Aussie born Nathan Hawes has an infectious sound that gives off ocean vibes of his native land. Dubbed Ben Howard Jr. by none other than me, it's clear to see the influence that Howard and fellow Aussie Matt Corby have had on this youngster. Hawes, who could double as the brother of Cody Simpson, first got noticed in 2015 when he did a magnificent cover of Drake on the Australian version of The Voice, and shortly thereafter he found himself with a recording contract with the Australian arm of Universal. I Wasn't There, his first EP, had made landfall in the US, and slowly but surely people are starting to discover what this kid is all about. I expect fans of the singer-songwriter type to begin to take notice, and to crown Hawes as one of the best newcomers with an unbelievable amount of talent. If he is even half of what Ben Howard is, he will survive and advance. 

Posted 04/2016