David Hopkins (musician)

David Hopkins
Birth name David Hopkins
Origin Dublin, Ireland
Genres folk rock, alternative rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, acoustic guitar, guitar, piano, keyboard
Years active 2001-present
Labels Reekus Records (IRL)
Associated acts LiR, Bombay Heavy

David Hopkins is a singer-songwriter, originally from Dublin, Ireland and currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. He is also the singer for the group Bombay Heavy and was the original keyboardist for Irish alternative rock group LiR.[1]

LiR (1990s-2001)

Hopkins launched his music career playing keyboard in the Dublin rock band LiR.[2] The group signed to What Are Records and released Magico, Magico, which went to #1 on the alternative album charts and scored a top 10 hit, "In A Day," penned by Hopkins. They toured the US twelve times while Hopkins was with them, including touring with The Who. They also opened for other rock icons including U2, Ray Charles, Iggy Pop, etc. LiR are also the subject of the documentary Good Cake Bad Cake: The Story of LiR.[3]

Solo Career (2001-present)

In 2001, while touring in the US with LiR, Hopkins left the band and stayed in the US.[2] After a move to San Francisco, Hopkins toured with The Who, playing keyboards on the 2001 Quadrophenia Tour.

Hopkins then released the full-length album Here Comes The Bright Light, which Dublin Event Guide dubbed "a classic." Later he signed with independent label Reekus Records, with whom he released Amber and Green (2005)[4] and the single "Merry Christmas My Love".[5] The title track for Amber and Green can be heard on the soundtrack for Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj,[6] and reached the Irish top 40 charts as did "Merry Christmas My Love".

In 2007 Hopkins released the album Running with Knives. The album is featured in the soundtrack to Paris Hilton's 2008 movie The Hottie and the Nottie featuring Joel Moore. In 2009 Hopkins released the album There Are Debts.

Hopkins' songs found a larger audience through wide-release motion pictures such as Paris Hilton's The Hottie and the Nottie, Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj, Speed Dating, and The Year of Getting to Know Us, starring Jimmy Fallon, Lucy Liu and Sharon Stone. Tracks from this era can also be heard throughout MTV's The Real World: Austin and Missing.[7]

Hopkins has performed his solo material with David Gray, Dan Reynolds (of Imagine Dragons), Matt Nathanson, Damien Rice, The Frames, Lindsey Stirling, Teitur, Jeff Buckley, Sinéad O'Connor, Bell X1 among others. Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons cites the Hopkins song "Jackson" as "an early and lasting influence" on BYUtv's Audio-Files.[8]

Bombay Heavy (2014-present)

Using the nom de plume "Barnabus Wu" Hopkins is the frontman for Bombay Heavy. The group's debut EP features Dave Keuning and Mark Stoermer of The Killers.[9]

Other contributions

Discography

Albums

EPs

Soundtracks

Other

References

  1. ↑ http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/ae/music/2015/jan/22/next-wave-vegas-music-10-acts-local-band-hear-year/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Udell, Phil (19 September 2005). "Swan song". Hot Press. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  3. ↑ David Hopkins at the Internet Movie Database
  4. ↑ Guerin, Harry. "David Hopkins — Amber and Green". RTÉ. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  5. ↑ Cummins, Steve. "Review — Amber and Green". Hot Press. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  6. ↑ "Overview — National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj Soundtrack". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  7. ↑ http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/indie_spotlight_david_hopkins
  8. ↑ http://www.byutv.org/watch/46c7d58c-fc1d-4a6d-a5e7-636c96b75b84/audio-files-imagine-dragons
  9. ↑ http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/ae/music/2015/jan/22/next-wave-vegas-music-10-acts-local-band-hear-year/
  10. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480271/soundtrack
  11. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0924134/soundtrack[]

External links