Free Myself is a 2023 studio album by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins. The album explores themes of personal fulfillment and exploration and is Hawkins' first new music in over 10 years[2][3] and was accompanied by a promotional tour.[1] Although she spent several years away from recording, Hawkins continued to write and did not want to release new music until she felt like she had a sufficiently strong collection of songs.[1][4] These tracks were written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, demoed, and brought to Ken Rich to finish, with Hawkins co-producing the album.[5]
| Free Myself | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 24, 2023 | |||
| Studio | Grand Street Recording in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States[1] | |||
| Length | 38:43 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Lightyear Entertainment | |||
| Producer |
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| Sophie B. Hawkins chronology | ||||
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It feels like the title of the album. I'm freeing myself, allowing myself to get this work out there. It's being very well received, and I'm grateful for it.
—Hawkins on releasing new music for the first time in over a decade.[2]
Reception
editWriting for Renowned for Sound, Matt Say calls this album "is a triumphant example of some of her best work yet" and "a brilliant addition to the rich back catalogue that Sophie B. Hawkins has created in her storied career".[6] In an interview for Songwriter Universe, Dale Kawashima calls Free Myself "a strong return for Hawkins... with several that rank among her best".[4] Writing for Patch.com, Matt Schinella writes that the album was "eloquently engineered and produced by Ken Rich" and "the songs often offer fragility and beauty, highlighting Hawkins' strong vocals and musicianship and lyrical love twists".[1]
Track listing
editAll songs written by Sophie B. Hawkins, except where noted.[4]
- "Love Yourself" – 3:43
- "Better Off Without You" – 4:11
- "Green Eyes" (music co-written by Will Ewok) – 4:06
- "Free Myself" – 4:32
- "Consume Me in Your Fire" (Demo) – 3:00
- "Hungered for Love" – 3:35
- "Fairy Tales" – 3:39
- "Angel in Disguise" – 3:29
- "I'm Tired of Taking Care of You" – 4:33
- "You Are My Balloon" – 3:55
Personnel
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2023) |
- Sophie B. Hawkins – lead and backing vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, percussion, arrangement, production
- Jake Limmus – assistant engineering
- Tony Mason – drums, percussion
- Andrew Oedel – mixing on "Love Yourself"
- Ken Rich – bass guitar, baritone guitar, percussion, production
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Schinella, Matt (March 20, 2023). "Sophie B. Hawkins Attempts To 'Free Myself' With New Album And Tour". Patch.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Johnson, Max C. (May 9, 2023). "Sophie B. Hawkins emerges from a 'personal tsunami' with new album, 'Free Myself'". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ Roth, Madeline (March 26, 2023). "Sophie B. Hawkins Opens Up About Breaking 'Free' From Her '90s Cage". Daily Beast. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c Kawashima, Dale (May 27, 2023). "Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins Talks About Her New Album, Free Myself, And Writing Her Classic Hit Songs". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ Valadez, Eloise Marie (May 10, 2023). "Sophie B. Hawkins brings tour to Chicago". Urgent. The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ Say, Matt. "Album Review: Sophie B. Hawkins – Free Myself". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
External links
edit- Official website
- Free Myself at Discogs (list of releases)
- Free Myself at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Sophie B. Hawkins talks about her new album: Free Myself for CBS News (May 31, 2023)
- Review from Retropop
