CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE ARTISTS WE CAUGHT AT ECHO PARK RISING
ECHO PARK, CA- Having followed Sandy Hawkins for years, I finally had the chance to witness them live at this year’s Echo Park Rising. It was a long-awaited moment, one that felt like reuniting with an old friend you’ve only known through late-night Spotify sessions and pandemic-era meet-ups. Back when the world was cloistered indoors, I ventured out to photograph the Sandy Hawkins crew, and their goofy humor won me over. They’re a group that’s maintained their “boy band” persona with a unique, tongue-in-cheek twist, merging infectious energy with an endearing, self-aware playfulness. Their upbeat, lighthearted tracks have found a permanent place on my playlists, and seeing them command a packed crowd in the outdoor patio of Semi-Tropic brought their music to life in the best way possible.
The mid-afternoon sunlight only amplified the mood, transforming the set into an impromptu celebration where fans could let loose, all while Sandy Hawkins worked their musical and comedic magic. Their on-stage dynamic was every bit as energetic and genuine as I’d imagined, blending hilarity with unbridled charisma, making each song feel like an inside joke shared with everyone watching. Their humor isn’t just an act; it’s woven into their identity, keeping fans grinning and singing along as they tap into those classic boy band tropes with a wink and a nudge.
Recently, I was able to catch up with the band and send over a few questions, which they responded to as a group—keeping that communal vibe alive even off-stage. The following interview captures their personality in full form, offering a glimpse into the delightful minds behind the music that’s brought joy to my playlists for years.
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Echo Park has a rich history of underground music. How has that influenced your sound and the direction of Sandy Hawkins?
Only time will tell, but it’s fun to imagine we are in some pocket of LA music history, like the Laurel Canyon in the 70’s. The band came about from living down the street from each other, and in the pandemic we were really limited to (or embraced) a small radius in Echo Park to shoot our photos and videos. All the while, we were uncovering bits of music history and the landscape of our neighborhood, like how the cop car jumping the street in the Sabotage music video was filmed at the apex of Baxter, where we pass by every time we go between each other’s houses. Everything we do in the neighborhood feels like we’re paying homage to the greats that came before us, while also adding our own little page into the history books of Echo Park.
Your music has been described as blending ’90s nostalgia with a modern twist—how intentional was that, and what does that era mean to you guys personally?
It was intentional and also very unintentional, we all grew up with the 90’s (and a bit of the 80’s) having a big influence on us, so it makes sense that it would be our touchpoint for inspiration. In terms of the music we always like to pay tribute to those that came before us, and try and emulate their vibe layering in sounds of our own, and that is where I think the modern twist comes in. Beastie Boys meets Backstreet Boys meets the Beach Boys. All the boys.
How does being in a “boy band” in 2024 differ from the pop-focused boy bands of the past? Do you feel a sense of rebellion in redefining what a boy band can be?
We have always had a tongue and cheek relationship with the term “Boy Band” but honestly, it is what best describes us. We have instruments in the studio, but only mics on stage. Our music has so many elements thrown together, so rather than attempt to recreate it live on stage (it would take a 10 piece band), we could stand out with some silly choreographed dance moves. I think we are closer to the Backstreet Boys than we are to Aerosmith, so it’s something we embrace wholeheartedly.
What’s the most personal song you’ve written, and why does it resonate with you as a band?
No Comment. Although if you came in blind not knowing us personally, perhaps Original Sins would sound the most personal. It’s the one our mom’s like the most so maybe that says something.
A lot of your fans are drawn to your style as much as your music. How do fashion and aesthetics play a role in your overall identity?
Initially, we wanted to build a world filled with nostalgia, and we tried to have the outfits play into that in a big way. In looking back at artists we admired and really unpacking the impact they had on us, it dawned on us how much work was put into building the character and the “world” around the music. We were lucky enough to work with really talented stylists for the Cherry Chapstick video that set the tone, and since then we’ve tried to keep building out our world and evolving our characters. Keenan takes inspiration from ChiChi Rodriguez’s outfits in the ‘70’s golf scene, Tiger loves mixing vintage Socal patterned prints with early 80’s UK fashion (ala Tears for Fears), and Tom goes deep on accessorizing with a sunglass collection that would rival most LensCrafters. But the saying goes, “It’s not on you., it’s in you” – Luckily we have the confidence to pull off any look… I mean Keenan was in the LA river waist deep in a silk shirt for the Morning Light music video.
Echo Park is known for its sense of community. How has the neighborhood supported you, and what does it mean to represent this part of LA?
Honestly it’s funny you say that because one of our first promotion techniques outside of the norm was posting on Nextdoor. We found friends, managers and just connected with our neighborhood because that is what we base this entire world around. Tiger has lived here since 2008 so he ranks highest in seniority, but all of us put down our stakes here since before the band and are proud to call it home. In terms of support, we have found that as we continue to play more shows in our neighborhood, people love it. The Semi Tropic was super supportive and hosted our Album Release party in October. They had us play or Echo Park Rising, something about the local vibes of the east side of LA really speak to our ethos as a band.
What’s your process when it comes to writing songs? Do you work together, or is there a designated songwriter in the group?
We all work together to write our songs, it truly is a collaborative process, and I don’t think any of us have presented a full song idea without the others coming in to bring some perspective or ideas to the table. That being said Tiger is a production and mixing master in Ableton, Tom can play any instrument under the sun and has perfect pitch, and Keenan has been writing raps for over 20 years, so it’s cool to have every piece of the puzzle and have it come together organically in a balanced way.
If you had to describe your dynamic as a band in one word, what would it be and why?
Fun! We have such a blast writing and performing this music whether it is a house party in Highland park or a backyard wedding in Frogtown, we are so proud of the art that we make, but ultimately we don’t hold it as precious, we just want to share it. The way in which we set up our shows— the chit chat between songs, the merch, the synchronized dancing— all of it is because we just are playing around with it. We like to say we take the music seriously but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
What does success look like for Sandy Hawkins? I really enjoy what you guys are doing, but what do you think it will take to really take that next step forward as a band?
I think success to us is really the place we are in right now. We just want the world to hear our music and watch our videos. So that is slowly starting to happen, and we hear about people who know us as a band but don’t know us personally, and that is a huge boon for us to continue, it used to just be our friends. We’ve had late night convos about what it would be like to sign a record deal, limousines, champagne, the works, but really that is just an image of what success looks like, and truly having creative control over our art is worth more than any 6 figure contract… Now 8 figures? Another story 🙂
Your live shows have become a huge part of your identity. How do you keep the energy fresh every time you hit the stage?
Our on stage personas are what the crowd reacts to, so we focus on customizing our energy to the specific event. Without having to worry about playing instruments live (other than the sp-555 Roland sampler and a melodica), we can put more emotion into the vocals and crowd interplay. The dances definitely help a ton. When we hit the first synchronized dance move after Chauncey’s Dream, you hear the whole crowd cheer because it’s not something you see every day. We are getting to the point now where our fans are doing the dance with us in the crowd, and Keenan says he dreams of when there is a full stadium doing the dance with us.
Are there any artists you’d love to collaborate with that might surprise your fans?
We would love to have a powerful female vocalist featured on some of our upcoming songs, someone like Remi Wolf, but local, who has a whole personality and energy to them that is their own. In the modern landscape of artists you have so many cookie-cutter songwriters that we would really want someone who has an own-able persona that could fit into our world, if even only for one track.
What’s next for you guys in terms of new music or projects? Can fans expect any surprises soon?
Our first album “Sandy Hawkins Greatest Hits: Vol 1” just dropped on limited edition colored vinyl and it features a song that has never been heard before at any show or otherwise “So Long for Summer” – We are lining up shows for early 2025 with a focus on East LA (our home). We print merch when we have a fun idea, and are always chatting with our fans on instagram. You can get the album on sandyhawkins.com and are always looking for more Sandy Stans. Cheers!
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CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE ARTISTS WE CAUGHT AT ECHO PARK RISING
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