Want" - (with Hybrid)
2006 "The Chauffeur" - (with Sleepthief)
2006 "Radio Waves" - (with Fragma)
2006 "Just For Today" - (with Hybrid)
2006 "Fleeting Instant" - (with Delerium)
2006 "Outsiders" - (with Tenishia)
2006 "The Last One and the First" - (with Pentatonik)
2006 "Love is a Rose" - (with Pentatonik)
2006 "Don't Look Behind You" - (with Judie Tzuke)
2006 "Lyteo" - (with Mr Sam)
2006 "Split" - (with Mr Sam)
2006 "Insight" - (with Mr Sam)
2006 "Lodestar" - (with Mr Sam)
2006 "View to Me" - (with Future Funk Squad)
2007 "Silent Stars" - (with Pole Folder)
2007 "Skimming Stones" - (with Sleepthief)
2007 "Heaven Sent" - (with Andrew Bennett)
2007 "Reasons to Forgive" - (with Tenishia)
2007 "Loverush" - (with Loverush UK!)
2007 "Beatitude" - (with Duderstadt)
2007 "The Phoenix Effect" - (with Delta-S)
2007 "Star• Kindler" - (with Delta-S)
2008 "Juneau / Glaciation" - (with Alaska)
2008 "Love Like Blood / Sunbathing" - (with Outrage and Aperture)
2008 "Love Calls" - (with Headstrong)
2008 "Invisible" - (with Tenishia)
2008 "Love is No Possession" - (with JJoy)
2008 "Fine Day 2008" - (Kirsty Hawkshaw vs. Kinky Roland)

External Links of interest:

Kirsty Hawkshaw's Official Website
Kirsty Hawkshaw at Magnatune
Kirsty Hawkshaw Discography
Trancesound.net Interview
Opus III