Paul Hawkins (musician)

Paul Hawkins
OriginEngland
GenresPost punk
outsider music
Years active2006-present
LabelsJezus Factory Records
Audio Antihero
Fleeing from Pigeons Records
AFUK Records
Blang Records
MembersPaul Hawkins, Ian Button, Mary Boe, Chris Potter, David Woolf, Adam Croucher, Anthony Keen
Past membersAlex Templeton-Ward, David Serra, Niall Spooner-Harvey, Jeremy Walton, Stuart Saunderson

Paul Hawkins is a British author, singer-songwriter, and disability rights advocate.[1][2][3] He grew up near Bristol and has been active in London's antifolk scene.[4][5][6] He has collaborated with Ian Button and a six-piece band under the name of Paul Hawkins & The (sometimes stylised "Thee") Awkward Silences, and has also worked with the artist Alex Templeton-Ward.[7][8][9]

His debut solo album The Misdiagnosis of Paul Hawkins was released on AFUK Records in 2006, later reissued the Fleeing from Pigeons net label in April 2009.[10][7]

Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences performed on the BBC Introducing stage at Latitude Festival 2008, and recorded a BBC Radio 1 session for Huw Stephens.[11][12] They released two albums on Jezus Factory Records between 2008 and 2010,[13][14][15] as well as an EP via Audio Antihero in 2011.[16][17][18]

In 2011, Hawkins was a contestant on the Pointless season 4,[19][20][21] and The Awkward Silences recorded a session for Dandelion Radio in October.[22] A session for Resonance FM followed in January 2012.[23] In 2014, The Awkward Silences performed at Liberty Festival.[24][25]

In 2013, Hawkins' first book, Bad Santas and Other Creepy Christmas Characters, was published by Simon & Schuster UK.[26][27]

The Awkward Silences released Outsider Pop in 2016,[28][29] and an eponymous album in 2020.[30] The King of Cats album, featuring new members Anthony Keen and David Woolf, was released in 2025.[31]

Hawkins is a disability rights advocate,[1][2] and works for the Attitude Is Everything charity.[32][33][34]

Discography

Singles

  • "The Evil Thoughts" (Split 7" with L'il Lost Lou) (Jezus Factory Records, 2007)
  • "The Bigger Bone" (Jezus Factory Records, 2007)
  • "I Believe in Karma" (Jezus Factory Records, 2008)
  • "Don't Blind Me With Science" (Jezus Factory Records. 2008)
  • "You Can't Make Somebody Love You" (Jezus Factory Records, 2008)
  • "The Battle Is Over" (Jezus Factory Records, 2008)
  • "Tonight I Will Be Santa" (Fika Recordings, 2011) as Paul Hawkins & The Bleak Midwinters
  • "You Can't Make Somebody Love You" / "Of Course I Stole The Train" (Audio Antihero, 2011)

Albums/EPs

  • The Misdiagnosis of Paul Hawkins (AFUK Records, 2006 / Fleeing from Pigeons Records, 2009)
  • We Are Not Other People (Jezus Factory Records, 2008)
  • Skinful of Silence (Fleeing from Pigeons Records, 2009)
  • Apologies To The Enlightenment (Jezus Factory Records, 2010)
  • The Wrong Life EP (Audio Antihero, 2011)
  • Dandelion Session EP (BarelyOut Recordings/Audio Antihero, 2012)
  • Outsider Pop (Blang Records, 2016)
  • The Awkward Silences (Blang Records, 2020)
  • King of Cats (Blang Records, 2020)

Compilation tracks

  • "I'll Be Getting a Divorce for Christmas" on A Very Cherry Christmas Volume 2 (Cherryade Records, 2006)
  • "I Fell in Love With a Moment in Time" on Welcome Back to the Jezus Factory (Jezus Factory Records, 2007)
  • "I Like It When You Call Me Doctor" on AFUK & I (AFUK Records, 2007)
  • "I'll Take Good Care of You" on Bob Hope Would (Audio Antihero, 2011)
  • "I've Left The New World Order (stripped)" on Some.Alternate.Universe for FSID (Audio Antihero, 2012)
  • "Johnny (Dandelion Session)" on Into The Light: Volume Two for Pussy Riot (Unwashed Territories, 2012)
  • "A Crappy Couple" on REGAL VS STEAMBOAT for Rape Crisis (Audio Antihero, 2013)

References

  1. ^ a b Hawkins, Paul (2021-02-03). "The Awkward Silences' Paul Hawkins on Music and Disability". Alt Revue. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  2. ^ a b Horizons, Disability (2016-07-31). "Disability and music: disabled musician Paul Hawkins". Disability Horizons. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  3. ^ Club, Rue Defense Tape (2026-02-12). "Accessibility and Navigating the Industry as a Disabled Artist w/ Paul Hawkins | The J-Card Podcast". Rue Defense Tape Club. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  4. ^ "ODB 191: Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences 'Outsider Pop'". Monolith Cocktail Blog. 2016-09-30. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  5. ^ paulmaps (2020-11-30). "Album Review: The Awkward Silences – The Awkward Silences - Joyzine". joyzine.org. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  6. ^ madmackerel (2010-08-19). "New from Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences". The Mad Mackerel. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  7. ^ a b "Paul Hawkins and Thee Awkward Silences". DrownedInSound. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  8. ^ "Mayor announces plans for Liberty Festival | London City Hall". www.london.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  9. ^ "Single Review: Paul Hawkins and Thee Awkward Silences, Lil Lost Lou - Bad Bad Girl / The Evil Thoughts". DrownedInSound. 2007-06-11. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  10. ^ "Paul Hawkins – the Misdiagnosis of Paul Hawkins". Fleeingfrompigeonsrecords.wordpress.com. 3 April 2009.
  11. ^ Stephens, Hugh. "Latitude 2008 - The review!". BBC.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Stephens, Huw. "BBC Introducing: Paul Hawkins and thee Awkward Silences". BBC.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "The Record Round Up: September, 2008 | The Skinny". www.theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  14. ^ "Album Review: Paul Hawkins and Thee Awkward Silences - Apologies to the Enlightenment". DrownedInSound. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  15. ^ "[sic] Magazine - Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences – Apologies To The Enlightenment". Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  16. ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Huw Stephens, Stay+ session, Wichita Recordings, Field Day Festival". BBC. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  17. ^ "BBC - Tom Robinson: TRACKLISTING. SUNDAY 25/09/2011". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  18. ^ Souter, Alan (2011-08-03). "Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences". is this music?. Archived from the original on 2025-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  19. ^ PointlessTV (2024-05-02). Guess the Eurovision City! | Pointless | S04 E06 | Full Episode. Retrieved 2026-01-25 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "Episode 6 ‹ Series 4 ‹ Pointless". subsaga.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  21. ^ "BBC One - Pointless, Series 4, Episode 6". BBC. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  22. ^ "Dandelion Radio - October 2011 Tracklistings". dandelionradio.com. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  23. ^ "Hello GoodBye 12 January 2012: Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences and Black Spot". Podcasts.resonancefm.com. 24 January 2012.
  24. ^ "Mayor announces plans for Liberty Festival | London City Hall". www.london.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  25. ^ "Liberty Festival - produced by FESTIVAL.ORG". festival.org. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  26. ^ "Paul Hawkins | Official Publisher Page". authors.simonandschuster.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2013-07-28. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  27. ^ Cawkwell, R. (2013-12-17). "Review: Bad Santas and other creepy Christmas characters, by Paul Hawkins". Everything Is Better With Dragons. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  28. ^ "Choice Albums of 2016 (Part One): A – L". Monolith Cocktail Blog. 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  29. ^ Peters, Owen. "Paul Hawkins and the Awkward Silences - Outsider Pop". www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  30. ^ Founder, Michael La Torre (2020-11-25). "Advance Review - The Awkward Silences: 'The Awkward Silences'". Alt Revue. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  31. ^ "The Awkward Silences launch the King of Cats LP". The List. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  32. ^ "BRIT Trust Diaries: Attitude Is Everything's Paul Hawkins on UK Disability History Month". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
  33. ^ "Disability charity signals 'renewed' belief in its mission with trio of recruits - Arts Professional".
  34. ^ "Interview: Paul Hawkins, Attitude is Everything". www.prsformusic.com. Archived from the original on 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
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