New Interviews

Been getting a lot of nice press blurbs and radio play on the record, and sincere thanks to these journalists and radio presenters out there, folks doing it for the love of it, keeping the independent arts flame burning. .    Just recently, we had three really nice, long interviews come out, which is cool, because it allows us to go into depth regarding both The Day Deserved (record) and Ten Seconds In-Between, (book) from

The Netherlands – Kultuurffabriek

(from Harry DeJong, we did this one over Zoom and it’s in Dutch, so put on google translator “…with his whispering voice he sings ten extremely poetic songs with downright literary texts, beautifully framed by Dave Coleman’s twangy guitar playing. This is music you should listen to with the lyrics at your fingertips, because Hoekstra is a poet and a singer.”   This also includes a picture of me in Marrum, the town my grandfather emigrated from, taken on a tour from the past.)

Scotland – Pennyblack Music

(from John Clarkson in Edinburgh, as we discuss the record, current events, my son Jude (of course) and all the great folks who contributed to the making of the new album The Day Deserved (musicians, artists, videographers).    As the man says about the album “Its ten songs are all lengthy, few coming in at less than five minutes and several stretching out to over seven minutes, and, embracing components of jazz, pop, folk and country, none of them finishing at the same point upon which they started. Lyrically they reveal the humanitarian Hoekstra’s political and social concerns.”   I met John on my first-ever gig to Edinburgh, many years ago, at  Virgin instore on Princes Street in the shadow of the Castle, and it’s been great to stay in touch and catch up as our lives unfold.   Pennyblack has been around for years and it’s a testament to his hard work and talent.

Liner Notes WMOT Murfreesboro

(from Ana Lee at WMOT 89.5 Liner Notes.  Ana picked up on the new record right away and has been playing it on her show.  Really great questions from her on this and of course, I/we love this line: “The Day Deserved is the kind of record that draws you back again and again, and with each listen comes a new discovery in the stories he sings. Songs like, “Gandy Dancer”, “Seaside Town” and “Higher Ground” could each be a Netflix or Hulu series.”

Essence – Ten Seconds

My new book of short stories, “Ten Seconds In-Between” is officially out – big thanks to the folks at Chapter 16 for running this excerpt, “Essence.” Thanks to Humanities Tennessee for the love, and Better than Starbucks for publishing the book. Hope you enjoy it – feel free to follow the link and pick up a copy. Best, Doug.

Essence

Higher Ground Video Premiere

Happy to announce the unveiling of “Higher Ground,” the latest (and sixth) video premiere from The Day Deserved – up now at We Own This Town. The fine folks at WOTT draw flattering comparisons to Low, Mazzy Star, and Slow Dive and ask:

“How many songs have you heard today about the emergency evacuation of island nation Kirabiti b/c of rising sea levels? The answer should be ONE! Higher Ground tackles the subject, beautifully…a captivating video, a wild subject and an interesting slowcore song. Checking lots of boxes there.”

Particularly pleased with this video, assembled by friend (and former student from Watkins College of Art), the very talented Trevor Denton, filming in L.A., Malibu, and Santa Monica, nicely balancing the literal and the abstract, in sync with the vibe of the track. Video and review right here:

Doug Hoekstra – “Higher Ground” (Official Video)

The Day of the Day Deserved

Yes, indeed, that moment has arrived, the new Doug Hoekstra album, “The Day Deserved,” is officially released in the U.S. and Europe.   Many outlets for digital and physical but here are a couple, kick in and make your day….

https://doughoekstra.bandcamp.com/album/the-day-deserved (U.S.)

https://continentalrecordservices.bandcamp.com/album/the-day-deserved (Europe)

Advance Praise for The Day Deserved

“peerless musical tales of quirks & misdemeanors”
(Mike Cobey, Brighton Magazine)

 “Always an interesting cat, Hoekstra’s magic has always sprung from sounding so underground yet being visible enough to nail real awards…his first record in a decade is cause for celebration“
(Chris Spector, Midwest Record)

 “The Day Deserved is a welcome return to song from one of Nashville’s most lauded songwriters…a mature, emotional recording…you’ll see Doug Hoekstra’s name on various end of the year best of lists… and it’s well worth the wait.”
(James Mann, Ink 19)

“Intricate and articulate lo-fi Americana…. scintillating and tragically beautiful, sounding like Pete Shelley fronting a Velvet Underground offshoot.  Doug Hoekstra is not just a mighty fine singer, songwriter and storyteller; but the way this is sequenced and indeed; produced put it right up there with the Big League…”
(Rocking Magpie UK)

 “…bound to land on many ‘best of 2021’ lists..the arrangements on this album are impeccable….ten  beautiful underground pop songs executed to perfection…this man has a totally killer understated manner of singing that is instantly appealing….The Day Deserved is an album that will surely stand the test of time. Resilient, smart and different. This one’s a modern-day classic. Highly recommended.”
(Baby Sue Top Pick)

“…Thoroughly intriguing and compelling, an album that reaches well beyond the usual melodic and thematic constraints…an album that reflects deep thought fleshed out with full finesse, The Day Deserved ought to be considered a truly singular accomplishment.”(Lee Zimmerman, Goldmine)

“Poetic observations of people, places and times unencumbered by musical boundaries…folk, rock and even reggae….there is a great deal going on both lyrically and musically throughout this record that it can be hard keeping up. But even if the eloquent lyrics do detach themselves from the flowing layers of sound do not despair. ‘The Day Deserved’ merits repeated listening, an experience akin to returning to an art gallery several times and finding something new on each visit.”
(Lyndon Bolton Americana-UK)

“Perhaps the message in Late Night Ramble sums it all up in the lines, ‘Some people skate the surface, Others go just deep enough, To feel any kind of feeling, That isn’t mindless and numb.’ The message of live-and-let-live runs through these songs, however fractured and in need of support we all may be. The gaps between are not as great as the potential for love and understanding in these troubled times. Welcome back Doug, we missed you!”
(Paul McGee, Lonesome Highway)

“…there’s a place for well-measured and carefully crafted intelligent song craft.  Our touchstones are probably the like of Van Dyke Parks, Randy Newman, Tom Waits, and Jackson Browne (add you own favourites to this list).  So, here, filling his application to join this estimable bunch, is Doug Hoekstra…The Day Deserved is one of those albums which slowly creeps into your life.  It’s polished, all the songs are gems which have been cut to perfection but they reflect darkly the world around them.  Hoekstra leads his note perfect ensemble on a variety of styles ranging from the lounge-lizard sleaze and sophisticated syncopations to dreamlike reveries and tender introspective murmurings.”  (Paul Kerr, Blabber ‘n Smoke)

 Hoekstra’s “songwriting and storytelling acumen is as sharp as ever…on a reinvigorated creative streak, a welcome return for those who followed his career prior to the sabbatical and a terrific introduction to those coming to him new.  It’s a new day and most certainly well deserved.”
(Mike Davies, Fatea UK).  

“…**** There aren’t so many musicians who approach their work at this level, none of today’s pre-fab pop artist to be sure.  Hoekstra realizes that if a story is worth telling, he is going to use whatever is necessary at his creative disposal to get that message across.   The Day Deserved is not the kind of album I’m going to listen to every day, but there will be times I will need what it has to offer; solace, comfort, and help in changing the way I think about things… and today, as I write entering the second week of 14-day Covid self-isolation and ponder my recent 63th birthday, is one of those days.”  (John Kerieff, Rock Doctor).

 We’ve been doing lots of pre-release work, via press, radio, and video, and of course, there will be lot more to come (lots more radio, for next time).  The new book of Hoekstra short stories, “Ten Seconds In-Between”  comes out in June, as well.     Thanks to the many writers and deejays who have been supportive so far – some of the best blurbs are listed above and we appreciate the time taken to listen, and testify.  We’re all in this together.

Outside Looking In – Video and Radio News

Yes indeed, the latest single/video,,  Outside Looking In just dropped at The Big Takeover.   The closing track from the forthcoming The Day Deserved album, this one is a plaintive tune about a manual scoreboard operator at Wrigley Field, part of the action, but removed, the outsider working for inclusion without losing sense of self.  Hopefully something we can all relate to, in some context. Guitars, melodica, mailbox percussion, the video was filmed by Dave “Francis Ford” Coleman, at abandoned Nashville ballparks during the pandemic, crowd footage added later.

https://bigtakeover.com/news/VideoPremiereOutsideLookingInbyDougHoekstra

We amped up the videos this time out, and it’s been a fun and creative effort, lending new dimensions to the tunes, and also engaging others in the process. 

You can find them one by one on our visual page and also at the

Doug Hoekstra You Tube Channel

You know, old-timers – someone once sang that video killed the radio star, but airplay is picking up on “The Day Deserved,” as well, with a nod to: Americana Radio Netherlands, 40UP Radio (Jan Donkers/Netherlands), Groove Station, Radio Guitar One, Radio Summerhall, WMOT Murfreesboro (Ana Lee), WXNA Nashville (Annie McCue at Nashville Express) for starting the ball rolling.  

Multimedia thanks also go to Making a Scene – for the Hoekstra interview/podcast/cover and Imperfect Fifth (for having us at the SXSW Instagram takeover)