Pop punk's most lovable liability, Ray Hawthorne, returns with yet again, another new single for people who are holding it together using only spite and a good chorus. Fresh off the hometown wreckage of "Burn New Jersey Down" ft Pete Zen and his sophomore album, "Ray Hawthorne Isn't Real", the Los Angeles-based renegade has today delivered "Head Spin", a dizzy, bruising portrait of being broke, exhausted, and tethered to someone who keeps holding you back. Fans can listen to the new single Below.
Guitars up front and a chant that hits like a mantra you didn't mean to memorize, "Head Spin" finds Ray Hawthorne unraveled and running on nothing. Serving as the fifth single of his latest era, "Head Spin" is a reminder that someone should probably check on him, but not before the album is announced.
In lieu of talking about the music, Ray Hawthorne would like to discuss his career goals:
"I like to solve mysteries. If I wasn’t a full time world famous rock star, I’d most likely be a detective. Or a bounty hunter. Or both. I’m always solving mysteries, so recently I looked into what qualifications are necessary to be a private investigator in the state of California. It’s easier than you might think, but still somewhat complicated. First off, you have to be at least 18 years old. I’ve got that. Then you have to pass a criminal background check. I’ve most likely got that. But to cap it all off, you need to have at least three years (or 6,000 hours) of PAID qualifying investigative experience. What the fuck? I’m sorry, here I am trying to be a legitimately licensed private investigator and you’re telling me I should have and COULD have ALREADY been taking money for my services??? Do you have any idea how many mysteries I solve on a weekly basis for fucking free?? Shit goes missing around the house, I’ve got suspects and a clue board set up in under five minutes. Let a motherfucker try to cheat on my best friend, I’ll have everybody’s headshots and last three addresses in a spreadsheet that night. Some asshole quits my friend’s band and screws everyone over in the process, I’ve already plotted where the fire exits are around their apartment building in case of any “accidents.” These are just a few examples of my determination and mystery solving acumen. So with all this in mind, I need your help. Let’s say my new song, Head Spin, is actually a coded message I’m putting out into the world. And let’s say you receive that message. Let’s say this message resonates with you and helps you on a level that only a private investigator could. Almost like I’ve investigated your music taste and supplied you with something you’d enjoy. It would make sense to me that, in that specific scenario, the proceeds I make from such a song could arguably count as paid investigative work. And the amount of time spent listening to such a song could arguably count toward the mandatory 6,000 hours of paid investigative work. YOU could be the reason that I’m finally able to become a full time mystery solving punk rock private investigator.
That’s it. That’s all I have to say.”
Renowned for his work in North Kingsley, the acclaimed project alongside Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down, Hawthorne initially captured hearts as the Heartbreak Hero with his inaugural solo release "Heartbreak Feels Good in a Place Like This". Building on his solo work, his debut record "Ray Hawthorne Sucks" further cemented his status as a bold new voice in pop punk, quickly amassing a devoted following and over 20 million streams across all streaming platforms for his magnetic charm and razor-sharp wit.
Blending heartbreak, sarcasm, and just the right amount of emotional stability, Ray Hawthorne leads with a messy kind of hope, turning emotional freefall into something you can scream along to. Where debut album and his firstborn, "Ray Hawthorne Sucks", leaned into an earnest DIY vulnerability, his latest record, "Ray Hawthorne Isn't Real", took a turn and tapped into the restless defiance of a secondborn. The 15 tracks helped embrace the chaos, laugh at the pain, and maybe, just maybe, allow us all to find a little redemption along the way.
Starting from the very real possibility that Ray Hawthorne is just a guy screaming into the ether (and somehow making it sound catchy), his catalog has become a refuge for anyone who's ever felt too loud, too sensitive, or too much. Loud, petty, and deeply cathartic, Ray Hawthorne is proudly one of the most unapologetically honest voices modern pop-punk.
Be sure to stay tuned for more Ray Hawthorne news coming very soon.