From the industrial edges of Manchester to the quiet corners of Essex where they first learned to translate emotion into melody, Chloe Hawes has carved out a musical identity defined by honesty, tension, and the refusal to romanticize chaos. Their latest release, “James Dean,” captures this ethos in its most distilled form, a stark, punk-tinged confession that dismantles the myth of self-destruction one line at a time.
Blending smoky folk vocals with the grit of modern punk and a cinematic sense of intimacy, “James Dean” feels less like a performance and more like a reckoning. The track confronts the fantasy of rebellion, the “do it for the plot” late nights, the validation-seeking, the spiraling dressed up as freedom, and exposes what happens when the thrill wears off. Instead of idolizing the archetype of the reckless icon, Hawes writes from the inside of the fallout, where consequences linger, er and clarity finally cuts through. Recorded with producer Dan Kiener (Lucky Number You) and mastered by Sam Cook, the track showcases Hawes’ growing creative control. They performed every instrument except drums, which were delivered with precision and fire by Anna Reed of Loose Articles and Lunar Sounds. The artwork, created by Manchester tattoo artist pigskinmayhem, completes the aesthetic: raw, grounded, and unvarnished, much like the song itself.
Hawes’ distinct sound didn’t emerge overnight. Since their first EP in 2014, the Manchester-based songwriter has shaped a catalogue rooted in folk confessionals but emboldened by punk urgency. Their 2024 debut album, Remains/Reminder, deepened this evolution with its exploration of memory, identity, lost love, and the restless pull between past and future. Across four EPs and one full-length record, Hawes has become known for weaving emotional vulnerability with driving instrumentation, creating songs that feel both intimate and cinematic. Influences range from the emotional ballast of The Gaslight Anthem to the lyrical precision of Spanish Love Songs and the fearless openness of Hayley Williams. But Hawes’ voi,ce grounded in transatlantic folk-punk DNA and shaped by lived experience, remains unmistakably their own.
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| Chloe Hawes Reimagines Rebellion with Raw Clarity on “James Dean” |
On stage, that voice has carried them far. Hawes has toured the UK, US, and Europe, performed at Manchester Pride, The Fest, and Puzza Fest, and shared stages with artists including Beans on Toast and Get Cape. Wear a Cape. Fly. They’re set to support Will Varley on several northern dates of his upcoming UK tour, further cementing their place as one of the most compelling emerging voices in British folk-punk. With “James Dean,” Chloe Hawes doesn’t just deliver another single; they offers clarity in a world that often mistakes self-destruction for character. It’s a song that pulls no punches, grounded in truth, and carried by an artist who understands the weight of storytelling.
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