British singer/songwriter Richard Hawley has signed a worldwide recording deal with EMI imprint Mute. The former Pulp guitarist and Longpigs member’s album “Cole’s Corner” will be released in September.
Hawley will support the release with live dates. The first, as a special guest to Nancy Sinatra on her forthcoming European tour, begins April 11 at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall. Sinatra invited Hawley on tour after he and Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker produced two songs on her self-titled 2004 album, issued via Sanctuary’s Attack label.
Hawley will also support R.E.M. for sold-out U.K. dates June 14 at the Glasgow Green Big Top and June 15 in his hometown of Sheffield.
Hawley’s earlier recordings were issued in Britain through Setanta Records. His critically lauded eponymous debut mini-album was released in 2001, and followed in the same year by full-length “Late Night Final.” His most recent album, “Lowedges,” came in 2003.