Richard Hawley is an English guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer from Sheffield, born in 1967. He begins his career in Sheffield bands including Treebound Story and Longpigs, and later plays with Pulp, becoming associated with Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey through that period. He also works with Relaxed Muscle, the side project led by Cocker.

Early career and band work

Hawley first finds wider recognition as a member of Longpigs in the 1990s. After Longpigs reaches the end of an extensive US tour in 1997, he joins Pulp for the period around This Is Hardcore. He later describes that time as a difficult one personally, and it leads him to consider leaving the music industry. He also has an earlier connection to Treebound Story.

Solo recordings

Encouraged by home demos and support from Cocker and Mackey, Hawley begins recording as a solo artist. His self-titled mini album appears in 2000. Late Night Final follows in 2001 and takes its title from the street cry of vendors selling the Sheffield Star evening newspaper. Lowedges arrives two years later and is named after a Sheffield suburb that he notices as a child on a bus destination board. The album receives strong critical response, with NME calling it the first great album of 2003 and Virgin Radio placing it at the top of its end-of-year poll.

Mute Records and later albums

Hawley signs to Mute Records in 2004. His fourth release, Cole's Corner, is delayed by legal issues and appears in 2005. The title refers to a place in Sheffield where courting couples meet, continuing his habit of drawing on his home city in his work. The album is nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2006. He follows it with Lady's Bridge in 2007, named for a bridge he regularly crosses in Sheffield, and Truelove's Gutter in 2009, which wins the Mojo record of the year award and is also nominated for the award.

Style and collaborations

Hawley works as a session musician and producer alongside his solo recordings. He contributes to Nancy Sinatra's eponymous 2004 release and supports her on European tour in 2005. Other collaborations include A Girl Called Eddy, All Saints, Nellee Hooper's soundtrack for Romeo and Juliet, and Relaxed Muscle. He plays the guitar solo on All Saints' cover of "Under the Bridge".

Other projects and interests

Outside his solo work, Hawley tours with The Feral Cats, a project that lets him explore rockabilly. He also auditions for a place as guitarist in Morrissey's rockabilly-leaning band. He lives in Sheffield with his wife and children and supports Sheffield Wednesday. His later recordings move through different sounds, and Standing At The Sky's Edge, recorded at Sheffield's Yellow Arch Studio in 2011, marks a shift toward psychedelia, space rock, ragas, heavy riffs and more visceral guitar work.