Robin Hawkins
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rob Hawkins
| image = Barryfestival4theautomatic.jpg
| caption = Hawkins with The Automatic in 2009
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Robin Hawkins
| birth_place =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|2|11|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| instrument = Vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, flute
| genre = Indie rock, electro, pop punk
| years_active =
| label =
| associated_acts = The Automatic
| website = [http://milleniumhog.livejournal.com/ Robs livejournal]
}}
Robin Hawkins (born 11 February 1986) is a British musician, best known as a member of Welsh band The Automatic.
Personal life
Rob studied at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, completing his A-levels and going on to take a chance with The Automatic in his gap year. Originally Rob was more interested in playing flute, joining the Cardiff and Vale Youth Orchestra, however later, at the age of 12 after buying a bass from Automatic guitarist James Frost, he taught himself to play and eventually saved enough money to afford his Fender USA Jazz Bass.{{cite web |title= People ask me what it's like to have a famous son|work= icwales.icnetwork.co.uk (Interview with AnneMarie Hawkins, Robs Mum)|date= October 30, 2006|url= http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/tm_headline=-people-ask-me-what-it-s-like-to-have-a-famous-son-&method=full&objectid=18014802&siteid=50082-name_page.html|accessdate=2008-11-10}} Hawkins speaks Esperanto as a hobby.{{cite web |title= The Automatic's Rob Hawkins on learning Esperanto|website=Bbc.co.uk|date= August 23, 2011|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-14626876|accessdate=2011-08-24}} He graduated from Cardiff University with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science. His final year project was an investigation of musicality perception in an evolutionary context, the results of which were published in ICMC'14.{{cite web |title=μTunes: A Study of Musicality Perception in an Evolutionary Context|url=http://speech.di.uoa.gr/ICMC-SMC-2014/images/VOL_2/0935.pdf|format=PDF|website=Speech.di.uoa.gr}}
Musical career
Lead vocalist and bassist, Hawkins also has been seen playing a variety of other instruments for The Automatic, most notably the flute during the band's performances of Gold Digger and the synthesizer during performances of "This Is A Fix".{{cite news|first=Darren |last=Sadler |title=Automatic For The People! Brit Crusaders Steeled to Kick-start UK rock |url=http://www.rock-sound.co.uk/ |work=Rock Sound |date=2008-01-04 |accessdate=2008-06-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011114545/http://www.rock-sound.co.uk/ |archivedate=2008-10-11 }}
=Notable appearances=
On 9 January 2007, he and former band-mate Alex Pennie stood in for Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1, in a series of stand-ins whilst Zane Lowe was on holiday. The line-up also included fellow band on B-Unique Records, Kaiser Chiefs, as well as The View, Snow Patrol, and The Zutons.{{cite web |title= Bands stand in for Lowe on Radio 1|work= digitalspy.co.uk (Matt Houghton)|date= December 5, 2006|url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a40375/bands-stand-in-for-lowe-on-radio-1.html|accessdate=2008-06-10}}
=Equipment=
Rob predominantly uses a Fender USA Jazz Bass. He has used and purchased various bases, however prefers his Jazz bass to other models he has used.{{cite web|title=From the feature Automatic Success, Video interview with Robin Hawkins, the equipment Rob uses |work=Show Me How To Play |url=http://www.showmehowtoplay.com/video/automatic_success/? |accessdate=2008-06-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120083127/http://www.showmehowtoplay.com/video/automatic_success/ |archivedate=November 20, 2007 }}
- Ashdown bass amps
- Fender USA Jazz Bass
- Boss Bass Overdrive
- Boss Chromatic Tuner
- SansAmp Bass DI (x2)
- Dunlop .73mm Plectrums
- Musicman Stingray Electric Bass
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{The Automatic}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawkins, Robin}}
Category:Welsh bass guitarists
Category:The Automatic members