Whitehawk Further Elevates Columbus

I respect people who carve out their own creative corners of the world, especially in the South. It can be tough and lonely, though, and it requires a real commitment to place, as well as a willingness to advocate for that place broadly. In Columbus, Mississippi, you’ll find a group of folks doing just that – creating on their own terms in their hometown, while also inviting people to experience it firsthand.

So, who are the creative drivers in and advocates for Columbus? Well, I think all signs point to Hartle Road, a group of pop adventurers who’ve toured the country, worked with K Records, and received praise from music nerds far and wide. Yet, regardless of their reach, they remain rooted in Columbus because founding members Toby and Max Hartleroad want to pour back into their city.

When they’re not on the road, they’re often bringing artists to town to play shows or record albums in their house (aka “Nü Haus”). It’s a creative nerve center of sorts, where you can see emerging southern indie acts perform or maybe catch Beat Happening’s Calvin Johnson recording a single, if you’re lucky.

The latest project to emerge from Nü Haus is Whitehawk, which features Max alongside collaborators Jenny Leblanc and Alex Hawkins. Engineered and produced by Hartle Road’s Miles Jordan, their debut album will drop in May via Sip Records, and, today, they’re giving folks a small taste of what’s to come with the single, “December Song.”

It’s a lengthy digital pop dirge that lands somewhere between Antena and Broadcast. It carries a faraway yet intimate feeling, like something that could’ve emerged from the U.K. decades ago. But, don’t mix it up, it came from Columbus — alongside plenty of other interesting stuff. Listen below.