James McKeown / Hawksmoor

Musician

James McKeown has been creating, releasing and playing music in a number of guises and bands with a core of Bristol based musicians since the 2010’s, including twice playing live as a ’Sound carrier’ for Damo Suzuki.

In 2015 McKeown began to explore the possibilities of solo composition with modular synthesis using a Moog Sub37. The first project, ‘Hawksmoor’ was a hauntological soundtrack inspired by the six Hawksmoor churches in London, which received airplay on BBC Radio 3 ‘Late Junction’. Retaining the Hawksmoor moniker the project has since evolved following a number of small run, yet well received, releases on boutique electronic labels such as Spun Out of Control, Castles In Space and Library of The Occult. All of which have received consistent support and airplay from Stuart Maconie and Gideon Coe on BBC 6Music.

The themes and inspirations behind each album have been unique and have typically been composed using a sonic palate of Moog instruments and electronically generated rhythms complimented with live bass and subtle, textural guitar elements.

The latest album ‘Telepathic Heights’ has been released by the acclaimed, London based label Soul Jazz Records, which has resulted in a significant growth of the Hawksmoor fan base as the music distribution reaches a larger, worldwide, audience.

“Each Hawksmoor release is starting to feel like a must-acquire piece of a larger artistic mosaic.” Concrete Islands Blog.

Hawksmoor discography:

Hawksmoor s/t - Environmental Studies, 2018

201984 - Environmental Studies, 2019

Methods of Dreaming - Spun Out of Control, 2020

The Heartwood Institute/Hawksmoor,
Spun Out of Control, 2021

Crystal World EP, Castles In Space, 2021

On Prescription - Spun Out of Control, 2021

Saturnalia, Library of The Occult, 2022

Head Coach, Spun Out of Control, 2022

Telepathic Heights, Soul Jazz Records, 2023

+ 2 x Limited Edition Lathe cuts on LOTO