Chesney Hawkes is back with a long-awaited new album, “Living Arrows.” Unleashing his fears and regrets, laying bare all his vulnerabilities in a career-defining collection of 12 songs, Hawkes hands his heart and soul over on this hugely personal album that, as it may be, is universally relatable. It’s his most powerful and emotionally raw work since his 1991 break with “Buddy’s Song,” a reminder that his storytelling has only grown more prosperous.
At its heart, “Living Arrows” reflects on Hawkes’ journey as an artist, a father, a dreamer, and a man who has embraced life’s highs and lows with gratitude. The album’s pop-rock energy, juxtaposed with its brutal lyricism, provides a map of wisdom, love, and endurance. Although these songs were written as love notes to his kids, they’re the soundtrack for anyone trying to make sense of life’s DNA helix of ebbs and flows.
From the anthemic “Radio Silence” to the haunting beauty of “Love’s Here When You Need It,” Hawkes deftly balances heartbreak with hope. “Live Forever” thrums with youthful defiance, “Nobody Like You” places its hand on the heart and pulses warmth and devotion. The songs display his characteristic mix of sincerity and melodic brilliance.
For anyone searching for standout moments, “I Don’t Wanna Be you” and “Surprise Yourself” glimmer as album highlights, distilling the record’s ethos of audacious self-discovery. Meanwhile, songs such as “LOUD!” and “Get A Hold Of Yourself” bring fun bursts of energy, urging listeners to embrace life and its offerings.
Coming in at just 40 minutes, it is compact and highly moving. It’s the Chesney Hawkes we know and love, the most vulnerable, delivering a collection of songs akin to the pages of a dearly held diary but so intimately penned that it feels like they were written for us. With “Living Arrows,” Chesney Hawkes demonstrates that great music is not about following trends but speaking the truth. In that truth, he makes his most profound, most ageless album yet.
Follow Chesney Hawkes on Spotify
