Unlocked: Heyward Howkins’ Be Frank, Furness as a work in progress

We mentioned in our Monday installment of Unlocked that Philadelphia songwriter Heyward Howkins has been very open about giving the public a window into his process. This includes his appearances on a couple local video series of note: the Kettle Pot Tracks On The Hill showcase and his most recent spotlight for Bands In the Backyard.

In both, he premiered works-in-progress from his new album, which we’ve been featuring all week on Unlocked. For Michael Batchelor at Kettle Pot Tracks, recorded in early 2013, he played the title track “Be Frank, Furness” and “Flimsy Stick,” and talked about the songs and his process. “I think it is really nice to have a relic of these tunes in their native state—the way I wrote them,” he told Batchelor.

For Kyle Costill and Dave Kain at BITBY, recorded in late 2012, he played “Pundit” and “Nogales,” and foreshadowed the fleshed out, full-band direction of the new album. “It’s a little more to fun not to worry about fingerpicking so much, and having something people can tap their toes to,” he told Costill. “I’ve learned that it can’t hurt to have a little bit of a beat.”

Check out these windows into Howkins’ songwriting and creative process below.

Heyward Howkins – Be Frank Furness from Jason Stewart on Vimeo.

Heyward Howkins – Flimsy Stock from Jason Stewart on Vimeo.

Be Frank, Furness is the featured album in this week’s edition of Unlocked. Get a download of “Praline Country” in Monday’s post, read Tuesday’s album review, and check back tomorrow for and interview and Friday for more from Howkins’ album release show.