Party of One

Released in late 2016 as a limited Record Store Day 12-inch, Party of One serves as a thematic bridge and a stylistic deep-dive following his Man About Town LP. The EP is structured as a three-song suite followed by their respective instrumentals, a format that highlights Hawthorne's dual identity as a singer-songwriter and a meticulous producer. Sonically, it leans heavily into the 'blue-eyed soul' tradition of the mid-70s, drawing comparisons to the smoother side of Hall & Oates or Bobby Caldwell, but filtered through a modern hip-hop sensibility regarding drum placement and low-end clarity. The project was praised for its cohesive mood, moving away from the more eclectic pop-leaning tendencies of his major-label work toward a unified, nocturnal R&B sound. It remains a fan favorite for its intimacy and its showcase of Hawthorne's signature falsetto in a more subdued, less theatrical context.