New York, NY (Top40 Charts) David Hopkins was born in Dublin, Ireland. After cutting his teeth with the heavyweight Dublin band LiR, he decided it was time to take a break from music and make a change by moving to New York. After his arrival, reality set in and Hopkins soon realized that he would have to get a "real job". His first foray into work at a famous New York Restaurant ended with him being fired within three days due to throwing cutlery at the head chef. Once again, rock and roll beckoned.
Hopkins went on to work alongside The Who for their 2001 Quadrophenia Tour and then with
Damien Rice on his 2010 album There Are Debts. Hopkins then became the frontman of Bombay Heavy, under the alias Barnabus Wu in 2014. It was Hopkins' work in Bombay
Heavy that lead to an introduction with Mark Stoermer (The Killers) through their mutual friend Rob Whited. Rob suggested to Mark that
David should produce Mark's new project. Hopkins recorded some demos at his home studio and soon after Dark Arts was made.
Hopkins and Stoermer shared many of the same inspirations including The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Mahavishnu Orchestra,
Pink Floyd and Radiohead. Their immediate nexus laid the foundation for their collaboration on Stoermer's Dark Arts (2016) and Filthy Apes and Lions (2017). The duo's spontaneous brainstorming throughout this period pushed Hopkins to take on the songwriter role once again. Stoermer assumed Executive Producer status on Hopkins new album Overlook, which is slated as the sixth release for St. August Records Stoermer's independent label.
"Overlook is the most honest record I have made to date I had always worked on albums where I had to compromise. I did whatever I wanted to do with this album."
Overlook emanates Hopkins intrigue for creating psychedelic soundscapes and boasts a vocal performance reminiscent of Nick Drake. The songs are true to his early day inspirations, derived from the 60s and 70s rock of the British Isles including
Led Zeppelin and Syd Barrett. But Overlook is truly an original compilation that could only be the brainchild of
David Hopkins. Robert Root, engineer for The Killers, Stoermer and Hopkins describe the sound as "Psychedelic Chamber Rock". Hopkins also describes it as "equal parts Led Zeppelin, Bagpuss, 1980's BBC public announcement warning Ads,
Bob Marley and Beethoven".
David Hopkins solo career reinstatement couldn't be any more obscure and perfectly different, which has solidified him as an essential addition to the St. August Records collective. Overlook promises to separate Hopkins from his previous work, but act as an expressive extension and culmination of past experiences and present inspirations.
