Scarborough, Ontario-raised Hewitt began playing various local low-key shows in 2002 before making a big impact onto the alternative indie music scene in Toronto. As the word on the streets spread about this new performer, media attention soon followed.

Hewitt, a vocalist who constructs his songs using electric piano and guitar, along with band arranger/guitarist Jones and drummer Aidan Campbell are the foundation of The National Strike. Hewitt's songs have a touch of rebellion and a heroic heart that is both adventurous and accessible. The band combine elements of psych rock, Avant-Soul, Afrobeat, Jazz and a passion for melody with a willingness to buck conventional wisdom in a pop idol obsessed industry.

They have shared the stage with artists that include Saul williams and The dears to name a few. Inspired, but not defined by progressive artists such as Can, Stereolab, The Beatles, and Donny Hathaway, Hewitt & The National Strike's songwriting is full of cinematic and sexual melodies, and driven epics that celebrate the bands' influences while thrusting to explode their sound to a massive scale.
I had the pleasure of having a phone interview with Shawn.

Tanya: Shawn tell me how the band got together?

Shawn: I started playing solo shows at the cameron house in 2001 and Iopened for a band that included Micheal Jones and he liked what i was doing, and said he would be into joining my musical quest.

Tanya: Nice, So when did you have your first gig as a band?

Shawn: It was in 2002 at sneaky dees and the pieces were put together from there.

Tanya: How did you get involved with this musical genre?

Shawn: I have always been a expressive, and very hyperactive and I needed a channel that could creatively fit my need. So Ifound it. I always loved to play the guitar and piano.

Tanya: I heared that you worked with one of Canada's legendary Rock producers on your ep?

Shawn: Yes we did....It was great to work with Ian Blurton.

Tanya: Nice....he has worked with many people???

Shawn: Yeah....like the weakerthans and c'mon.

Tanya: How long did it take to work on the ep?

Shawn: 9 days.....

Tanya: You have been on tour with k-os for a bit, how did you both meet?

Shawn: He contacted me in 2003 and said he liked what i was doing.

Tanya: Are there any other Toronto artists that you would love to work with?

Shawn: I would love to work with doc, broken social scene

Tanya: You just came back from Los Angeles (with graph nobel) what is the scene like versus Toronto (your first impression?)

Shawn: In Toronto the musicians are working class. Which is a good thing because it is very communal, everyone gets a chance by doing the local bar indie scene Yet, everyone is looking for the number one spot. In LA its more lifestyle driven. Its about making music for your convertible so you can look good. The west coast is carefree.

Tanya: So where in the city do you live now?

Shawn: Parkdale, its great there are alot of artists, My back bone is Scarbourgh.

Tanya: What is your family background?

Shawn: My mom is from Guyana and my dad is from Barbados and i am from scarbourgh.

Tanya: What are your pro's and con's of growing up in Scarbourgh?

Shawn: High school was a multi-cultural centre, there was and are alot of various cultures and influences, its a working class town with strip malls. There is someting special and romantic about it.

Tanya: What is the band doing now?

Shawn: We are getting ready to release our full length cd

Tanya: What have you been listening to musically?

Shawn: bob marley, fiona apple(new leaked album), madlib, the new broken social scene.

Tanya: What are the pro's and con's of the toronto music scene?

Shawn: pro-Its nice to see scenes pop up in all musical areas. con - i would love to see areas other than toronto or montreal to make some noise and have a scene...for example pickering or brampton.

Tanya: On your upcoming full length cd are there any guests that we should know about????

Shawn: Yes there are but...I can't reveal them yet?

To find out more about the band check out:
http://www.shawnhewitt.com
http://www.schmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/shawnhewitt