Sophie B. Hawkins

Since the start of her musical journey, Sophie B. Hawkins has shown an uncompromising devotion to her singular truth, endlessly transcending boundaries and offering up new ways of experiencing the world around us. A multi-instrumentalist, who writes all of her own songs and is fully involved in every aspect of the production of her records, she is an enduring artist with a fierce commitment to her creative integrity. 

Hawkins emerged as a vibrant force on the musical landscape with the arrival of her platinum-selling debut album Tongues and Tails and its iconic lead single “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover.” She defied categorization and embraced her individuality by embodying a daring fluidity as a song-writer and musician. She also challenged the norms of gender expression and sexual orientation by becoming the first entertainer to openly identify as omnisexual. Her ever-evolving career has included six beloved studio albums, multiple awards, sold-out concerts, songs in movies and on television (from recent hits Stranger Things, Euphoria, Ozark and PEN15 to landmark series such as Beverly Hills, 90210, Dawson’s Creek, The L Word and more), memorable appearances on screen including the NBC series Community, the acclaimed documentary film The Cream Will Rise, and a critically-lauded performance as Janis Joplin in the nationally touring play Room 105.

Released in 2023, her most recent album, Free Myself, features the self-affirming single “Love Yourself,” which climbed to #3 on the UK dance charts. Rooted in Sophie’s raw yet poetic lyrics and effortlessly captivating vocals, its songs expand on the colorful eclecticism that has always permeated her music, encompassing everything from folk to soul to Brill Building pop. In a departure from the self-contained process behind her previous album,  The Crossing, Sophie co-produced alongside engineer Ken Rich (Ani DiFranco, Ingrid Michaelson), working with musicians like pianist/string arranger Andrew Sherman to shape the album’s gritty but graceful sound.

An album of extraordinary depth and scope, Free Myself is a fitting addition to the legacy of an artist who discovered her passion for music at the young age of four, began studying percussion with world-renowned African musician Babatunde Olatunji in her early teens, got her start playing in historic venues like CBGB, and later landed her first professional gig as a percussionist for the legendary Bryan Ferry.

Her acclaimed 1992 album Tongues and Tails achieved massive global success and earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist, vaulting her into the limelight and revealing her as a cultural luminary ahead of her time. Sophie’s sophomore album Whaler yielded the timeless ballad “As I Lay Me Down,” which shattered records by spending 67 weeks on the Billboard Adult Contemporary singles chart (including six weeks at the #1 spot). 

She continued to expand her artistic reach with her third album Timbre, praised by Rolling Stone for “showcas[ing] a singer who has honed and gathered her various vocal styles—somber folk singer, saucy pop gal, note-bending jazz chanteuse—into a sleek, multifaceted whole.” After successfully fighting her record label over creative control of the mix for “Lose Your Way,” Sophie became an independent artist and released her next albums, Wilderness (one of her most musically layered offerings) and The Crossing (an intimate exploration of such life-changing experiences as the death of her father and the birth of her first child), on her own imprint, Trumpet Swan Records.

A dynamic creative force known for a spellbinding live show that all but erases the divide between audience and performer, Sophie will be hitting the road in 2025, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Whaler. “I’ve never enjoyed performing more—it’s incredibly freeing to me now,” she notes.

Sophie’s latest work is Birds of New York, an original musical currently in development, for which she has written the book, music and lyrics. She is also in the process of writing an autobiographical memoir and recording new songs for a soon-to-be-released forthcoming album.

In addition to her creative endeavors, Sophie is also a passionate activist and devoted supporter of LGBTQ+ advocacy, animal rights and environmental causes, as well being a tireless champion of her fellow female musicians.

Sophie cherishes the opportunity to deepen her bond with her ardently devoted fanbase. “One thing I’ve heard from people is that my songs have been like teachers to them, and helped them along on their journey,” she says. “I hope my music helps people feel more connected to their own heart. I hope it brings them closer to whatever makes them feel special and valuable. That’s what the music I love most has always done for me.”