Hawkshaw was born in London, England in 1969 and is the daughter of British Disco producer Alan Hawkshaw (of Love De-Luxe with Hawkshaw's Discophonia fame; they had a #1 disco hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1979 with "Here Comes That Sound Again". He later went on to compose the famous theme music for the British television game show Countdown). It was through her father and her love for dance music that would inspire Kirsty to pursue a career in music.
At a rave event in 1991 she was noticed by producers Ian Munro, Kevin Dobbs and Nigel Walton, who at the time were known as A.S.K. It was through this meeting that they would form a Dance act called Opus III. Their first single, "It's A Fine Day" from their debut album Mind Fruit was an international smash and hit #1 on Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1992. They also had another US #1 hit on the Dance chart in 1994 with "When You Made The Mountain" from their second and last album Guru Mother.
After the group broke up in 1994, Hawkshaw pursued a solo career and since then has been in demand by other acts in the Dance, House, Eurodance, Trance, and Electronica community, ranging from DJ Tiesto to Delerium.
Kirsty recorded an ambient, ethereal album, Enlightenment, which was never released.
On October 10, 2005 she released Meta-Message, a collection of older and newer songs after a growing interest in her out-of print O.U.T..
Official Kirsty Hawkshaw Podcast - Liner Notes Oct 2007
www.kirstyhawkshawpodcast.com
subscribe in iTunes
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=266798429
Blackout
Kirsty Hawkshaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ushered in by wind
You were just a reaction to my confusion
A hybrid of hundreds of troubles
People felt us connect and ran for shelter
And there are blackouts in L.A. tonight
There's an evident lack of light tonight
You'll catch me
Hanging out on a wire
Cutting the voltage to your power line
(And the lights go out)
Like a love
Ushered in by bliss
You came to me like a realization
But your look could sharpen a knife
Now all I hear is tearing of paper
And there are blackouts in L.A. tonight
An evident lack of light tonight
An increase in desire
You'll catch me
Hanging out on a wire
Cutting the voltage to your power line
(And the lights go out)
Now you
Cannot affect me
I feel
No electricity
Now you
Cannot control me
I feel
No electricity
(And the lights go out)
And there are blackouts in L.A. tonight
There's an evident lack of light tonight
An increase in desire
You'll catch me
Hanging out on a wire
Cutting the voltage to your power line
(And the lights go out)
The lyrics of Kirsty Hawkshaw's "Blackout" convey a feeling of confusion, mixed with desire and danger. The song opens with a metaphorical image of a cloud being ushered in by the wind, which represents the arrival of someone into the singer's life. This person is described as a hybrid of hundreds of troubles, and their connection is so intense that people run for shelter. This sets the stage for the central theme of the song – the power dynamic between the singer and their lover.
The chorus describes blackouts in Los Angeles, which could be interpreted literally or symbolically as the loss of control or power. The singer expresses a desire to cut the power line and remove their lover's hold over them, even if it means sacrificing their own connection. The second verse introduces a new metaphor, describing the lover's arrival as a love ushered in by bliss, only to turn sour with a sharp look that tears like paper. The song ends with the singer feeling freed from their lover's hold, signified by the lyrics, "Now you cannot control me, I feel no electricity."
Overall, "Blackout" is a powerful and ambiguous song about the dynamic between two people and the desire for control and power in a relationship. It's open to interpretation, but the feeling of tension and danger is palpable throughout.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a cloud
You came into my life with little warning or explanation, like a cloud that appears in the sky.
Ushered in by wind
Your presence was brought about by outside forces, like the wind carrying a cloud into view.
You were just a reaction to my confusion
I was uncertain about myself or my life, and you appeared as a response to that.
A hybrid of hundreds of troubles
You represent a combination of many issues and challenges that I face or have faced.
People felt us connect and ran for shelter
Others could sense a significant connection between us, and were wary or afraid of what it might bring.
And there are blackouts in L.A. tonight
The situation between us is tense and unstable, like a power outage in the city tonight.
There's an evident lack of light tonight
There is a clear absence of clarity or understanding in our relationship.
An increase in desire
Despite the difficulties, there is a growing sense of need or longing between us.
You'll catch me
You will find me in the midst of this unpredictable situation.
Hanging out on a wire
I am in a precarious position, like someone walking a tightrope high above the ground.
Cutting the voltage to your power line
I am taking action to limit or control your influence over me.
(And the lights go out)
As a result of these tensions, things become even more uncertain and unstable.
Like a love
As time went on, our relationship became more profound and meaningful.
Ushered in by bliss
Our connection was brought about by a sense of happiness and fulfillment.
You came to me like a realization
Meeting you was like discovering or realizing something important about myself or my life.
But your look could sharpen a knife
Your gaze or expression is sharp and cutting, able to hurt or influence deeply.
Now all I hear is tearing of paper
Our relationship is falling apart, and all I can hear are the sounds of it ripping apart.
Now you
After everything that has happened between us,
Cannot affect me
You no longer have the power or influence to impact my life.
I feel
I am experiencing a new sense of clarity and independence.
No electricity
Our connection was draining and damaging, and now it is gone completely.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CATHY DENNIS, TAYLOR MOMSEN, CHRIS ROJAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tommass69
Always look forward to this track on the album...damn special.
@RayDayHakker
Superb. One of Hybrid's best compositions and arrangement.
A poignant story and one of your most beautiful vocals Kirsty ..
Great work everyone, love it, thank you.
@GaberhamLincoln
Sick. Very vivid, the production complements the voice and lyrics =)
@Golokamusic
fabulous production! awesome
@BryanCarl_Space_Cadet
Amazing.
@TheoryOfAll
This is sooooo good...
@LoveDnB100
amazing voice kirsty !
@garyinmarz8938
Kirsty,,,beautiful inside out
@RayDayHakker
Superb...
@jamonmartin1
the tune is fucking bad ass beutifull vocal range and mature production