Beloved singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard Hawley will release a new album, In This City They Call You Love on May 31, worldwide. The album’s first track, “Two for His Heels” was premiered last month with host Lauren Laverne on BBC 6Music, who gave the song an incredible talk up. Listen back HERE.
In This City They Call You Love is Hawley’s first album since 2023’s Very Best of… Now Then which is his 4th long player to reach top 10 in the UK, commanding outstanding reviews across all media, including Uncut Magazine, who proclaimed, “Immaculately crafted records combining his rich and timeless vocals with artfully sincere studies of his hometown. Hawley remains a beautiful singer and astute observer.”
In the two decades that have elapsed since Hawley abandoned band life full-time, first with The Longpigs, then as Pulp’s guitarist, the 57 year old songwriter has forged one of the most singular and diverse careers in modern music.
As well as releasing a string of solo albums that have managed the rare feat of being both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, Hawley has worked with a host of impressive collaborators- friends such as the Arctic Monkeys, Manic Street Preachers, Elbow and Paul Weller, alongside personal heroes that include U.S. guitarist Duane Eddy (his 2011 album Road Trip was co-produced by Richard), Shirley Bassey (for whom he wrote the smoldering ballad “After The Rain” in 2009), Nancy Sinatra, the late Lisa Marie Presley and British folk royalty Martin Carthy and the late Norma Waterson (he was an integral part of 2013’s Bright Phoebus Revisited tour). There are also bona fide pop stars such as Robbie Williams, All Saints and Texas, all of whom Hawley has played with in differing capacities down the years. His song “Tonight The Streets Are Ours” was featured in The Simpsons and Exit Through The Gift Shop: A Banksy Film.
In recent times, his songs have appeared in television dramas Peaky Blinders, The Full Monty and Hijack, as well as the hugely acclaimed and award-winning musical named after his 2012 album, Standing At The Sky’s Edge. “Dear Alien (Who Art In Heaven),” co-written with Jarvis Cocker and Wes Anderson for Anderson’s film, Asteroid CIty was recently shortlisted for “Best Original Song” at this year’s Oscars.
The successful, award-winning Standing At The Sky’s Edge musical features 20 Richard Hawley songs and won Best New Musical and handed Hawley Best Original Score at the 2023 Olivier Awards. Following its sell-out runs at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre and London’s National Theatre, in February it began a six-month run at London’s West End Gillian Lynne Theatre.
Richard also played five acclaimed shows with John Grant, performing the songs of Patsy Cline.
