Sophie B. Hawkins is going it alone as she continues to pursue her career in music, but she's not lonely.
Instead, she is liberated, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter's independence is so important to her that she's willing to devote all of her energy and a good sum of money to creating freely and releasing her music through her Trumpet Swan imprint, rather than be held under the sway of a controlling label.
"I'm working harder than ever, and I've always worked hard" Hawkins said in a recent phone interview from Venice, Calif., where she lives. "But it's good work, though. And I have to tell you, I'm lucky to have the work."
Known best for the songs "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" from 1992's "Tongues and Tails" and "As I Lay Me Down" from 1994's "Whaler," Hawkins tours relentlessly to bring her music to the masses.
She will play Colonial Tavern on Lafayette Boulevard in Fredericksburg on Saturday, May 21.
"Each new tour represents a growth or a transformation, and the audience has a lot to do with that," Hawkins said.
Size and makeup of audiences vary depending on the season and the place where she's performing.
"I really have a diverse audience and kind of a unique thing going on," Hawkins said. "No one can point their finger and say 'She's a this' or 'She's a that.'"
She recently returned to the states after a three-week stint in Australia, where she was welcomed graciously.
"I just got more and more energy as the tour went on because they just appreciate music so much, and they just appreciate artists coming over there so much," Hawkins said.
She's currently gigging to promote her latest album, "Wilderness," which was released this time last year.
The album is a maze of layered arrangements bolstered by lyrics that call up contrasting images of the city and the natural world while exploring matters of the heart.
The notably diverse percussion on the album is a product of Hawkins' background of African drumming and jazz.
Musicians are supposed to tour on an album for two years, Hawkins said, but she's already itching to start something new. "I'm always writing and always recording," she said.
With her busy schedule, it's impossible to set aside a block of time to work on a project, but she has a wealth of old and new material to draw from when it's time to complete an album.
Since leaving Sony, her former label, and becoming an independent artist, Hawkins' method of writing and composing hasn't changed at all "because I never involved the record company in my creative process. And I'm lucky that way," she said.
Her fans admire her freedom and determination, and they can relate to Hawkins through the vulnerability that shows in her songs.
A quick read through comments posted to her Web site, sophiebhawkins .com, reveals just how much her "pioneer woman attitude" has made a difference in other people's lives.
"I think there's a lot of people who could be doing much more or exploring much more, and they just need to see someone do it," Hawkins said.
Hawkins' strength lies in the fact that she's so honest about her weaknesses. She embraces them, and she carries on in spite of them. She knows what she wants, and she knows she must trust herself in order to accomplish her goals.
She's not just out to prove herself as a musician, but also as a woman making her way through the world on her own.
"I'm so adamant that there doesn't have to be a daddy or a kind of male authority figure who I ultimately turn to and say 'What do you think?'" Hawkins said.
Sometimes it's hard to balance the demands of her work, but she's so passionate about making music that it's worth it for her to keep plowing ahead.
"I need to do my own thing," Hawkins said. "It's more important than success. It's more important than fame, than love, than anything. I need to do what I need to do."
To reach EMILY GILMORE: 540/374-5426 egilmore@freelancestar.com