“I’ve always been fascinated by space, astronomy and exploring,” says Shawn. “I was thinking of a cosmonaut and his girl. They rarely get to see each other. I relate to that because I’m never in one place for too long.”

It might have taken this Canadian a few years of searching for his perfect sound, but with the help of Jon Levine, it looks as though Shawn Hook has found his niche. Cosmonaut and The Girl features the smash single, “Every Red Light,” that has put him on the map.

 “Doing this record,” reflects Shawn, “I realize that it’s so important not to settle for anything. Back in the day, I was writing songs just to get them done. This experience taught me to not stop working on a song until it’s right. You feel that in your gut. You just know.

“It’s like it says in the song ‘Middle Finger;’ I feel like I’ve given in myself in the past, where people have had an influence on me and I finally went, ‘No. I don’t have to do it your way. I don’t have to give in. I have a vision and I’m going to do it my way.’ That’s what Cosmonaut is. It’s my way of exploring without ever having gone to space. It’s risky, but it’s something I have to do while I’m still young. I can always go back to just me behind a piano or guitar. But right now, this is fun and everything I envisioned for myself.”

It’s this can-do attitude that has kept Shawn on the path of music since he was just four years old. With two independently recorded albums under his belt already, as well as his own registered charity, Live To Give, it’s no surprise that Shawn Hook is January’s Breakthrough Artist of the Month!