Fellow JamWavers - I just posted the studio recording of "On My Mind". I've had the live version on JamWave for a few months now, and have recieved lots of great response/feedback on it (which I really appreciate). So I hope that you all like the studio version as much as the live version. :) Check it out when you get the chance. Thanks everybody. Keep jamming. -Ben Hawkes

I recently posted rough drafts of four new songs.... Check em out when you have a chance.... They are as follows: "Lazy Love" "Sad World" "Traveled This Road" and "Yours, Truly"... Have a listen and let me know what you think. I appreciate it. -Ben Hawkes

I just added my new song "On My Mind".... It's a live recording from Super Saturday 2007 @ the Evergreen State College. The recording quality isn't the best... but you can get the idea of the song. It's a little bit different from the majority of my work. Let me know what you think... I would appreciate it A LOT!! Thanks and enjoy! -Ben

Here's some quick thoughts and brief backgrounds on my original songs.... just thought you might enjoy getting a deeper look into my songwriting. Enjoy!! - Ben --------- "High On Your Smile" - This song took about two years to write. I wrote the music two summers ago, and then the words came last year, and then I finished it by writing the bridge in the studio. It took a long time, but it's one of my favorites. --------- "Point Of View" - This song was co-written with my good friend, Jesse Chieffo. To me, this song embodies the phrase, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." A lot of times, all we have to do is change how we look at things, and then everything looks a whole lot better. --------- "Shorthand" - Though this song isn't about any one girl in particular, I see it more as an example of the good things in past relationships I've had, AND what I would want in the ideal relationship. That feeling where it's just understood that you're in love, and nothing has to be said to confirm it. --------- "Listenin' and Whistlin'" - This song was my way of realizing the two sides of music, and life in general. The yin and yang: You must listen first, and then participate. Every good musician knows that the most important part of playing is listening. -------- "It's Your Kiss" - I had set out to write a jazz ballad, and this was the result. This is one of my favorite originals.... it's one of the most delicate and touching things I've written. It is the perfect heartache/breakup song. I actually found it to comfort me as I wrote it. -------- "A Song For Samantha" - I wrote this song when I was in high school. I worked at a daycare for nearly three years, and while I was there I met a little girl named Samantha. And when Samantha was about 10 months old, her mother passed away from cancer. I felt awful, and though I didn't know the family too well, I felt like I should do something for them. "A Song For Samantha" was the result. -------- "Unplug Me" - This song is my plea to escape our technology-immersed world. I was tired of all the hype and energy going into iPods, cell phones, and computers. I just wanted to take a break from the computer screen, and go camping and play some acoustic guitar in the woods.

I just want to thank JamWave for making me their Featured Artist!! I appreciate everyone's support, kind words, and help getting my music exposed. Good luck to all of you JamWave musicians in your musical endeavors!! Keep checking back... updates coming soon!