Doug Hawk

Please join us this Saturday (8/28) at Sette Luna for the official EP Release Party.  Music starts at 9pm.  Free giveaways based on Proposition trivia plus a few surprises.  CD’s and T-shirts now available via the on-line store.  See you then!!!

The new ‘Orange’ EP, a collection of four new Doug Hawk Proposition originals (plus one short prelude track),  is now available for purchase!!! Before I get it onto iTunes and other corporate download centers, it will be available at two progressive, independent websites, which can be visited by clicking on the links below.

The first is bandcamp . Bandcamp is a really slick, user-friendly site that is being used by thousands of indie artists. One cool thing about this site is it allows you to set your account to allow users to pay whatever they want for music (minimum of $1 per song).  So, if you are feeling particularly generous towards a certain artist, you are able to show your appreciation monetarily.  It also contains artwork, lyrics and notes about the music. When downloading from this site you are able to select virtually any file extension in existence.   Additionally, each song is downloaded with the appropriate artwork, making it easier to locate the file on your desktop

The other site I am using is called Yawma.  Yawma is a very unique  site.  It is basically an iTunes for independent artists (and game makers), with a twist.  You are actually able to share profits through a downloadable Facebook application.  When you buy music or games from this site, it is posted to your Facebook profile.  If a friend links through your profile page to buy something, you get a percentage of the profits!!

So, the new tunes are now officially posted.  Each track is $1 and the entire EP is $5.  Special thanks to Mike Lorenz (guitar), Lee Clarke (bass), Paul Wells (drums), Jim McGee (recording engineer) and Kristen Jasionowski (art and design) for their selfless contributions.  Also, my sincerest gratitude to you, the fan.  Without your support none of this would be happening.  Stay tuned for upcoming performance updates and the arrival of the new t-shirts.  Dig Doug!!!

Greetings.  Busy schedule for The Proposition this weekend:  Friday night @ Melt’s Rooftop Happy Hour, 5:30-8:30pm; Saturday night at Sette Luna in Easton, 9pm-midnight; Sunday Jazz Brunch at Sette Luna, noon-3pm, featuring Doug on keys/vox and Mike Lorenz on guitar.

The recording is just about done.  Just some mixing/mastering left to do.  Still on schedule for an August 1st release — possibly earlier on the web.  I’ll have much more to share over the next two weeks.  Thanks for listening.

Round two of three is complete. Next session is in a couple of weeks to add a few layers, do some tweaks and sprinkle a little magic dust on it. As of now, we are still on schedule for an early August release. Check out the schedule for some upcoming duos with Mike Lorenz and I in early July. More to come soon…

The first round of recording went swimmingly.   We layed the guitar, bass and drum tracks for four new tunes.  The utmost thanks and respect to Mike Lorenz – guitar, Lee Clarke – bass, and Paul Wells – drums.   I will be going back into the studio this coming Tuesday to record all of the keyboard and vocal tracks.  Hope to have all of that done as well as a rough mix to marinate on for a couple weeks before the final mix session.  So far we are on schedule to have the new EP available for this Summer’s Musikfest performance (Friday the 13th of August).  As previously mentioned, there will be some new merchandise (baby doll t-shirts and stickers) available at that gig, as well.  As always, thanks for your continued support.

I am excited to announce that we will be going back into the studio on June 22nd to record four new songs!!  The songs on the recording are to be “Not This Time,” “Hope Never Dies,” “Once in a Dream” and “Caught in a Quiet Room.” Any of those lyrics not posted on this site will be posted shortly.   The work is being done at Spectra Sound Studios in Nazareth with engineer Jim McGee.  Jim was the engineer on our most recent two-song EP.  The session is being partially underwritten by CriticalTool, a Bethlehem-based company specializing in industrial safety equipment with an emphasis on nitrile gloves.  I urge any listeners/readers that deal with these sorts of products to check out the link above.   Many thanks to proprietor Rathi Nyogi for his generous contribution.   Personnel on this record will be Mike Lorenz on guitar, Lee Clarke on bass and Paul Wells on drums.

Keep an eye out for new merchandise.  T-shirts and stickers are currently in the design/production stage.  I am planning  on having both the recording and the merchandise available at our Musikfest performance on August 13th at 1:30pm on the Plaza Tropical stage.

Stay tuned and thanks for listening.

May is looking to be a busy lead-in to the summer months.  Some semi-regular gigs are happening at Starfish Brasserie in Downtown Bethlehem on Friday, May 7th (8-11pm) and at  Melt in Center Valley on Friday, May 14th (5:30-8:30pm).  Our regular fourth Saturday appearance at Sette Luna has been moved to the fourth Friday this month, the 21st of May.  Music still starts at 9pm. I will also be playing  Sette Luna’s Sunday Jazz Brunch on the 9th (bring Mom out for Mother’s Day) and the 23rd.  Music is from noon-3pm.  Special guest Mike Lorenz accompanies me on guitar at both gigs.

We return to Porter’s Pub in Easton for jazz night on Thursday the 27th (8-11pm) and then open the 2010 City of Easton Jazz in the Square Music Series on the 28th.  The music happens in Centre Square starting at 7:30pm.  Bring a chair and some goodies.  In case of rain we will be playing in the Gold Room at the Eastonian.

In other news, we will be appearing at Musikfest this year on Friday the 13th of August at Plaza Tropical!!  Always a great place to play. This will probably be the debut of the new “Dig Doug” t-shirts and stickers.  Get one!!

Also, be on the lookout for a new CD to be released this summer.  The actual recording will be taking place in early June and the current plan is to record four new songs.  These songs will be available for purchase at shows or through our new music distribution partner Yawma, which is an iTunes for independent artists.  Check out their site — it’s a really great idea.

As always, thanks for listening.  Hope to see you soon.

We’ve recently partnered with a new music distibrution service based in Portland, OR called Yawma.  It’s a great concept.  Independent artists are able to post music/games for free and then share profits with the company.  People who purchase these tunes/games connect via a Facebook/Twitter application that posts those purchases on their pages.  If a friend buys something through one of those links, the user gets a share of the profits.  You may not be able to retire from the proceeds but it definitely is a more integrated way of doing business.  And, you won’t be contributing to an ever-growing corporate giant. Prices are the same as iTunes –$0.99 per song.  Not sure about the games, yet.  Please explore and contact me with any feedback as it is an evolving application.  Search for ”Yawma” on Facebook or Twitter to check it out.  You can also find them at www.yawma.net.  Happy shopping!!!

I am excited to announce performances at some new places that may be a little closer to where you live.  Check us out Friday, March 26th at Blue in Bethlehem from 9-midnight.  Find more info at www.bluegrillhouse.com.  Another new venue for us is Melt at the Promenade in Center Valley.  We’ll be there for Friday Happy Hours from 5:30-8:30 on April 2nd and 23rd.  We are playing on the third floor and, weather permitting, will be setting up on the open-air rooftop.  Should be a great way to celebrate the coming warmer weather.  See www.meltgrill.com for additional information.  Be on the lookout for our regular fourth Saturday (March 27th) at Sette Luna in Easton as well as a Riegelsville Inn gig on April 10th.  The Riegelsville is an amazing place to be during the Spring and Summer.  Come early to grab a seat as these performances have been packed lately.  Music starts at 8pm.  And, since we were off last weekend for my birthday, I am designating the upcoming final weekend of March(26th, 27th & 28th) as my Official Birthday Tour.  In addition to Blue on Friday and Sette Luna on Saturday night, I will also be playing solo for Sette Luna’s Jazz Brunch on Sunday from noon-3pm.  More exciting news to come shortly.  Stay tuned and, as always, thanks for listening.

I recently had the honor of sharing the stage with ‘Vocal Superhero’ Bobby McFerrin in a masterclass-type setting.  It was an incredible experience. He not only possesses complete mastery over his instrument, but also seems to have mastered many aspects of his life, as well.  His dialogue was inspiring as well as entirely grounding and educational.  And as he approaches his 60th birthday, one cannot help but be amazed at the youthfulness and exuberance of his spirit.    If the only thing that you know about him is “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” then I urge you to explore further.  His compositions stretch the boundaries of vocal capability and challenge the possibilities of  human improvisation and creativity.  Two albums that I personally enjoy are “Spontaneous Inventions” and “Bang Zoom” and you can find a plethora of amazing videos on Youtube.   Additional  information can be found at www.bobbymcferrin.com.