THE HAWK - Interview – 2008

THE HAWK - Interview – 2008
Hasn't Scott Milsom got enough music in his life? Bassist for mod-funk legends Big Boss Man, bassist for low-down dirty punks Coffin Nails, one half of hip-hop duo The Cookers, the man behind Funky Ass Records and the Dog House Music recording studio and a solo beats artist (as The Hawk) in his own right - latest single Run Rudeboy has already scored airtime from Steve Lamacq. Monkeyboxing felt it was time to hook up with The Hawk to get the rundown on rudeboys runnin':

Monkeyboxing (MB): You must be have been pretty stoked with Steve Lamacq playing the new single?

The Hawk (TH): Yeah, if you ignore their daytime shows, the BBC has got some great DJs, that actually know about music. Nerm also played my tune ‘Puppets’on the BBC Asian Network (because of it’s Japanese flavours) and Rob Da Bank played ‘Candy Dream Dub’ on his Radio 1 show The Blue Room. It’s a great feeling to hear your tunes on a national radio station.

MB: That's not the first time he's played your stuff though is it?

TH: That’s the first Hawk track Steve Lamacq’s spun, but he played a couple of Cookers tracks on his Radio 1 show a few years back.

MB: I get a sense that with Run Rudeboy your tongue might have been a little bit in your cheek - was that your intention?

TH: Yeah, I try not to take myself too seriously, but I also wanna make credible music. Getting that balance right is important to me.

MB: Ever thought about doing any collabs. with guest rappers?

TH: Yeah, just working on a track with Lil Rhys, a Bristol based rapper, at the moment. Always up for collaborations, and keep an ear out for interesting vocalists.

MB: What's next then?

TH: Well, the third Big Boss Man album is recorded, and due for release at the end of the year. We’ve just started work on the new Coffin Nails album, hope to get that out by October. And, working on a couple of new Hawk tunes, one of which has a rather funky break beat you may recognize. Then I should have enough Hawk material to release an album, again, later in the year.

MB: Also, I've got to ask but what's the story behind the name 'The Hawk'? You've got a Big Boss Man track named after you, after all.

TH: Hahah…well originally, the name came about because I had a hair cut which made me resemble the half-man, half-bird character ‘Hawk' from Buck Rogers. The name kinda developed into meaning something else, but that’s another story…… Actually the BBM song ‘The Hawk’ got it’s name partly from that, but also because of BBMs big influences and Hammond organ guru Alan Hawkshaw.

MB: The last word is yours. Anything you want to say?

TH: Word to your mama…

LINKS:
Listen to The Hawk - Run Rudeboy - Myspace
The Hawk - Myspace
Big Boss Man - Myspace
Cookers - Myspace
Coffin Nails - Myspace
Dog House Music (Recording Studio)
Funky Ass Records