30 Years Later, Sophie B. Hawkins Reinvents WHALER With Raw, Intimate Power

Sophie B. Hawkins is back, and she’s reminding the world why she’s been a force of nature since the ’90s. Thirty years after WHALER made waves with anthems like “As I Lay Me Down” and “Right Beside You,” Hawkins is cracking open the time capsule with WHALER – RE-EMERGING—a reimagined, rawer take on the album that helped define her career.

And let me tell you, it’s not just nostalgia—it’s Sophie at her most alive.

Where the original Whaler leaned into glossy ’90s production, the new recordings strip everything down to the essentials. Recorded in just two days with producer Andrew Oedel, these versions put Hawkins’ voice front and center, and it’s stunning in its unfiltered honesty. No pitch correction, no studio trickery—just Sophie being Sophie, which turns out to be even more powerful than we remembered.

The acoustic rework of “Right Beside You” is the perfect example. Once a shimmering, club-ready hit (and let’s not forget that iconic horseback-on-the-beach music video), it now lands like a whispered confession—tender, aching, and more emotionally piercing than ever. You can practically feel the salt air and the heartbreak in her delivery. Meanwhile, “As I Lay Me Down” still carries the lullaby-like magic that made it a chart-topping favorite, but with an added sense of intimacy that makes it feel like she’s singing it just for you.

What’s wild is that these aren’t just museum pieces dusted off for an anniversary. Hawkins breathes so much new life into them that WHALER – RE-EMERGING feels like a brand-new album. Her voice—husky, soulful, and more seasoned now—wraps around the songs with a depth that only three decades of life and artistry could add.

And then there’s Sophie herself—ever fearless, ever evolving. From her platinum debut (Tongues and Tails) to her dance-pop resurgence with 2023’s Free Myself, she’s never been afraid to reinvent. This project isn’t just about looking back; it’s about showing how songs grow with you, shedding layers while picking up new meaning along the way.

Hawkins is also taking these songs on the road, with dates at the Saskatoon Jazz Festival, Seattle’s Triple Door, and a big Canadian tour lined up this fall. Seeing her deliver these reimagined classics live—raw, unpolished, and electric—is bound to be the kind of goosebump-inducing experience fans will be bragging about for years.

Bottom line: WHALER – RE-EMERGING isn’t a trip down memory lane. It’s a rebirth, a reminder that great songs never fade—they just evolve. Sophie B. Hawkins has given us the gift of rediscovery, and honestly, I’m not sure if I love these songs more now or thirty years ago. Either way, they’re right beside me.

Listen to the new album on Spotify here.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*