New Zealand’s Anna Hawkins releases Dreamer

She’s done it again.

The New Zealand singer-songwriter Anna Hawkins first came to our attention with the release of “Journey On.” The album was one of the most impressive debuts from a classical crossover performer in recent years – and an indie artist at that. Possessing a distinctive voice that, while classically trained, makes no attempt to sound operatic Anna could have easily released an album of covers but her songwriting, including the album’s title track, showed that this was an artist with a unique point of view.

“Divine” and “Bold, Brave and Beautiful,” followed and continued to delight listeners and push the boundaries of the genre. With “Dreamer” Anna goes back to her musical roots adding the compelling storytelling and earthy textures of folk and country music into her repertoire. Whether this can still be considered crossover is up to the listener to decide, Anna herself shies away from labels, but whatever the definition one thing is certain – “Dreamer” is an album of the highest musical quality.

The title track grabs the attention and is followed by “Wide Open Spaces” another strong anthem and one of the catchiest tunes. Her first single, “I Am” is an expression of faith and the acapella beginning shows off the beauty of Anna’s voice. Another favorite is the romantic “I Knew.” Throughout the album, Anna shows full command of her instrument and the arrangements highlight her special speech-like quality and warm tone. The album ends with the beloved “Wayfaring Stranger” hymn paired with one of her own compositions “Yeah Though I Walk” for a powerful finish.

“Dreamer” is available to pre-order

Full album to be released April 30 with physical copies available to purchase exclusively from Anna’s official website.

“Dreamer is my small way of encouraging other dreamers on the journey. I want to uplift people through the power of music, story and connection. That has always been my driving force when it comes to creating and performing music.” – Anna Hawkins

Connect with Anna online:

Official Website: annahawkinsmusic.com

Facebook: @musicannahawkins

Instagram: @annahawkinsmusic

Twitter: @AnnaHawkinsNZ

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Natasha Barbieri, Editor

Editor

Creator of Classical Crossover Magazine. For Natasha music has always been closely tied to her faith. At age 18, Natasha made her opera debut playing the part of the mother in Menotti’s ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ with the Eastern Festival Opera. At 20, she was a winner of the 2011 Young Artist Competition at Andrews University. Natasha graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Music. Natasha has released a series of Holiday singles “A Place Called Home” (2020), “One Little Boy,” and “The Perfect Year” (2021). In 2021, she was nominated for the ‘Future Classic Women Awards’ show on Men’s & Women’s Radio Station. Natasha is the creator and editor of ‘Classical Crossover Magazine’ a venture that has allowed her to interview many of the top stars in the genre including Sarah Brightman, Celtic Woman, Mirusia, Paul Potts, and more. During the covid-19 pandemic, she created an online concert series for the magazine that has seen her perform in the same line-up as Alex Sharpe, Lucy Kay, Barbara Padilla, Classical Reflection, and more on the virtual stage. In 2022, Natasha was included on the charity album “Stars of Classical Crossover: Christmas” in benefit of the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Charity.