Exclusive Interview: Hawk in the Nest
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Hawk in the Nest’s debut full-length album lands with the kind of confidence and emotional clarity that artists usually don’t reach until several records in. It’s a lush, deeply felt project that somehow lives in two worlds at once: the gritty storytelling of Bruce Springsteen and the silk-smooth warmth of Al Green. That blend shouldn’t work on paper, yet under Avi Jacob’s direction it becomes its own living, breathing thing — part orchestral indie pop, part R&B revival, part folk confession, and entirely its own universe.
What hits first is the sheer richness of the sound. This isn’t minimalist singer-songwriter territory; this is a full-bodied ensemble stepping all the way in. With producer/drummer Wolfgang Zimmerman (Band of Horses) and bassist Joel Hamilton anchoring the rhythm section, the album moves with a confident pulse that makes even the quietest songs feel alive.
And the songs? They’re undeniable. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” is a straight-up anthem, the kind of track that sounds like it was born at 2 a.m. in a moment of sheer inspiration. Then there’s “Baby Baby Baby Baby,” a tender, dreamy slow-burner that shows off Avi’s ability to mix raw vulnerability with classic romanticism. Even in its most playful moments, the album never loses its emotional backbone — Avi writes with the honesty of someone who’s lived a lot and learned even more.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
What makes Hawk in the Nest so striking is the balance Avi strikes between timeless influences and a modern, lived-in urgency. You can hear the echoes of Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Otis Redding, Bob Dylan, and the Four Tops — but nothing here feels retro or museum-piece nostalgic. Instead, Avi writes like someone tapping directly into the universal chords that have always made great music resonate: longing, grit, love, loss, faith, and the complicated tenderness of being human.
Avi’s own story threads quietly through the record. Born into a Jewish family in Boston, raised in a DIY scene that teaches you to build your art from the ground up, sharpened on the road for years, and lifted by praise from bands like Counting Crows — he’s a lifer. A performer who became great the old-fashioned way: through nights on stage, battered vans, heartbreak, community, and resilience. His North Star is his son, Elias, and you can hear that sense of purpose woven through every melody.
Live performance is sacred to him, and the album carries that energy — that “we’re all here together, so let’s make this moment matter” spirit. Hawk in the Nest is Avi Jacob fully stepping into his own voice, surrounded by collaborators who amplify his soul rather than polish it away.
It’s heartfelt. It’s big. It’s tender. It’s timeless without ever being stuck in the past. And it proves that Avi Jacob isn’t just making songs — he’s making moments.
We spoke to Hawk in the Nest about their journey so far.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Hello, Hawk in the Nest! Your vocals carry a mix of soul, folk tenderness, and R&B grit. How did you develop that blend — was it intentional, or something that emerged naturally?
Hawk in the Nest: I’ve never been too deliberate about anything, I just always wanted my voice to sound as good as possible and as natural and genuine as possible. Hank Williams voice and Otis Reddings voice are different but feel equally genuine and amazing.
The arrangements on the album feel cinematic — horns, keys, mellotron, deep grooves. How did working with Wolfgang Zimmerman, Joel Hamilton, and Noah Jones shape the sound?
Hawk in the Nest: Was very collaborative in terms of the vibe!
Your live shows are known for their emotional intensity. What does performing these heartbreak-centered songs feel like night after night?
Hawk in the Nest: Depends on the audience, depends on the room. Sometimes it feels like going through the motions, to be honest, but sometimes it’s the most beautiful experience in the world and a true spiritual communication between the audience & I.
When a song like “Tears Like a River” deals so directly with grief and spiritual reckoning, how do you prepare yourself to deliver it live?
Hawk in the Nest: I just let it wash over me
Do you write melody first, lyric first, or does it all hit you at once — like the subway moment you described?
Hawk in the Nest: It starts with a feeling then chords and lyrics and melodies come . Then I stay in the world of the song until it feels complete, or until I give up on it.
Who are the modern artists you feel spiritually aligned with — musically or lyrically? (Alice Phoebe Lou, Isakov, Damien Rice, Red Clay Strays, etc.)
Hawk in the Nest: I’ll be honest I don’t listen to much modern music but when I hear Leon Bridges, Gregory Alan Isakov, Ray Lamontagne, Hozier, Lake Street Dive, Susto, or the Avett Brothers then I can hear similarities. I was on Skate Mountain Records with the Strays, definitely very different vibes though.
Your songs often sound intimate, but the production is expansive. How do you balance the rawness of your voice with the orchestral elements around it?
Hawk in the Nest: I’m not sure I can explain it, being in the studio is so wonderful and you just get to the heart of it all and whatever makes everyone excited.
If you could perform this album front-to-back in any room in the world — a club, a synagogue, a theater, an outdoor field — where would it be and why?
Hawk in the Nest: On the main stage at Newport Folk Festival is my first thought. The Ryman & Carnegie Hall would be rad, any beautiful theatre. I’d love to perform at the inauguration of the next president, after the fascist Republicans are defeated.
“Hawk in the Nest” is available now on all major streaming platforms
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