Kirsty Hawkshaw - Meta-Message

Kirsty Hawkshaw is a hugely talented singer/songwriter. Her background in early dance culture, and her work with electronic pioneers such as Hybrid, Swayzak, Ikon, Global Communication, Pole Folder, Tiesto, Orbital, Spooky and many more, has repeatedly assured her a place in an ever-changing zeitgeist. 'Meta-Message' is an album that highlights some of this work, and at the same time showcases Kirsty's music as an artist in her own right. Full details are right here, so what are you waiting for?

Kirsty Hawkshaw is a hugely talented singer/songwriter. Her background in early dance culture, and her work with electronic pioneers such as Hybrid, Swayzak, Ikon, Global Communication, Pole Folder, Tiesto, Orbital and many more, has repeatedly assured her a place in an ever-changing zeitgeist. It's a trajectory that's taken her from sweaty raves to the Big Chill – exactly the kind of place you'll hear her music in 2005.

Kirsty first came to prominence back in the early 1990's as the singer and songwriter for Opus III. She grabbed the nation's immediate attention via their Top 5 single 'Fine Day', and her appearance on the UK's Top Of The Pops (dressed in a rave-style catsuit and sporting a shaven head). Beyond Opus III, she released her debut artist album, 'O<-U->T', in 1998. Produced by Mark Pritchard (of Reload and Jedi Knights fame), it was yet more evidence of a burgeoning talent.

She has continued to pen collaborations with the cream of the electronic music community up to present day, her latest work with underground faves Mr Sam and Pole Folder being just two examples.

"A meta-message is a midi message that is not meaningful to synthesisers, but that can be stored in a midi file and interpreted by a sequencer program - like a voice, lyrics, emotion. When you communicate, it's the overall 'vibe' you give that extends beyond Meta (what your saying/singing)..." - Kirsty Hawkshaw

In her solo career, Kirsty has further developed as an artist, reaching out beyond the confines of the 4/4 beat, and into an area that reflects her own musical passion. 'Meta-Message' is both a nod to her past, and a look ahead at the musical path that she continues to blaze. The glorious 'Just Be Me' (originally written and produced by Jimmy Gomez and Judie Tzuke) starts the album. James Holden's remix of 'Fine Day' is present and correct, as is her new single 'Reach For Me', an intelligent slice of lyrical pop, and certainly her most accessible song so far. Other tracks include 'Walking On Clouds' (written and produced Tiesto in association with Josh Gabriel of Gabriel & Dresden), 'Blackout' (written with Hybrid), and further new songs 'All I Want' (produced by Hybrid's Mike Truman), 'Beautiful Danger', and 'Whisper', produced by techno stalwart Dave Randall of Slovo fame.

'Meta-Message' is a collective body of work that pays homage to some of Kirsty's best tracks from her extensive catalogue, reading like a who's who of the dance scene, with the underlying message throughout being an incredible voice thas has transcended the last decade and that shall continue to do so for some time to come.