Today, the Spotlight shines On James McKeown, the Bristol, UK-based artist who releases music under the name Hawksmoor. 

James first created Hawksmoor five years ago, inspired by the six 18th-century churches in London designed by architect Nicholas Hawksmoor. Described as ‘English Baroque’ in style, these buildings are large, foreboding, and even Gothic in nature. Imagine the music inspired by such things, and you have Hawksmoor.

Each Hawksmoor album features unique themes and inspirations that have been composed using a sonic palate of analog Moog instruments and electronic rhythms complimented with live bass and subtle, textural guitar elements.

Hawksmoor’s latest, their debut on Soul Jazz Records, Telepathic Heights, combines a love of German electronic music of the 1970s alongside British retro-futurism and hauntology — an aesthetic that evokes cultural memory of times past.

Great record, great conversation. Enjoy.

(Note: All of the music segues heard in this episode are from Hawksmoor's Telepathic Heights album.)

------------------

Dig Deeper

Listen to Hawksmoor's Telepathic Heights on your streaming platform of choice or purchase a download directly from Soul Jazz RecordsListen to earlier albums by Hawksmoor on BandcampFollow Hawksmoor on Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, Twitter (X), and YouTubeAn Occult Psychogeography of Hawksmoor’s London ChurchesKraftwerk: Future Music from Germany (the unnamed book mentioned in the conversation)Hawksmoor - "Abstract Machines" (video)Be sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

------------------

• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twitter Mentions