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Over the past 25 years, Cherylann Hawk has become a beloved fixture in Pittsburgh’s music scene. She has released three full-length CDs and several singles, including three home-recorded tracks from her own SunHawk Studio. Known for her rich, emotive voice and heartfelt lyrics, Cherylann has collaborated with numerous local, regional, and international artists, enriching the music community with her versatile talent.
On the eve of her latest single release, “Love & Gratitude,” Ms. Hawk took time to answer some questions in this EXCLUSIVE interview:
How would you classify your music?
My current release “Love & Gratitude” is country, without the twang, which kind of makes it more universal I think.
Who are some of your top 5 musical influences?
Karen Carpenter, Joni Mitchell, Patsy Cline, Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morissette
What do you want fans to take from your music?
I would like folks to feel like, no matter what challenges come their way, their perspective of the situation can be shifted to a more manageable state with some love and some gratitude, even if it seems strange to be grateful for terrible things… there is always some positive aspect to hold onto as a lesson or as a surrendering to the flow of that which we can or cannot influence.
How’s the music scene in your locale?
Pittsburgh PA has a vibrant, eclectic, and very supportive music community. It seems that every solo act or musician in a band collaborates with others, on stages and in studios as well. It’s a scene that is both inspiring and comforting to be a part of.
What is the best concert you have been to?
The best concert I’ve been to I would have to say was James Arthur, Fitz & the Tantrums, and One Republic at Starlake Amphitheater… I had picked up James Arthur’s bass player and drummer while Ubering, and they gave me free tickets to take my kids. It was my kids’ first big rock concert… the lights and fog and confetti and EVERYTHING about the show was just incredible! They knew almost every song! And the bass player sat with us after their opening set, so my kids were just absolutely blown away by the whole experience.
What do you like most about playing live?
What I like most is watching people’s faces and bodies relax… that is when they really start to hear the lyrics and feel the music taking them to a place of positivity and healing, inspiration and dealing, or just plain old having a great time.
Is there a song on your latest CD release here that stands out as your personal favorite, and why?
Well, I’m only releasing a single, so I will tell you about my favorite part of the song… I love the end of the solo section as it leads into the bridge… gives me chills every time!
How have you evolved as an artist over the last year?
Oh my goodness, this past year has been THE most amazing year of transformation for me!!!! Coming out of covid, I was eager and ready to take the new skills I had honed out into the world… I learned to sing and play sweeter, more subtly while doing over 200 live streams from my home studio. And I learned a lot about recording and bought some new gear for my studio, so I’m excited that my recording capabilities have expanded to the point of being able to send top quality tracks out to studios or producers, or I can even record entire projects at home. I’ve also become extremely excited about integrating the skills I’ve learned while doing music therapy sessions and entertaining at retirement homes to the stage… to subtly bring the healing and dealing aspect of the music to the minds of folks who might not have been expecting the music to have such an impact on their well being.
If you could meet, play a gig, co-write a song, have dinner, have a drink with any band or artist (dead or alive) who would it be?
Joni Mitchell!!!!!!
What’s next for you?
My next solo project is a prayer that a friend commissioned me to turn into a song for peace and comfort for mothers and their children in the middle east, which so far has been totally recorded in my SunHawk Studio. The next step with that project is to record choirs of children from a music institute and from a youth rock academy on the choruses. My next projects with my acoustic group, “Vento, Ziggy, Hawk & McCarthy” are 2 singles, “Spaghetti Western,” written by Buffalo Rose’s Shane McLachlan, and a cover of Ricky Nelson’s “Garden Party” – not sure which one will be released first.
