KP Hawthorn - Til The Glitter End (2025)

The kind of country music Kristen P. (KP) Hawthorn creates abandoned the mainstream a long time ago. Not all country songs have twang, and the artists who create them don't all wear cowboy hats, flannel shirts and denim, and hail from Texas or the deep South, meaning California native Hawthorn isn't Miranda Lambert. She offers a distinctly feminine perspective to a heavily male dominated genre without projecting any kind of tough girl image in her music, and that is refreshing.

Hawthorn's debut solo set, Til The Glitter End, is being marketed as country music - its nine tracks were recorded in Nashville where she's now based - but anyone who believes the star sounds more like a 70s, Laurel Canyon, singer-songwriter can be forgiven. The SoCal influence is apparent in her sometimes oblique and introspective lyrics, traits most conventional country songs aren't known for. You'll also find the canyon's impact in her musically astute arrangements and high-class vocals.

Hawthorn sometimes reminds me of one of my favorite country artists, Kim Richey, who, unfortunately has never found even a modicum of mainstream success. You're forgiven if you haven't heard of her. The Richey comparison is especially apparent on the lead single, "Fool's Gold."

More proof that Hawthorn isn't your typical, modern Nashville artist is her surprisingly interesting choice for the lone cover song on this set: Led Zeppelin's "Going to California" from their classic, fourth, studio LP from 1971. (It's the album with "Black Dog" and "Stairway to Heaven.") Robert Plant could have easily reworked it for one of his albums with Alison Krauss and it would have been a perfect fit. It's also very well suited for Hawthorn.

Hawthorn is already a country music veteran who's been busy making nine albums with two different bands: Calico the Band and The HawtThorns with her husband, Johnny, who plays guitar and sings on Glitter End. She handles acoustic guitar, keyboards, mandolin, and percussion. Upright bass player Ted Pecchio and drummer Chris Benelli make up the rhythm section. Americana star Rosie Flores adds guitar on "High Road."

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