Laura Dawn
Encyclopedia
Laura Dawn is an American political activist and singer/songwriter
. She has been the Cultural Director for MoveOn.org since March 2004 and was named the organization's National Creative Director in 2007.
on Extasy International, an offshoot of Japanese label Extasy Records
created by X Japan
drummer Yoshiki. According to Laura Dawn's MySpace profile, the label folded while she was working on her second album, which was never completed. She was the featured vocalist on Moby
's platinum selling album Hotel
, and she toured the world with him for nine months in 2005.
Her current music project, "The Little Death", is a collaboration of original songs co-written and performed with Moby and musician/composer Daron Murphy
. The music is inspired by vintage blues, film noir and 1960s psychedelic rock.
In 2004, Laura co-conceived and co-created the Bush
in 30 Seconds Ad Contest, co-organized the online contest and national media campaign, and produced Bush in 30 Seconds LIVE. She has created national campaigns and organized artists, musicians, and filmmakers extensively for MoveOn and all MoveOn PAC projects, such as the Bake Sale for Democracy, the Fahrenheit 9/11
Campaign, the Virtual Garage Sale, the "50 Million Women Count" media campaign, the MoveOn CD with Barsuk Records, the Kerry
Kit, the Vote for Change Tour, and, most notably, the 10 Weeks: Don't Get Mad, Get Even! Ad Campaign and live event.
Laura has since spearheaded MoveOn's creative collaborations between the entertainment and political worlds, working with artists such as Oliver Stone, John Cusack, Doug Liman, Shepard Fairey, and, most recently, collaborating with actors Will Ferrell
, Jon Hamm, and Heather Graham
in support of the Public Health Insurance Option. She also co-produced (along with Shepard Fairey, OBEY Giant, and EMGPR) the Manifest Hope project, a series of galleries that united established visual artists with grassroots artists in support of the Obama presidential campaign.
Awarded the Paul Wellstone Citizen Leadership Award of 2004 for the 2004 Staff of MoveOn.org, Laura has 3 political ads in the Museum of the Moving Image, and again broke new ground this year by writing and producing the first wholly interactive GOTV video starring Olivia Wilde.
. "Winnie" was based in part on Laura's work as an activist and Mulligan shadowed Laura for a few months prior to filming.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. She has been the Cultural Director for MoveOn.org since March 2004 and was named the organization's National Creative Director in 2007.
Musical work
In 1999, Laura Dawn released her first album BelieverBeliever (Laura Dawn album)
Believer is a 1999 album by Laura Dawn. It was released by the now-defunct Extasy International Records, an offshoot of the Extasy Records label created by X Japan drummer Yoshiki, and distributed by Warner Bros.-Tracklist:#Free and Lonely Life 4:33...
on Extasy International, an offshoot of Japanese label Extasy Records
Extasy Records
Extasy Records is a Japanese record label founded in April 1986 by Yoshiki Hayashi, co-founder of the heavy metal band X Japan...
created by X Japan
X Japan
is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...
drummer Yoshiki. According to Laura Dawn's MySpace profile, the label folded while she was working on her second album, which was never completed. She was the featured vocalist on Moby
Moby
Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
's platinum selling album Hotel
Hotel (album)
Hotel is the seventh studio album by American electronica musician Moby, first released internationally on March 14, 2005 and then on March 22, 2005 in the United States. Hotel was recorded under the Pacha label and mixed at Moby's apartment, Electric Lady Studios, and Loho Studios in Manhattan,...
, and she toured the world with him for nine months in 2005.
Her current music project, "The Little Death", is a collaboration of original songs co-written and performed with Moby and musician/composer Daron Murphy
Daron Murphy
Daron Murphy is a film composer and musician, based in Brooklyn, NY.He composed musical scores for the feature length documentary films, and . In 2007 he scored the short film, , directed by Julia Stiles and starring Zooey Deschanel....
. The music is inspired by vintage blues, film noir and 1960s psychedelic rock.
MoveOn
Laura Dawn produces all of MoveOn's media and serves as Creative Director of MoveOn National Media Strategies. She directs an in-house creative agency and production company for all MoveOn Media.In 2004, Laura co-conceived and co-created the Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in 30 Seconds Ad Contest, co-organized the online contest and national media campaign, and produced Bush in 30 Seconds LIVE. She has created national campaigns and organized artists, musicians, and filmmakers extensively for MoveOn and all MoveOn PAC projects, such as the Bake Sale for Democracy, the Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11 is a 2004 documentary film by American filmmaker and political commentator Michael Moore. The film takes a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush, the War on Terror, and its coverage in the news media...
Campaign, the Virtual Garage Sale, the "50 Million Women Count" media campaign, the MoveOn CD with Barsuk Records, the Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
Kit, the Vote for Change Tour, and, most notably, the 10 Weeks: Don't Get Mad, Get Even! Ad Campaign and live event.
Laura has since spearheaded MoveOn's creative collaborations between the entertainment and political worlds, working with artists such as Oliver Stone, John Cusack, Doug Liman, Shepard Fairey, and, most recently, collaborating with actors Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell
John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
, Jon Hamm, and Heather Graham
Heather Graham
Heather Joan Graham is an American actress. She has appeared in such films as Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Lost in Space, Bowfinger, From Hell, Anger Management, and The Hangover...
in support of the Public Health Insurance Option. She also co-produced (along with Shepard Fairey, OBEY Giant, and EMGPR) the Manifest Hope project, a series of galleries that united established visual artists with grassroots artists in support of the Obama presidential campaign.
Awarded the Paul Wellstone Citizen Leadership Award of 2004 for the 2004 Staff of MoveOn.org, Laura has 3 political ads in the Museum of the Moving Image, and again broke new ground this year by writing and producing the first wholly interactive GOTV video starring Olivia Wilde.
Hurricane Katrina
In 2005, Laura compiled and edited the book It Takes a Nation: How Strangers Became Family in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina, the story of MoveOn.org Civic Action's Hurricane Housing program, featuring a foreword by Barack Obama. Using the innovative online organizing techniques that MoveOn.org is famous for, MoveOn Civic Action members housed over 30,000 evacuees in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.Film
In 2008, Laura produced the documentary feature film "The End of America", the film version of Naomi Wolf's best-selling book of the same title. In 2009, Laura was featured in the documentary "MoveOn: The Movie", a film that charted the growth and influence of MoveOn.org from 1998 to 2008. In 2010, Laura made her acting debut in Oliver Stone's "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps" as the co-worker of the character "Winnie", played by Carey MulliganCarey Mulligan
Carey Hannah Mulligan is an English actress. She made her film debut as Kitty Bennet in Pride & Prejudice . She had roles in numerous British programmes and, in 2007, made her Broadway debut in The Seagull to critical acclaim....
. "Winnie" was based in part on Laura's work as an activist and Mulligan shadowed Laura for a few months prior to filming.
External links
- Official Website
- "A simple, poetic indictment" Salon.com
- "MoveOn Works the Hollywood Spotlight to Amplify Its Voice" Common Dreams