We previously featured Trail Hawk for delivering a heartbreaking tribute to loss and addiction with The Place Called No Way Out, so when we found out that the pioneering artist was back with La La Land, we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
La La Land opens with a dimensional guitar soundscape, bold drums and astral twangs with the lyrics, “Cardboard box, old rusty pan, trash bags full of empty cans…”. We immediately connect with the concept of the song about a homeless man surrounded by dopeheads, chasing the dragon, living for the day through notions of escapism, no matter the cost.
We appreciate the intentional depth and the emotive blues-rock arrangement. The title itself carries a rather profound meaning. As Trail Hawk explains, we are all living in our own little version of La La Land. We are caught up in our routines, chasing money, substances, security, trying to keep our heads above water. Meanwhile, homelessness and addiction continue all around us. We love the perspective here because it asks us to look a little closer, and recognise that being busy with our own lives doesn’t make the suffering of others any less real. We love the poetic prowess and Trail Hawk‘s intentional brand of storytelling.
The guitar work is transcendental and exemplifies the notions of getting high and escapism at the same time as inviting us into a more introspective place. It’s like Phil Collins‘ Another Day In Paradise, through a contemporary lens.
We learn that there is a deeply personal connection behind this storytelling. Based in Frankfort, Kentucky, Trail Hawk is a recovering alcoholic and addict who has experienced homelessness firsthand. His music comes from a place of lived experience.
Recorded in his home studio, La La Land is part of an original EP also arriving today. We can imagine this being featured in a film like The Soloist, The Pursuit of Happyness, Nomadland, The Florida Project, Beautiful Boy and Sound of Metal, or a series like Shameless, Maid, The Wire, Euphoria or Dopesick.
The influence of Michael Jackson‘s Man in the Mirror is particularly fitting, with its reminder that awareness and change have to begin somewhere close to home, we can also hear shades of Aerosmith come to life with the track.
With five songs reaching the Hypeddit Top 100 in recent months, including One Hundred Angels reaching number four on the Gospel Chart, Trail Hawk is definitely on a roll. With four further releases planned for early 2027, we’re looking forward to hearing where this journey takes him next. In the meantime, we have added La La Land to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist.