Fiona Joy Hawkins (piano)
Forghorn Records
When Shadows Talk is a deeply personal musical journey by ARIA-nominated pianist, composer, and singer Fiona Joy Hawkins, one of Australia’s most influential contemporary artists. Known internationally for her sweeping cinematic soundscapes, Hawkins ventures into new territory here, revealing raw vulnerability and profound empathy through works such as the delicate “Stasis” and the striking, atonal “The Ghosts of War Are Marching.”
Crossing genres from Neoclassical to New Age, Celtic, and Jazz, Hawkins has produced dozens of albums and original scores, with highlights including her song “Grace,” featured on a GRAMMY Award-winning album. Her performances span iconic stages from Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House to China’s grand concert halls, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, and The Grammy Museum.
The past five years shaped the soul of this album. With sixty livestream concerts during the pandemic, raging bushfires in Australia, and cancelled tours, Hawkins embraced a creative reset. Retreating into self-imposed lockdown, she unearthed fresh perspectives on resilience, empathy, and community. “I wanted to explore what lies beneath the surface, those things often overlooked or suppressed,” she explains.
Recording was not without obstacles, venue changes, instrument failures, even replacing the piano mid-session, but Hawkins reflects on these mishaps with humour: “Lots of fun stories to tell!”
Critics have already hailed the album as “pure solo piano magic” (Kathy Parsons, Mainly Piano). With this international release, Hawkins looks forward to reuniting with global audiences and sharing music that she hopes offers beauty, solace, and meaning.
“I hope you, as the listener, find a work of beauty that holds something of value,” she concludes.
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2MBS Fine Music Sydney subscribers have an exclusive opportunity to a copy of Fiona Joy Hawkins‘ new CD, When Shadows Talk.