Singer-pianist Doug Hawk takes a laid-back approach on his new single "The Truth is Just a Lie," tapping into groove-oriented R&B while channeling his inner Stevie Wonder.

The resulting three-minutes-and-forty-six-seconds is a pleasurable, smooth, jazz-funk odyssey; horns croon amid cascading melodic keyboard accents.

"Why do the wicked seem to have control of every innocent dream? The nightmare of their minds infects our eternal Divine," Hawk ponders in the opening refrain.

There is a touch of Chicago and early Hall and Oates swirling just beneath the current here, which is no surprise considering the Easton resident also co-fronts Bethlehem's HMFO tribute band.

The song is a crisp and delightful sampling of what's to come on Hawk's next solo effort, Songs for Humans. Songs for Humans is set to be released Sept. 6 through Hawk's website and on Bandcamp.com.

You can listen to "The Truth is Just a Lie" on Hawk's Bandcamp page.

Catch Hawk in concert 5 p.m. Thursday at the Easton Public Market.