Rebekah Hawker
With roots in church choir harmonies and songwriting prowess built on an art-rock adolescence, it’s not so surprising that Rebekah Hawker ultimately found herself at the intersection of country and folk. Hawker embraces the full spectrum of “country,”—from John Prine’s lore-spinning to Linda Ronstadt’s honeyed vocals, Kacey Musgraves’ resilient sheen, and the vulnerability of Kathleen Edwards. Hawker’s latest single “Ticket” is a classic midtempo country song about two things that never go out of style, in any genre: broken hearts and broken dreams. She sings of bastards and radio play, social media and getting ghosted, but flips the script in a canny way, declaring a positive outlook despite the rest: “I’m satisfied with the long shot / I’ve got a ticket.” To have hope is better than the alternative. “You’re on your own,” she says, “declaring that this thing you’ve chosen has worth.”
Her song “Catch You” earned her Folk Music Ontario’s Songs from the Heart award, while 2022 saw her shine as an official showcasing artist. She was selected for the 2023 RBC x Launchpad Music Entrepreneurship Program, and her latest single “Ticket” (supported by FACTOR and Ontario Arts Counci)l found placement on the official Gems on VHS playlist.