Hunter Hawkins' "Seeking Release (reimagined by Kenny Loggins)" Available Now

Hunter Hawkins revisits one of their most personal songs with the release of “Seeking Release (reimagined by Kenny Loggins),” a sweeping new interpretation of the standout track from the 2021 EP Phase. Produced by Kenny Loggins, the recording expands the emotional scope of the original while preserving its deeply personal message, offering a powerful preview of Hawkins’ forthcoming full-length album. Listen below.

Following a series of difficult conversations with loved ones during a trip to visit extended family, Hunter was looking for space to process the feeling of not being heard or understood. They spent an afternoon alone along the shoreline in La Jolla, where, overlooking the Pacific and surrounded by sunbathing sea lions, they began writing the lyrics and melody for “Seeking Release.” Just days earlier, Hunter had received a scratch guitar track from soon-to-be co-writer Kevin Mahany as an invitation to collaborate. Listening to the recording through their phone, Hunter drafted lyrics in the Notes app and captured melodies in Voice Memos, laying the foundation for what would become one of the album's most personal songs.

Originally released on Phase, “Seeking Release” returns as “Seeking Release (reimagined by Kenny Loggins),” a complete reworking created for Hawkins’ forthcoming full-length album. Instead of simply revisiting the original recording, Hawkins and Loggins rebuilt the song from the ground up with new arrangements, musicians and instrumentation, transforming it into a cinematic centerpiece. String arrangements by Ben Plotnick and Kaitlyn Raitz deepen the song’s emotional impact, carrying it from quiet introspection to an uplifting sense of release.

“‘Seeking Release’ came from a time when I was trying to make sense of feeling unseen and unheard,” says Hawkins. “Writing it helped me realize that the answers I was searching for weren’t going to arrive from somewhere else. They had to come from choosing to let go, trust the process, and allow myself to feel everything instead of fighting it.”

Anchored by lyrics that wrestle with surrender, healing and the desire to be understood, “Seeking Release” asks difficult questions without settling for easy answers. As the song builds from intimate reflection to an expansive orchestral finale, it ultimately reminds listeners that peace often begins when we stop waiting for permission to embrace who we are.

“Seeking Release (reimagined by Kenny Loggins)” stands as one of the defining moments on Hawkins' forthcoming album, reflecting both the vulnerability and artistic growth that continue to shape their music.

CREATIVE FORCE HUNTER HAWKINS TO RELEASE DEBUT SONG “HERE NOW”

Singer-songwriter, actor and filmmaker Hunter Hawkins has signed with Jonas Group Entertainment for management and Red Van Records, launching a new creative chapter with the release of “Here Now.” The debut song will be released on June 5 with an album to follow later this year. Pre-save and pre-add the song HERE.

Produced by legendary singer-songwriter and guitarist Kenny Loggins, the project marks the first time in Loggins’ storied career that he has produced music for another artist.

Blending emotionally rich songwriting with cinematic storytelling, “Here Now” introduces listeners to Hawkins’ pure, ethereal and poetic vocal style. The solo written song, “Here Now,” captures confronting themes of healing, surrender and self-discovery. 

“This song means a lot to me, and has already seen me through many seasons of my life,” shares Hawkins. “I’m excited to share it, to see how it resonates with others. There’s so much growth and healing in the process of releasing what we’ve been working on, especially with it all having stemmed from a vulnerable moment of self-reflection.”

“Hunter Hawkins is a multi-talented singer/songwriter with a beautiful, emotionally expressive voice who has a UNIQUE artistic vision in the tradition of the gifted artists of the 1970s and 80s,” said producer Kenny Loggins. “As Hunter’s producer, I approached this project with the same respect that I would have brought to producing a Joni Mitchell-level artist.”

“Here Now” will also be featured in Awake: Pinky’s Journey, a companion film written, directed, produced by and starring Hawkins. Filmed throughout Santa Barbara County, the project includes scenes shot at Kenny Loggins’ home and at Alan Parsons’ Parsonic Studios in Goleta, as well as locations throughout Los Angeles, including the iconic Canter's Deli and the Kibitz Room. The film expands the emotional and visual universe surrounding the music while offering an immersive first look at the forthcoming project.

The film will premiere on Friday, June 5, at The Alcazar Theatre in Carpinteria, Calif. A secondary screening will be held on Tuesday, June 9, at The Hidden Jewel Box Theatre in midtown Manhattan. For tickets and more, go to Hunter-Hawkins.com and follow @hunterhawkinshere on Instagram.

Additionally,  Hawkins has signed with Jonas Group Entertainment for management and will release music through Red Van Records. 

“We’re drawn to artists who bring an original perspective and creative vision, and Hunter absolutely does that,” said JGE Founder and Chairman Kevin Jonas Sr. “An incredibly gifted storyteller whose talents extend far beyond music, we’re thrilled to welcome Hunter to Jonas Group Entertainment and Red Van Records.”

“There's an undeniable power in Hunter's music,” said JGE President George Kreis. “It has reignited my love for the art form itself and serves as a reminder of how deeply music can stir the soul.”

Hawkins has also signed with TKO for booking representation with agents Chris Burke and Jim Lenz. They have performed everywhere from dive bars in London and cafés in Paris to Newport Folk Festival and New York City’s iconic Bitter End, while building a reputation as a multi-disciplinary artist with a singular creative voice. In addition to sharing stages and recording alongside artists including Bill Champlin, David Foster, Elliot Easton, Richard Marx and Jeff Marx, Hawkins has also earned acclaim in film, including a 2025 Best Actor win at the Long Beach Underground Film Festival. 

Earlier this year, Hawkins was named Emerging Artist of the Year by the Fest Forums Conference in Santa Barbara. 

Hawkins’ growing momentum continues throughout 2026, with upcoming performances at Los Angeles’ iconic Troubadour and Louisville’s multi-genre Bourbon & Beyond festival and a July 3 and 4 appearance with Kenny Loggins at the Archway in St. Louis for Celebrate 250.