Based in Brunswick, Maine, Night Hawk is a band led by Colter Adams and Peyton Semjen who, together with a rotating cast of band members, aim to create a sound which evokes the Edward Hopper painting after which they are named. A blend of indie rock, bedroom pop and folk which conjures both loneliness and romance, as well as a nostalgic longing for times now passed. Recent singles have shown real diversity, from the commercial folk pop of ‘Dust’ to the contemplative melancholy of ‘Soir Bleu’, though latest track ‘Casual Fatality’ sees the outfit move towards a rougher, more playful sound.
The song was produced by Colin Miller, perhaps best known for his work on Wednesday’s I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone, and sees Night Hawk lean into the Hartzman/Lenderman spirit. Because ‘Casual Fatality’ swaps the wistful romance of past singles in favour of a VHS nostalgia, less inspired by Hopper as it is Maine’s own Stephen King. Adams and Semjen riff on Cujo for their very own killer dog tale: A monster canine is running wild, and only the resident babysitter stands between it and the neighbourhood children. What results is rough around the edges and heaps of fun, right down to the snarling sample from Lewis Teague’s movie adaptation.
‘Casual Fatality’ is out now and available from the usual places.