davidhopkinsmusic.com - David Hopkins Publicity: articles, reviews , Interviews and Press Kit

12.25.05 - Digi David Downloads
straight from the label
The first of many releases from Reekus in Digital Download format is now available from Reekus' online shop. Hopkins EP "Merry Christmas My Love" is available in the shop as a high bit rate MP3 and Windows Media Digital Download. It is also available in traditional mail order CD form too! They'll be adding more releases in download form over the coming months, including some old releases.

12.16.05
Mighty pleased to share the news... our very own David Hopkins' MERRY CHRISTMAS MY LOVE is #39 on the Irish Charts! Let's keep it climbing... request it on all good Irish Radio and beyond.

-> visit david virtually -> MYSPACE

ENTERTAINMENT IE: WWW.
David Hopkins - Amber and Green
CD Review by Andrew Lynch - ****

The story of Dublin band Lir is all too familiar: lots of promise in the early 90s, a gruelling tour of America, disappointing record sales and an obscure break-up. Now, with the release of this solo album from their former keyboard player David Hopkins, we can see that behind the hype there was always a rock-solid talent. He's already attracting comparisons with Damien Rice, and the introspective mood occasionally conjures up the ghost of Nick Drake. But this isn't just another self-indulgent singer-songwriter exercise - instead Hopkins turns out a string of delightfully spiky pop sonwgs, tempering his natural melancholy with some addictive hooks and electronic textures.

The title suggests that he's fed up hanging around and is desperate to get his career moving again. If there's any justice, Amber and Green will do just that.

EDITOR REVIEW:MusicDownload.com -
Amber & Green
With a hint of sadness in his pure-sounding voice, San Francisco (by way of Dublin, Ireland) singer-songwriter David Hopkins has a style reminiscent of such greats as Van Morrison and Nick Drake. His effortless, easygoing melodies compliment the introspective lyrics, nicely balancing hope and melancholy.

Average listener rating - 4.5 out of 5 stars for Amber+Green. As of 9/19/05 - 7,336 downloads.
****+

09.15.05
IRISH EVENING HERALD
CHILD OF LIR BECOMES MASTER OF HIS OWN DESTINY
by Eamon Carr

With [Amber & Green} one of the more impressive Irish albums of the year to his credit, you'd think David Hopkins would be happy. But back in Ireland from his home in the States, he has a problem. People see him as a solo artist and have even begun to suggest he'll give Damien Rice a run for his singer-songwriter melancholy. "I don't come from that background," he stresses. "I got a guitar because I didn't want to lug keyboards around anymore. When I write a song, I think of a whole band. I much prefer that sound. I'm into Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin."

09.15.05
RTE.i e
David Hopkins - Amber & Green
Reekus - 2005 - 47 minutes
***
"At his best when he's adventurous with his sound."

There's a theory about recording albums which says that artists should always play back their work on the cheapest equipment imaginable - if it still sounds good, they're doing well. Not even a soon-to-expire walkman can take away from some of the moments on Hopkins' full-length debut.

"...when the songs are as strong as many of these, you can always find room for them."

09.02.05

"We here at The Event Guide love this record." - IE Event Guide

The latest press on the man who's always on the run. -> THE IE EVENT GUIDE

"'Amber and Green', a record full of beautiful musical arrangements and highly contagious melodies, all underpinning his deeply personal bitter/sweet lyrics..."

09.12.05
HOPKINS A HIT AT HOME
David's Back from Ireland after a month long stint promoting the Debut Irish Album.

Here's a quick synopsis of the trip:
David Plays at Tower Records to Launch the record, followed by shows at the Ruby Sessions, The Olympia, the Sugar Club, DeBarra's, the Strawberry Alarm.

-> David Debut's the brand new stunner, "Meet me in the Morning" on the John Creedon Show on Radio 1.
-> David gets "Album of the Week" by 2fm's most popular DJ, Larry Gogan. Larry played 2 tracks from Amber & Green every day for last week.
-> FM104's Strawberry Alarm Show will Feature David's Live Performance THIS THURSDAY SEPT 15th, not last Thursday as previously mentioned. [tune in and listen online!]
-> Hotpress, Ireland's Premier Music Mag is loving Amber & Green. This issue: an interview with David, also a live review of David at the prestigious Olympia Theater. "Supporting Amber & Green, his brilliant debut, David Hopkins excels live".
-> Last week in Hotpress, a 7 Star review!!
-> The Sunday Tribune describe David as "An Amazing Songwriter" in this weeks issue
->The Dublin Event Guide had this to say
"'Amber and Green', a record full of beautiful musical arrangements and highly contagious melodies, all underpinning his deeply personal bitter/sweet lyrics..."
-> "We here at The Event Guide love this record."
-> Irishabroad magazing describe David's album thus"Amber and Green is full of great songs that deserve to be heard"
-> David gets Album of the Week on Roddy Cleere's show on WLRFM last week.
-> David was featured with a 2 page spread last month in The Sunday Times, in both England & Ireland.
-> Ireland's Business post and The Independent also featured David this month.
-> Look out for a Feature in The Evening Herald for an Interview with Eamonn Carr, Ireland's most respected Music Journalist

08.10.05
www.ireland.com - TheTicket
The Irish Times weekly guide to entertainment
Amber & Green - The RECORD ****

DAVID HOPKINS

Amber and Green Reekus Records
Like amber in the traffic light sequence, David Hopkins may urge caution where fools rush in, yet musically the one-time Lir keyboardist sounds anything but restrained. While these songs move with a trickling fatalism, watching perfectly unsurprised as relationships slide inexorably towards heartbreak (Somebody's Gonna Leave Somebody is a typical title), Hopkins's impressive sound is similarly wary of exclusive commitment. Through various styles, from country licks to jazzy turns and electronic textures, even his voice won't be tied down: a clenched sigh over the folk rock of You're Some Kind of Christian, a drifting Damien Rice on the unhurried title track, an accusatory Dylan in You've Got to Suffer. Often playing every instrument, Hopkins keeps the shape of his songs unpredictable yet his twists never become distracting, making Amber and Green both reassuringly familiar and consistently surprising.

Peter Crawley

JULY 22, 2005
The IrishMusic Show
wlrfm.com
Recommended Irish Album of the week (of July 22):
Amber and Green - David Hopkins

May 2005
DAVID HOPKINS - Amber & Green - The Single
"Intimate, Intelligent, Intoxicating"

Single of the Fortnight
"Sounding like Damien Rice in theme and vocal delivery, Hopkins elects to use more instruments (including Werlitzer and mellotron flute on 'Paranoid Song'), so the overall effect makes it stand apart from the trite stripped-down-acoustic-guitar schtick. Take it that it's another step up that evolutionary ladder; intelligent, intimate and intoxicating, close your eyes and you'll think you might be in Doyle's."

05.01.05
www.ireland.com - TheTicket
The Irish Times weekly guide to entertainment
Amber & Green - The single ***
"Hoppo used to be the keyboard player with Irish neo-prog rockers Lir - that must have been 15 years ago, so his debut solo EP is a bit overdue to say the least. Here are three charming, folksy ditties that should appeal to Damien Rice and Nick Drake fans. He definitely shouldn't wait another 15 years for the next one."

05.10.04
Ireland's Hayden gives the 'first cut' on David Hopkins upcoming album. And it's some Hot Press!
words by Jackie Hayden
Hot Press Magazine

Read the press clipping here ->

Hot Press, a subscription only Magazine/Zine, is Ireland's "most distinctive and indispensable publication" covering everything from current affairs, cinema, and sports to humour, books, fashion, politics, sex – and at it's core, of course - is MUSIC. Reviews, Interviews and more. You can subscribe to Hot Press HERE.

03.20.04
Concert Review - David Hopkins - Private Party ->
by Kyle Curry

Fighting off a hangover, on the back porch of a fan's house, to a crowd of no more than 30 people, David Hopkins taught me what music was all about. It wasn't about having the most talked about gig at Austin's South by Southwest festival that was going on that week. It wasn't about making the biggest impressions or getting the most media coverage. It wasn't even about making new fans, although that was an outcome. During that laid back and carefree set of music it was just about playing music (or listening) on a nice day because it is what you love, and sharing that experience with others. It was less about reciting anecdotes as it was about friendly reminiscing. It was less about hearing songs than being a part of something bigger than yourself. But the songs? The songs were fantastic… a mix of old and new and really new. Every song was great, but they somehow took a backseat to the experience. You see, it wasn't just a concert it was more like communication, a conversation between the audience and performer. For the first time, perhaps because of the size of the gathering or the casualness of the setting, I didn't just feel like a listener, I felt like part of the music creation process. One day not too far from now, when Hopkins is inevitably a household name, I won't look back on the concert and think of how it was the first time I had ever heard the sublime "Amber and Green." I won't recall how he nailed one of my favorite songs, "I Could Be." I'll look back fondly on the insights I gained into the musical experience and the fact that I was a part of it. I hope that one day, if you haven't already, you can share that feeling (and hopefully I'll be there sharing it too!)

-> be sure to check out & join Kyle's newsletter
for his insightful reviews and articles

03.12.04
"Here Comes the Bright Light is diverse and serves as an interesting precursor to Hopkins's next release, One Dark Morning."
-> www.popmatters.com

11.24.03
New "Here Comes the Bright Light" Review
at South of Mainstream - David gets reviewer 'Fin's' highest rating ever. -> www.southofmainstream.com

David Hopkins in Baby Sue - 5 STARS!!!
A Top pick!
BabySue Review - Here Comes the Bright Light
(CD, Modest, Soft pop)
by LMNOP@babysue.com

Amazingly effective pensive soft pop from Ireland's David Hopkins. Although he would be appropriately suited for the category of singer/songwriter...Hopkins hates the label because it "brings to mind wispy folksy troubadours and incense and hippies and stuff." The tunes on Here Comes the Bright Light are definitely not hippy music. Hopkins is a songwriter of the highest caliber...writing and creative music that comes from his heart... and then presenting it with precise skill and style. The first song to really catch our attention here is the brief yet utterly enchanting "Look At Me Mr. R." The tune features a beautifully absorbing melody, fantastic piano lines...and really shines a light on just how good Hopkins' voice is. Other standout cuts include "Why Are You Leaving Me Behind" (a beautiful piece centered around acoustic guitar), the Dumptruck-like "Don't Say Don't Stay," and the seemingly Donovan-inspired "The Spelling Song." In the world of soft pop music...David Hopkins is simply...one of the best. Excellent stuff.
(Rating: 5++)

This review of the "Here Comes the Bright Light" now appears on the babysue® and LMNOP® web sites in the September reviews section.
-> www.babysue.com
-> www.LMNOP.com

David Hopkins disguises his intentions well. Even the minor keys don't clue you in to the total nastiness of the lyrics. But after a couple of listens, lines start to jump out at you.

First just one or two, here and there:You know you always talk about yourself /I'd like to have the switch to turn you off /But just to see you fail would be enough. ("Look at Me Mr. R.")When the bottom comes /It's easy to be a believer ("I Could Be")"Some folk are truly evil..." ("Some Folk Are Truly Evil")

This record is a true exercise in cynicism, sarcasm and hurt. The melodies serve a purpose beyond disguise. You quickly find yourself singing along, and, once you really latch onto the lyrics, this becomes a perfect catharsis of the nastiness and hurt within you. Making this the most uplifting disc of depressing songs you can imagine.

"Here Comes the Bright Light is an Amazing Album. A classic. The archives can't have this, I'm taking this one home!"
- Dublin Event Guide 2002

San Francisco Bay Gaurdian
July, 5, 2000

David Hopkins
Over There Jean-Pierre
(Fuzzy Git Music)

What with "Pink Moon" becoming a mainstream TV advertising sound bed and Belle and Sebastian elevating dreamy wispiness to a turn-of-the-century art, the time is right for a full-fledged Nick Drake revival. And although hinting at an inclination to rock out, David Hopkins, transplanted to San Francisco from his native Dublin (where he was a member of the popular Irish band LiR), is just the singer-songwriter to head it up. The gentle, fatalistic-lullaby voice and the introspective bent of his lyrics qualify him for the job. He's making his five-song EP CD available for a nominal shipping fee, but it's a surprisingly rich listening experience, produced with a resilient bass at the bottom, overdubbed harmonies on top, and strings to accentuate the mandatory chamber-folk-rock feel. Just the reverberating death lesson, "Error," and the not quite predictable take on the clichéd crazy custodian, "John the Janitor," would make it a bargain at twice the price.