The Hawk In Paris formed when three college friends reunited after ten years and explored sounds outside the realm of their day jobs. The group is made up of writer/lyricist Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay), producer/writer Matthew Bronlewee (Paul Van Dyke, Selena Gomez), and producer/writer Jeremy Bose (the Band Perry, Amy Grant, Sugar + the Hi-Lows).

This trio has created an electronically laced album influenced by 80s-synth and early 90s trip hop. Freaks draws from pioneers of electronic music such as Massive Attack, Kraftwerk, Portishead and finds inspiration in 80s-synth groups including Eurythmics and Depeche Mode. Modern day influences include M83, the Postal Service, and Gotye.