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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Goldhawks
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 13 May 2010
Named after the West London street they were born and raised, Goldhawks were formed by frontman and songwriter Bobby Cook. Starting out as a three-piece consisting of Bobby, his younger brother Jack on guitar and Nick Mills on keyboards, the band were later joined by bassist Colin Straton and drummer Graham Smith. Their sound is a mixture of vintage Americana and quintessential British fare, with their influences lying amongst Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen.
In the past few months the band have carried out headline shows and supported The Courteeners on their most recent UK tour. They released their debut single ‘Where In The World’ back in March through Vertigo, and are all ready to play at the Great Escape this Friday. Before heading off to the seaside we caught up with Goldhawks to ask the Same Six.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I met Colin and Graham when we were kids and we formed a punk band together. Later, I recruited them as well my brother Jack and his mate Nick to help me out with some of my solo material. The songs then were along the lines of Ryan Adam but never really went anywhere. Later on the songs got bigger and bolder and the all round dynamic of the group felt like a band. That’s when we became Goldhawks.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
I can’t really think of one thing that inspired our debut album because it came down to a lot of things. Recording your first record it’s more like a greatest hits of what you have up to date. I would say all round that there is strong message of hope in this record.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
I start out writing most of our songs by myself, almost like creating a blueprint. Then the band all get stuck in and help with musicality and throwing different ideas to the table. We build the songs up into their finished form together.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, plus early U2 and Echo And The Bunnymen. Mostly bands which we all grew up listening to on long car journeys.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Enjoy… and forget everything else.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
We just want to get our music out there as far and wide as possible and play it to as many people as we possibly can.
MORE>> www.goldhawks.co.uk
