Of all the talent that represents the music of the gulf coast, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone more locally inspired than Hank Berumen. In fact, it’s exactly what he’s all about.
Magnolia Sunset is the name of the newest album from Hank officially dropping this fall, and it is specifically about the culture and beauty of our coast and the decades-long music career he has enjoyed here.
“It’s my history and my love of growing up here,” Hank said. “Whether you’re from Bay St. Louis or Pass Christian or Long Beach or Gulfport… all the way down to Gautier or Pascagoula, I didn’t leave anybody out.” Some of the songs are based on true stories, some are written and romanticized tales, but all tie back to the coastal theme and Hank’s blended acoustic-based sound. The title track “Magnolia Sunset” invokes the beautiful imagery of the sun descending beneath the coastal horizon as revelers enjoy some seafood or beverages at a waterside eatery or venture south to the islands. “The Last Call” references music venues, friends and musicians from days past, including some of the local music scene that helped Hank build his chops as a player. His acoustic guitar and voice make up the basis of the sound which is typically festive and melodic with storytelling and introspective lyrics throughout, and supporting instruments from other gulf coast and regional players kick the songs up with a full band energy.
“It’s beachy, it’s a little harder edge, it’s folky, it’s just about how we love being on the coast… I’m very blessed that these guys sound so good.”
The album’s theme is something that comes naturally for Hank after years of experience. He’s currently performing up to seven days a week including multiple shows a day, making him about as hard working as musicians come… though he wouldn’t call it hard work.
“I’m a musician in the trenches, I just play the guitar and try to do my thing.” He’s found that people relate to that thing, and his ability to find inspiration for his storytelling anytime and anywhere- in experiences, conversations, relationships with people, even the venues he frequents. He has a huge selection of cover tunes at his disposal, including hits and deep cuts, and he enjoys doing some live layering, sound experimentation and improv to suit the mood of the day.
“People ask me ‘what kind of music do you play?’ And I always ask them ‘What do you like?'” He’s got the skill to pull off a little bit of everything, but he really enjoys it when things get a little unpredictable. “I love putting that curve and that twist… there’s a look that people will give you (when) you snuck something in that they didn’t expect and were surprised by. How cool is that? That’s one of the things I love about live music.”
Magnolia Sunset is the latest of many Hank Berumen releases that can be sampled online, like his fun and bright fan favorite “Havana.” In addition to the live performances and commercial releases, he continues to find different outlets for his creativity- especially in ways that give him a chance to explore new ideas or make a positive difference. This includes projects such as his two orchestral concept albums Finale and Resurrection, which explore themes related to the Holocaust and the mysteries of the Catholic Rosary, respectively. Proceeds from both of these releases went to support relevant charities rather than to Hank himself.
The official album release party for Magnolia Sunset is set to take place October 7th at Ground Zero in Biloxi, with a private event scheduled prior to that. Hank will have physical copies available in addition to the digital release, and he loves to meet listeners in person. In the meantime, you can find him popping up regularly at spots like Shaggy’s in Pass Christian, The Scarlet Pearl, Logan’s and Mangiamo’s in Gulfport, The Crown Bar in Ocean Springs and more.
“They throw an old dog a bone and they let me work,” he humbly joked. But of course, he keeps getting invited back, and people keep coming. “We’re trying to keep music alive. We’re trying to make sure that coastal music… the gulf coast, which is our home and I love and has so much to offer… that’s what I want to keep alive.”
And so, Hank will keep on playing.
~Enjoy Local Music~
hankberumenmusic.com
Images provided by Hank Berumen
