Dawn Landes
Encyclopedia
Dawn Landes is a Louisville, Kentucky
-born, New York City
-based musician who performs under her own name. She is also a sometimes-member of the band Hem
, where she has lent her voice to harmony vocals, and plays glockenspiel
. She has worked as an audio engineer at Stratosphere Sound
in New York City and at Philip Glass
' own personal recording studio. She has shared the stage with artists such as Suzanne Vega
, Jose Gonzalez
, Feist, The Weakerthans
, Andrew Bird
, Midlake
, Alexi Murdoch
and many others.
As a solo artist, Landes has put out four records:
Having released Sweet Heart Rodeo in Europe in September 2009, Landes is actively touring to support its release. She has been enjoying much critical success and has done a variety of radio performance including NPR
's World Cafe
.
Landes is a member of all-girl trio The Bandana Splits
who are releasing their debut album August 16, 2011.
Landes was married to musician Josh Ritter.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
-born, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based musician who performs under her own name. She is also a sometimes-member of the band Hem
Hem (band)
Hem is an indie folk-rock band from New York City, United States. Band members include Sally Ellyson , Dan Messé , Gary Maurer , Steve Curtis , George Rush , Mark Brotter , Bob Hoffnar , and Heather Zimmerman .-Band history:In 1999,...
, where she has lent her voice to harmony vocals, and plays glockenspiel
Glockenspiel
A glockenspiel is a percussion instrument composed of a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano. In this way, it is similar to the xylophone; however, the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, and making it a metallophone...
. She has worked as an audio engineer at Stratosphere Sound
Stratosphere Sound
Stratosphere Sound is a recording studio located in New York City. Previously known as "The Place", the studio was renamed Stratosphere Sound in 1999....
in New York City and at Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
' own personal recording studio. She has shared the stage with artists such as Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"...
, Jose Gonzalez
José González
José González is a Swedish-Argentine indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from Gothenburg, Sweden.González is also a member of Swedish band Junip, along with Elias Araya and Tobias Winterkorn.- Biography :...
, Feist, The Weakerthans
The Weakerthans
The Weakerthans are a four-piece Canadian indie rock band.-History:The band was formed in 1997 in Winnipeg, Manitoba by John K. Samson, after he left the punk band Propagandhi to start a publishing company. Samson joined forces with bassist John P...
, Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.- Early life and the Bowl of Fire :...
, Midlake
Midlake
Midlake is an American rock band from Denton, Texas. The band first gained popularity in Europe, signing to Bella Union Records and playing at festivals such as Les Inrockuptibles, Wintercase, End Of The Road Festival and South by Southwest.-History:...
, Alexi Murdoch
Alexi Murdoch
Alexi Murdoch is a singer-songwriter born in London and raised in Scotland, Greece and France, now living in Berlin.- Background :Murdoch was born in London to a Greek father and Scottish-French mother and raised in Greece, just outside of Athens until he was ten, when his family moved to...
and many others.
As a solo artist, Landes has put out four records:
- Dawn's Music (self-released-US/Ocean Music-Europe) 2002
- two, three, four (Boy Scout recordings-UK) 2006
- Fireproof (Cooking VinylCooking VinylCooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
-US/Fargo Music-Europe) 2008 - Sweet Heart Rodeo (Cooking Vinyl) 2009
Having released Sweet Heart Rodeo in Europe in September 2009, Landes is actively touring to support its release. She has been enjoying much critical success and has done a variety of radio performance including NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's World Cafe
World Cafe
World Cafe is a two-hour long, nationally syndicated music radio program that originates from WXPN, a non-commercial station licensed to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The program began in 1991 and was originally distributed by Public Radio...
.
Landes is a member of all-girl trio The Bandana Splits
The Bandana Splits
The Bandana Splits are a pop-trio from New York City. The group is made up by Annie Nero, Dawn Landes, and Lauren Balthrop. In August 2011, the group released their first full-length album Mr. Sam Presents trough Boy Scout Recordings.-References:...
who are releasing their debut album August 16, 2011.
Landes was married to musician Josh Ritter.
Songs in Other Media
- Two of her songs, "Kissing Song" and "You Alone", are featured in the 2005 film Winter PassingWinter PassingWinter Passing is a 2005 American drama film. It is the directorial debut of playwright Adam Rapp, also known for his work on the show The L Word. The film stars Zooey Deschanel and Ed Harris, with supporting performances by Will Ferrell and Amelia Warner...
. "Kissing Song" was played during the ending credit. - She also contributed a song (Lullaby for Tony) for the closing credits of the 2008 film Savage GraceSavage GraceSavage Grace is a 2007 film directed by Tom Kalin and written by Howard Rodman, based on the book Savage Grace by Natalie Robins and Steven M.L. Aronson. The story is based on the dysfunctional, allegedly incestuous relationship between heiress and socialite Barbara Daly Baekeland and her son, Antony...
. - The song "Straight Lines" was used in an episode of the Showtime series United States of Tara. It was also used in a commercial for the Chrysler Town and Country.
- It was also used in a television advertisement for Transport for LondonTransport for LondonTransport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
in the UK. - "Straight Lines" was also used at the end of the documental "When Harry Left Hogwarts" released as special feature in the BluRay version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.
- The song "Drive" was used in the "Under My Skin" episode of the fifth season of the Fox series House, M.D.
- The hidden track "Won't Back Down," a cover of Tom PettyTom PettyThomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
, was used for a Human Rights CampaignHuman Rights CampaignThe Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
video supporting the repeal of Proposition 8California Proposition 8 (2008)Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
. - The track "Toy Piano" from the album Fireproof was used in an episode of CalifornicationCalifornication (TV series)Californication is an American comedy-drama that premiered on Showtime on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos. The protagonist, Hank Moody , is a troubled novelist whose move to California, coupled with his writer's block, complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend...
and Bored to Death. - The track "Twilight" from the album Fireproof was used as incidental music in an episode of Holby CityHolby CityHolby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
. - The track "Mud and Stars" was used in the fifth episode of the Australian mini-series Underbelly: A Tale of Two CitiesUnderbelly: A Tale of Two CitiesUnderbelly: A Tale of Two Cities is a 13-part Australian television mini-series loosely based on real events that stemmed from the marijuana trade centred around the New South Wales town of Griffith. The timeline of the series is the years between 1976 and 1987. Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities...
. - "All Dressed in White" was used in the series 4 premiere of SkinsSkins (TV series)Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
.