Fiona Joy Hawkins enters Le Pain Quotidien, where we have agreed to meet, takes her sunglasses off and within moments her musicality is transporting you from Los Angeles where you are sitting in Santa Monica on 3rd street to a contemplative other world of mathematically structured musical emotion.
Looking significantly younger than her age, her music and her choice of instruments is timeless. She discusses the piano she is recording on that has 102 keys and 4 sustain pedals as "anti-estabishment" and you soon realize you are sitting in the dawn of a new, new age. An evolution is occurring. Fiona's Blue Dream, is produced by Grammy-Award Winner Will Ackerman (Windham Hill Records Founder). Her albums are only classified as New Age for the purposes of fitting a label for the Grammy's etc... as Fiona really is the emergence-evolution of a different time and place- she transcends genres. She describes herself as "Transcultural Instrumental," and the title fits well for this composer and pianist who loves to incorporate world music, rare and ancient instruments and who can compose a whole piece in her head but rarely scores the music.
The Australian Fiona describes herself as being from a small town in Australia, which of course, represents the truth, but only part of it- her precocious abilities as a child of 8 years old to already compose seem to have come from deep within her soul, separate of any type of traditional geography, making her a prodigy of a unique type. To this day, she is devoid of major influences and focuses typically on the interior creative process.
Fiona is no stranger to Los Angeles. This, she mentions, is her 5th or 6th trip to LA and she is in her element. Much like one might have false impressions of the term "new age," Fiona, who loves Los Angeles, found herself surprised by the diverse range of cultural areas within the city- some confirming stereotypes while others defying them.
Fiona and this Examiner trade CDs. She writes a note within her "Blue Dream" masterpiece and then signs it. The note simply says: "There is no integrity greater than the intention of a single note."
Make a note to yourself and set your intentions on 2866 El Camino Real. Tustin, CA where Fiona performs on April 16th. Reserve at koriline@gmail.com or (949)310-1567.
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