A BLAZE-ING START

Ethan Hawke, Charlie Sexton and SXSW co-founder Louis Black are launching a new boutique record label in Austin, SexHawkeBlack Records. The label will operate as an imprint of eOne’s Dualtone.

Erika Pinktipps has been named President of the label, which will focus on emerging artists working in Americana, country, folk, blues and rock music. Collaborative projects and reissues are part of the plan as well.

The first signing is singer/songwriter Ben Dickey, who portrays Blaze Foley in the indie film Blaze, which Hawke wrote, directed and starred in along with Sexton. (Black was an executive producer). His full-length debut, A Glimmer on the Outskirts, will be released in the spring.

“All of us at SexHawkeBlack feel like we struck it rich with the Dualtone partnership,” Hawke said. “From our first conversations, it was obvious we both had the same mission: to celebrate music at its best, and to seek out and champion unheralded artists at the top of their game.”

Dualtone CEO Scott Robinson said “We’ve been exploring an imprint scenario for years but couldn’t develop the right creative opportunity. SexHawkeBlack is the perfect team.”