HAWKSLEY WORKMAN should break up more often. It does wonders for the Canadian music scene. Inspired in part by the ending of two relationships — one of the romantic variety, the other a record label — Workman is releasing two albums this year and returns to Massey Hall this month for a concert appearance.
The first album, Meat, hit record stores in January and will be followed up by Milk this month.
Meat is the manlier, rockin’ release while Milk shows off his dainty, sensitive Euro pop side. “It seems that I can’t make one record without making two,” says Workman.
“After a trip to New York City to work and then chance meetings with writers/producers in Stockholm, I realized that I had two very different records evolving.”
Meat is diverse in its musical stylings, with moody, introspective tracks side by side with relentless, chaotic sonic assaults. It is vintage Workman and some of his finest work in years.
One thing that pulls the albums together is Workman’s characteristically honest and powerful lyrics.
“I reckon self-censorship doesn’t yield really great, honest music,” says Workman.
“I always think that there is no such thing as too personal in terms of what is fair game for songwriting. Honesty is the most important thing. I would guess that if you know my music you know much of who I am, save the laundry/dishes/teeth-brushing part. Gushing and bleeding is part of the job.”
Workman admits that breaking up with his record company was no harder than his girlfriend, and that, for him,writing for the album had nothing to do with exorcising those demons.
“I’m not really one of those writing-as-catharsis-type fellows,” he explains.
“I just try and write as simple and honest and close to the bone as I can.”
Workman didn’t just tap gently on the window of the music scene a decade ago, asking to come in like a polite young Canadian from Huntsville would. He kicked the door in with an avant garde musical style and raw intensity on his debut album For Him and the Girls that propelled the young musician to dizzying musical heights almost overnight.
“A lot has happened in the last 11 years — much travel, much experience, career and relationship ups and downs,” says Workman. “Those naive days of yore are certainly long gone.”
Milk will mark an even dozen albums released byWorkman since 1999, in addition to his work as a producer of some of the finest talent in the country, such as Serena Ryder, Tegan and Sara and Great Big Sea, and his latest venture — the silver screen.
After putting together a collection of songs to provide the soundtrack to Michael McGowan’s upcoming movie, Score: A Hockey Musical (Yes, the one starring Olivia Newton-John) Workman had a chance to stretch his acting muscles.
“It was a brilliant thing to be a part of,”Workman explains.
“It started by me writing a song for it then being asked to write another.… After writing five or six, I was asked if I wanted to be a ‘rink rat.’ So there I was singing and playing hockey for 10 hours straight — sounds like the Canadian dream.”
Things change. He has no plans to open for Bowie or New Order, like in the good, old days. But he has plenty of music left in the tank. “Music is my duty,” says Workman. “It is all I’ve ever done.
I’ve worked with dedicated heart and mind since I was a kid.” Catch Hawksley Workman at Massey Hall on April 24. For ticket information go to www.masseyhall.com.
