Wildcat Hawkins rehashes expectations with single & video for "Don’t Mind the Sellout Train"
Wildcat Hawkins isn’t here to follow the rules. With a title as explosive as Don’t Mind the Sellout Train When I Dynamite the Tracks, the 2024 single from the boundary-pushing artist is anything but conventional. Stripped down yet deeply evocative, the piece is pure, unfiltered piano improvisation—lush, expressive, and brimming with emotion. It’s not just a song; it’s an experience that unfolds moment by moment, as unpredictable and mesmerizing as the rainstorm that set the scene for its accompanying music video.
Hawkins’ touch on the keys is fluid, intuitive, and unrestricted by structure. The improvisational nature of the piece allows it to breathe freely, moving through delicate, whispering passages before expanding into rich, cascading waves of sound. There’s no clear melody to latch onto—just a constant evolution of notes that rise and fall like an intimate conversation between the artist and the instrument.
But while the composition itself is spellbinding, it’s the way Hawkins brings it to life through movement that truly sets this project apart.
In our recent interview, Hawkins shared the story behind the music video—a raw, improvised dance performance filmed under a bridge in Minnesota, seeking shelter from an unexpected downpour. There’s something poetic about the setting: the quiet isolation, the echo of raindrops against concrete, the natural rhythm of the world merging with the spontaneous energy of the piece.
As the music swells, Hawkins allows his body to become an extension of the piano, translating every note into movement. His dancing isn’t choreographed; it’s purely instinctual, a visual representation of the emotions embedded in the song. Watching him flow through the space—leaping, spinning, and grounding himself within the music’s embrace—it becomes clear that this isn’t just about sound. It’s about feeling.
With Don’t Mind the Sellout Train When I Dynamite the Tracks, Hawkins challenges the idea of what a “single” can be. There’s no conventional hook, no verse-chorus structure, no clear endpoint—just a continuous, deeply personal expression of art in its rawest form. It’s a bold move in a world dominated by polished production and radio-ready formulas, but it’s exactly this authenticity that makes the project shine.
It’s rare to see an artist who can merge music and movement so seamlessly, allowing them to exist as two halves of the same whole. But for Hawkins, it’s second nature. Don’t Mind the Sellout Train isn’t just a song you listen to—it’s something you witness, something you feel deep in your bones. And in a world where true originality is hard to come by, that’s a feat worth celebrating.
Enjoy our conversation, but don’t miss out on the single and video either!
Listen to “Don’t Mind The Sellout Train When I Dynamite The Tracks”
Like what you read? Follow our social media and playlist for the latest in independent music: