Ray Hawthorne's music snuck into my brain like a cat that wasn't invited inside. One minute I was casually checking out a few songs. The next, he'd made himself comfortable in my head and refused to leave. And you know what? I’m not even mad about it.
WHO TF IS RAY HAWTHORNE?
- Ray Hawthorne is a big nerd. Not in an insult kind of way, but in an accurate description of a highly lovable person kind of way. Is this a reason to check out his music? Well, no, but also yes. It’s just part of his charm.
- Ray Hawthorne is incredibly transparent about his mental health and sobriety, providing not just a soundtrack to those who are struggling, but maybe even a bit of hope.
- Ray Hawthorne writes highly relatable music for the elder emos, especially those that think they’re a little bit of an outcast on the inside. If you feel like you don’t completely fit in anywhere, you'll feel right at home with Ray.
OKAY, I’M IN — WHERE DO I START?
"Overwhelmed" — This is arguably my favorite Ray Hawthorne track. It's catchy and relatable and also kicks off with him screaming "fuck you" ... need I say more?
"Burn New Jersey Down" — In true pop punk fashion, Ray couldn't wait to get out of his hometown. This one is a can't-miss and features his friend (and fellow NJ survivor), Pete Zen.
"I Tried" — We simply can't discuss Ray's discography without bringing up this one. A memoir about the trials and tribulations of his addiction journey, it doesn't get more hard-hitting than this.
"Somewhere Else" — Around the 2:40 mark, this one tugs at my heartstrings so hard that I worry I'll never get them back.
"Tough as Nails" — Ray's latest hard-hitting track digs deep into tough family dynamics, which I know a lot of us can relate to: "Tough as nails, but never alright."
I'M HOOKED...
Can't wait to hear more? I knew it. Well, you're in luck. Ray's latest album, Ray Hawthorne Can't Be Trusted, will be out on October 15th!
From the man himself: "If you or someone you know has been personally affected by the lyrics of Ray Hawthorne Can’t Be Trusted, don’t @ me. This is the first of my albums that was made intentionally. Prior to this I would release a lot of singles, see what people liked the best, then try to retroactively fit the top performers and some unreleased material into a functional album with coherent themes. NOT THIS TIME, MOTHERFUCKERS. THIS IS 13 TRACKS OF UNADULTERATED RAGE MEANT TO RIP YOUR HEART OUT WITH NO REGARD FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY. (I read that in the voice of a monster truck rally commercial, by the way.) But on a serious note, it was fun getting together with Pete and really thinking through the album as a whole. How it should ebb and flow, where we should push heavier or pull back, things like that. So I hope that level of cohesion is more present than my previous albums when you listen through the record."
