Hey guys! So seeing as it's not only the name of the band, but also of your debut album and one of the tracks, where did you get the inspiration for the name Son of Hawk?
Heine Van Der Walt: Actually, I've got a vinyl here from the original Hawk... I came prepared haha.
Dale McHardy: Fuck yes!
HVDW: Uh, this is the original band Hawk, from the '70s. It was my dad's favourite band and I think he jammed with them on one song, or a show or something. I just thought it's the coolest fucking name I'd ever heard, so we called ourselves HAWK. It was a bad idea in retrospect 'cause it confuses a lot of the old guard and ja, there were complications with SAMRO as well, because there's already, in the same territory, a band registered under the same name. We already had the song called Son of Hawk, coincidentally, and we just decided to call ourselves Son of Hawk from there on in. We have no fucking... There's nothing significant about it, we don't even know what the fuck it means.
DM: Son of Hawk was sort of like the tribute to Hawk.
HVDW: Ja, it's a tribute, like the next generation.
You smashed out the recording of the album in just ten days back in February. How did you achieve this and what kept you motivated through the long hours in the studio?
DM: Shrooms.
*laughter*
HVDW: Shrooms, and we practiced every day for about three weeks, five days a week. We came together in the morning and we practiced the whole setlist, played the album front to back every day, singing it, performing it as we would perform it, as if we were gonna play a live show. So just for three weeks we played the songs every day, about three sets every day. Then we were fucking ready to go into studio, then when we got here it was very natural and easy for us to play the songs how we wanted them to sound. We recorded live without click track, so it's a bit harder, you know, so we had to nail the songs. We did about two or three takes of each song and picked the best take, and then we just overdubbed vocals and guitar solos. Pretty much how you hear it is how we played it
Wax & Needle: And then what kept you motivated in the studio?
HVDW: Uhh, motivated? Ag, I was pretty chuffed with how quick everything came together so it was great to get an album out so quickly. I was more excited and curious to see what people thought of the band, 'cause you can see the band live and stuff but until you hear them online or whatever... it gives you a better idea. So it was just kind of that "I can't wait for people to hear this" kind of vibe.
DM: Excitement!
How was it working with Chris Van Der Walt [The Black Cat Bones, Boargazm, Vulvodynia] on the album?
HVDW: Cool, 'cause we're brothers, we've grown up and shared a lifetime's worth of inside jokes, or just... you could say one phrase and it describes a whole scenario 'cause you've made those connections while growing up together. We've played together in millions of bands so our language with music is exactly the same. If I say "oh, it must be this Vinnie Paul snare reverb" then he knows exactly what reference I'm making. The coolest thing with Chris is the quick reference with everything, I didn't have to explain, we sort of know exactly what wanted before he even heard it.
DM: And he's just a fucking legend as well, he just fucking knows.
HVDW: Ahhh, he's alright.
*everyone laughs*
What was the biggest thing you took away from working with him?
HVDW: ... the album! Basically.
*laughs*
DM: Awesome haha.
HVDW: Ja but you know, it's also cool to hang with your brother and make magic. So ja it was like family time and studio in one.
DM: Ah, I wish I was there.
W&N: Well, for the next one you will be.
DM: I hope so!
*laughter*
Dale, you joined Son of Hawk back in August and played your first show with them at Oppikoppi.
HVDW: No, no that's incorrect.
DM: When did I join?
HVDW: Ohhh, ja, this year, yes, sorry. So like July?
DM: Ja, it was maybe like a month before [Oppikoppi]. I was hanging out with you guys and we were partying and then you were like "ah ja, you're in the band".
HVDW: We were always in JBay, but Dale was in the band already.
DM: Ja, I nearly moved to JBay brah.
HVDW: And then we came back [to Pretoria] and it was like, cool now we're all here so let's do it. What happened was he walked in on a rehearsal at Wolmer and I just gave him my guitar and he checked out the songs and he nailed every fucking piece of music we did -
DM: Ja, I knew them from before.
HVDW: - so we were like, cool, now play the higher voice.
DM: Change it up, fuck yeah!
W&N: How are you finding fitting into the band dynamic?
DM: Great, jissie, I've been partying way more than I ever have... in my life. So, that way, ja, I'm loving it. And meeting new people is fucking great, like shit dude, I've not met so many people jamming in the metal scene, you know, it's very fucking close-knit kinda vibe, so now it's like, fucking... gooiing 'Koppi and lekker fucking shows, and people that are influential that you meet, and you're like Jesus, howzit?
HVDW: Like, "you're Dale, right?"
DM: Ja! Everyone knows me as a shredder and it doesn't make sense because I'm not a fucking shredder. Like where the fuck did they come from with that?
At the end of February, Ashley and Nathan were drafted by Jan Blohm as his permanent band. Their shoes are filled by Pieter Ganswyk Nel (bass) and Leigh van Biljon (drums) for shows while Ashley and Nathan are unavailable. How did you come across Pieter and Leigh, and what made you choose them as stand-ins?
HVDW: Dale, you've played with Pieter back in the day?
DM: Ja, dude, and you guys in the System [of a Down tribute] band.
HVDW: Yes, that was 2016, the first time I played with them. They used to play at my venue [Wolmer Bush Lounge, Pretoria] with Undertone and Killatoria, so I met Leigh at a gig at Wolmer and he said "hey man, I'm starting this System of a Down tribute band" and, long story short, we jammed together in that band for years. I just always loved them and Undertone and the System band, just loved jamming with them. They're cool dudes, you know. And ja, so, when I was up here I wanted to get some other people at first but they were also busy, so I asked Pieter and Leigh and the rest is history. They fit in really well as well.
DM: They jam, they check out, they do their homework, they know the songs and they fucking play.
HVDW: Ja, 'cause I've worked with them I know they're professional and they do their homework and stuff like that.
Of all the shows you've played so far this year, which has been the biggest standout?
HVDW: Um... Just one? Okay... Three come to mind but... I think my favourite one was Craft Exchange [Pretoria] recently. It was the first time Ashley and Nathan played with us again since like, end of August or beginning of September or something.
DM: And the full album.
HVDW: Ja, we played the whole album in it's entirety as well, and I felt way more confident with my vocals at that time, I felt I had a good show there, and the people... It was packed and people were loving it. It's just good to have those shows. It was a standard show, but it was just, you know, it ticked all the boxes.
DM: I wish we could play those hour-long shows every fucking show, honestly.
W&N: And you, Dale? What was your favourite show so far?
DM: I really did enjoy the Craft Exchange but, dude, Oppikoppi. That first show, it was mindblowing.
HVDW: Ja and people got wrecked.
DM: Yes, ja, there was like lekker fuck-ups there in the middle of the crowd. I loved it. That was by far my highlight, definitely. First show.
As 2018 draws to a close, what do you have planned for the new year?
HVDW: Way more tours, way more than we did this year. Touring like when we just started. Promoting the album we have but also, in the meanwhile, finishing up the writing of the new album, then hopefully around the middle or end of the year we'll have that recorded and released. And content as well, music videos, festivals... if they'll have us.
DM: And a photoshoot hey, maybe sometime.
HVDW: Ja... I'm focusing on the music for now.
W&N: You'll just have to Photoshop Dale into the other ones.
HVDW: People aren't going to stare at your photo for an hour, they're gonna listen to your album.
DM: Ja, exactly, that's all that matters.
And now for the Wax & Needle question: If you were stuck on a desert island, what album would you want to have with you?
DM: Oh my god...
HVDW: Pantera Official Live: 101 Proof.
DM: Ja dude.
HVDW: It gets me pumped and motivated. It's got so much attitude in it and that's all you need. I wouldn't listen to something that's meaningful or like, spiritual or something, I'd need something to keep me the fuck alive.
DM: That's brutal. Oh, fuck...
HVDW: Take all the time you need. Just today at least, not the one that sums up your whole life. If you were on an island now.
DM: Probably a Tool album... like, 10,000 Days. Ja. I think I would hate to be without that, honestly. There's so many though... but if I had to choose one, ja, probably 10,000 Days. I'd get sick of metal eventually.
*laughter*
HVDW: And ja 'cause you can listen to it for ten thousand days.
DM: Exactly, it just never gets old.
HVDW: It's been more than ten thousand days since Tool released an album, did you know that?
DM: Ja, that's mal kak dude. But, hopefully soon.
Check out Son of Hawk on Bandcamp
Responses slightly edited for clarity.
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| Son of Hawk L-R: Dale McHardy and Heine Van Der Walt |
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| Son of Hawk [post-show at Craft Exchange] L-R: Ashley Hilton Jacobs, Nathan Combrinck, Heine Van Der Walt and Dale McHardy |
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| Son of Hawk [post-show at Rumours Rock City] L-R: Leigh Van Biljon, Heine Van Der Walt, Pieter Ganswyk Nel and Dale McHardy |
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