Night Hawk is a new indie band emerging from the state of Maine. Formed by Colter Adams and Peyton Semjen, the duo wrote most of their debut album Before We Begin after graduating from college in Maine and relocating over 400 miles away to Washington, D.C.
Lately, I’ve been falling in love with the sound of violins, so the opening of this indie record instantly brought a smile to my face. The first track, Those Lights, is a gentle and evocative introduction from the young duo (joined by violinist Emma Chun). The song carries a warm sense of ease and nostalgia, laced with a touch of melancholy – something I often feel when listening to my favorite band Florist.
But Night Hawk doesn’t stay in one place. They branch out and explore a wide range of moods, as shown right away by the second track, the rock-leaning Rest. The song brings to mind MJ Lenderman’s latest excellent record – or even some of my favorites like Hop Along, especially in its emotional vocal delivery and dynamic energy. It’s also worth noting that Before We Begin was produced by the acclaimed Colin Miller (together with Colter Adams), known for his work with Lenderman and Indigo De Souza.
The third track Winter in New England brings things back down and is, for me, one of the album’s highlights. It’s deceptively understated, with a lo-fi intimacy and slowcore-inspired feel that, along with the blend of male and female vocals, reminds me of Carissa’s Wierd.
From the first half of the album, other standouts include the explosive rock track Alone In The Summer and Paper Receipts, which has strong hit potential. Its opening hits you with a catchy vocal hook and a breezy, summery guitar riff.
The album consists of 14 tracks, and what I really appreciate about the second half is how Night Hawk continues to experiment with new textures. Mandy, for example, is a brief but beautiful interlude- less than a minute long – featuring just piano and soft violin backing. It’s moments like this that highlight how well-produced the album is. Overall, Before We Begin carries a strong sense of melancholy while still bursting with youthful spirit.
“Before We Begin chronicles the different seasons of growing up and the stings and triumphs of coming into one’s own, including relationships stuck in time and never truly resolved, long winters that far overstay their welcome, the accompanying seasonal restlessness and boredom, and the excitement of a crush as ephemeral as a New England summer,” the band says about the record’s origins.
Later on, Skyward brings to mind the sound of Frankie Cosmos – with whom we recently did an interview – featuring playful vocal interplay and a super chill atmosphere before breaking into an energetic, rockier chorus. Still, my favorite parts remain the more laid-back, introspective sections. Roadkill follows – a short and sweet 100-second gem.
The record closes with the folky Something on My Mind, which evokes classic country and Bob Dylan–style songwriting. The track rides this mood for its first two-thirds before exploding into a dynamic, high-energy finale – true to the album’s spirit of emotional and sonic shifts.
Night Hawk’s debut is truly a strong one – imaginative songwriting, outstanding vocals, and excellent production make it hard to find any real flaws. So if you happen to be on the East Coast, we highly recommend catching their tour in support of the new record, which kicks off in Portland, ME on August 7 and wraps up in Nashville, TN on August 30.
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