Avi Jacob

Hawk in the Nest

Independent

Born into a Jewish family in Boston, Massachusetts, Avi Jacob is the son of historian Robert Michael, a noted scholar of the Holocaust. Immersed in the city’s rich DIY folk scene, Avi began performing original concerts at the age of fourteen. His early years were shaped by involvement with The Whitehaus Family Record, through which he released several early recordings and began developing his craft as both songwriter and performer.

In 2013, Avi relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, to pursue a professional music career. There, he began performing at small festivals, gradually building a following through music blogs, local media, and compilation appearances. He later co-wrote “All The Liars,” performed by Diana DeMuth and released in 2020. His independently released 2024 single “Cannonball” gained traction on social media, drawing industry attention. By December 2025, Counting Crows had invited him to CMJ, calling him “an emerging folk superstar,” while A&R Report featured him as an artist to watch.

Avi’s 2025 album Preservation, released via Bandcamp, followed earlier successes including the Surrender EP — produced by Simone Felice, known for his work on The Lumineers’ Billboard #1 album Cleopatra — and featuring contributions from members of The Felice Brothers. In 2022, Avi earned a New England Music Award, cementing his reputation as one of the most promising voices in modern Americana.

Hawk in the Nest marks Avi Jacob’s new chapter — a full-band project that expands his folk and soul roots into rich, emotional soundscapes. The album was produced by Wolfgang Zimmerman, Avi Jacob, and Joel Hamilton, and engineered, mixed, and mastered by Zimmerman at The Space in Charleston, South Carolina.

The core lineup includes Avi on lead vocals, guitars, and mellotron; Noah Jones on keys and background vocals; Joel Hamilton on bass and background vocals; and Wolfgang Zimmerman on drums. Guest musicians include Michael Quinn on horns, Jonathan Lovett on keys, and Tim Khayat on bass.

The album opens with “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, a soulful plea set against warm horn arrangements from Michael Quinn and lush keys by Jonathan Lovett. Avi sings, “Tomorrow I’ll be all alone, listen girl you are my love, everything is better when you’re around… come on darlin’, don’t leave me this way.” His voice, raw yet tender, captures that perfect balance of heartbreak and hope.

“Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby” follows, a piano-driven ballad that brims with yearning as Avi belts, “I love you so, now I think of you… all that I can do is cry, the way you look at me.” Noah Jones’s piano adds a nostalgic shimmer, reminiscent of early Elton John filtered through Americana soul.

On “Crutch”, Avi pleads, “I tried and I tried to be more understanding… all I want to do is be a crutch for you.” His vulnerability feels both universal and deeply personal, echoed in “Naked,” where he chimes softly, “Naked in the moonlight,” creating a moment of intimate simplicity.

The title track, “Hawk in the Nest,” is a standout, merging poetic imagery with emotional depth. Avi moans, “I want to be a hawk in the nest, spend all day minding the nest… I just want to love you… I wouldn’t mind dying, oh darlin’, I got nothing left to say, I need your love, I just want you to call out my name.” It’s an exquisite blend of folk storytelling and gospel-like devotion.

On “Dayenu,” Avi draws on his Jewish heritage. The Hebrew word translates to “it would have been enough for us,” a phrase from the Passover Seder that signifies gratitude for each gift of life. Avi bursts with emotion, singing, “Darlin’, please don’t leave, Dayenu, I love you, I need you around me, Dayenu, just because I love you.” It’s deeply spiritual and profoundly human.

“Tears Like a River” flows with soulful melancholy as Avi cries, “I love your smile, beautiful eyes… oh, what can I say, what can I do? No matter how much I say, I just can’t get over you… tears like a river.” The song showcases his gift for blending folk confessionalism with the cadence of rhythm and blues.

The album closes with “Ex-Text,” where Avi croons, “Let me thank you, I don’t want your love… tell you what I don’t need lyin’ on the telephone.” It’s a quietly powerful ending — an acknowledgment of closure and emotional growth.

With Hawk in the Nest, Avi Jacob delivers an album that transcends genre — a seamless fusion of folk, Americana, and R&B sensibility. His lyrical honesty, warm instrumentation, and soulful voice make for a body of work that is both deeply intimate and universally resonant. This record confirms what many already know: Avi Jacob is one of the most compelling singer-songwriters of his generation, and Hawk in the Nest deserves the recognition it’s bound to receive.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor / Making A Scene

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