Since their debut release in the summer of 2004, BEC Recordings/Tooth&Nail band Hawk Nelson has been rallying fans with their fun-filled, energetic tunes. On April 1st, 2008, the Canadian foursome will release their third studio album with a tribute title to their fans Hawk Nelson is My Friend. The CD packaging will include a “board game” for their fans and the special edition CD/DVD will include a more elaborate game for all to enjoy.

The debut CHR and rock single, Friend Like That will be going for adds early January to kick off the 2008 year. In support of “Hawk Nelson is My Friend,” the band will hit the road starting February 28th, 2008 in Abilene, TX for the “Hawk Nelson Green T Tour”.

With their last two releases, the band has landed personal appearances on major television and motion picture projects, and gained high-profile song placement (Bring ‘Em Out) with NBC’s 2007 NFL Sunday Night Football campaign in addition to selling more than half-million units. It has been their success and media attention that has catapulted the band to the spotlight in the music realm; however, the band has remained grounded attributing any success to their dedicated friends a.k.a. fans.

“Going into this record, we sat down and thought about how we’ve always had this mentality of not so much winning fans as making friends,” says frontman Jason Dunn. “We want to be clear that we’re all about being on the same level as the audience.”

“The album title is also what’s printed across the front of our most popular tee shirt,” adds quintessentially friendly Hawk Nelson bass player Daniel Biro. “And there’s a little joke in there, because so many people still think ‘Hawk Nelson’ is some guy’s name.”

Hawk Nelson with Raine Maida

To be fair, that mix-up happens a lot less these days. In fact, the band’s good name helped recruit some cool new compadres for the recording of Hawk Nelson Is My Friend. For the first time, the guys worked with top producer David Bendeth at House of Loud (Elvis, Paramore, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus), tracking at his New Jersey studio. And in addition to writing with longtime friend Trevor McNevan from Thousand Foot Krutch, Dunn and Biro also met and wrote with 80s pop star-turned-hit songsmith Richard Marx (Right Here Waiting, Keith Urban), Our Lady Peace lead singer Raine Maida and his wife Chantel Kreviazuk (Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson), and Matthew Gerrard (High School Musical, Hannah Montana).

Hawk Nelson with Trevor McNeavan & J.R. McNeely at Elm Studios

In a raucously poetic sort of way, Hawk Nelson Is My Friend opens with Friend Like That, a pounding rocker with fuzzy, spiralling guitars and fist-pumping “Hey! Hey! Hey!” Ramones-like shouts. Seeking guidance and earthly alliance at the same time, the song declares:

I need somebody on the inside,
Somebody who can set me free…
Make some noise if you feel this way.
Anybody got a friend like that?

Dunn explains, “So many people are struggling today. Most of all they need a friend, and we believe everyone has a friend in Christ.”

YourMusicZone.com will bring you further updates as they become available.

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