Dawn Dineen: Multi-Instrumentalist, Recording Geek, Heart On Sleeve Wearer, Big Fan of Many Musicians.
I play guitar, bass and drums plus a bitty-bit of a few other instruments. I also play with recording in my writing adventures like in the song "Seance", over on the right there, which features audio from an analog cassette recording I made when I was 7 telling a story to my grandmother about a seance.
I have a small DIY recording space at an arts collective in NW DC, called Yarner Studio. I'm intrigued with audio recording and production and artists of all kinds that keep trying and pushing beyond what they already know.
*"The Ghostly Apple Tree" features Janel Leppin on cello.
"Ladybug" features John Smith on the insect-synth sound.
"The Ghostly Apple Tree" (2007), "Wound Check" (2003) and "A Thousand Yarns" (2001) are all available through iTunes and CD Baby!!
I have a new record in progress, release-date TBA.
Influences
Random music that infiltrates my DNA on a current or on-going basis: Dozens of artists in my local and personal circles and... Thomas Dolby, Tom Tom Club, Ida, Three Shades of Dirty, The The, Peter Murphy, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Steve Miller Band, Jenny Toomey, Yawning Man, Feist, Steve Tibbetts, Kaki King, März, Suzanne Vega, Poe, David Sylvian, Imogen Heap, Sarah Harmer, The B-52's, Soul Coughing, Death Cab For Cutie, Tanita Tikaram, Joni Mitchell, Talking Heads, The Smithereens, Hope For A Goldensummer, Peter Gabriel, Neil Young, Me'Shell NdegeOcello, Eurythmics, Fleetwood Mac, David Gray, The Beatles, Cloud Cult, Tortoise, Beekeeper, The Malarkies, Shay Lynch, Five Minutes Before The Leaves, New Roman Empire, Shudder To Think, Shadow Parade.
Sounds Like
The eclectic little sister of folk-rock with indie-pop cousins running around the house...
Here's what other ears have said over the years:
Margo Timmins / Cowboy Junkies
The Spinanes
Aimee Mann
Over The Rhine
Pat Benatar
The Beatles
"Sean or Julian Lennon but not John"
Neil Finn
Crowded House
The Breeders
Pedro the Lion
Ida
Ani DiFranco
Imogen Heap
Natalie Merchant
10,000 Maniacs
Helium
Stevie Nicks / Fleetwood Mac
Suzanne Vega
Björk
Pixies
Liz Phair
Squeeze
Chrissie Hynde / The Pretenders
Smashing Pumpkins
"a toned down Guano Apes"
The Cranberries
Dar Williams
Sarah McLachlan
Tori Amos
Tom Tom Club
Cat Power
Nirvana
Weezer
Mimi Parker / Low
M. Ward
P.J. Harvey
Matt Johnson
David Crosby
Jen Trynin
Jill Cunniff
Any solo shows of my music are posted above... These days I'm also having a blast playing guitar, cocktail drumset and singing backup in Alex Vallejo's DC-based acoustic-goth project In Heaven and You.
From October 2008 to August 2009 I played lead guitar, co-sang and contributed two songs to "Lost and Found and Lost", the newest CD by Baltimore indie pop band The Seldon Plan (I am not currently a member):
I'm making music on 3 upcoming record releases, more info TBA.
In Heaven and You 2009 (Duo) Schedule:
Jan 30 (Sat) - Goodbye Blue Monday - Brooklyn, NY w/B'Gosh & more
Dec 28 (Mon) - Joe Squared - Baltimore, MD w/A Cat Called Cricket!
Nov 13 (Fri) - GW University w/The Eubonics, Extra Medium & Bedouin!
Aug 30 (Sun) - The Red & The Black - DC
Aug 17 (Mon) - Galaxy Hut (w/Janel & Anthony) - Arlington, VA
July 18 (Sat) - Jumpin' Java - Charles Town, WV
July 17 (Fri) - The Bridge PAI - Charlottesville, VA
Jun 3 (Wed) - Asylum w/Beloved Binge & The Collaters
May 9 (Sat) - Velvet Lounge w/Ali Marcus, Adrienne Anemone & Able Birds
The Seldon Plan 2009 Schedule:
CANCELED - Sep 19 (Sat) - The Windup Space - Baltimore, MD
LAST SHOW - Aug 29 (Sat) - The Hexagon - Baltimore, MD
Aug 23 (Sun) - North Star Bar - Philadelphia, PA
Aug 22 (Sat) - PA's Lounge - Boston, MA
Aug 21 (Fri) - Goodbye Blue Monday - Brooklyn, NY
Aug 20 (Thu) - JD McGillicuddy's - Philadelphia, PA
Aug 19 (Wed) - Mojo 13 - Wilmington, DE
Aug 15 (Sat) - The Red & The Black - DC
Aug 8 (Sat) - Maxwell’s - Hoboken, NJ
Aug 4 (Tue) - Ottobar (w/The Octopus Project) - Baltimore, MD
CANCELED - Jul 30 (Thu) - Jammin Java - Vienna, VA
Jul 14 (Tue) - WTMD 89.7 FM - Towson, MD ("Baltimore Unsigned")
Jul 12 (Sun) - Waterfront Hotel - Baltimore, MD
Jul 11 (Sat) - Octoraro Hotel - Oxford, PA
Jul 10 (Fri) - IOTA - Arlington, VA
Jun 27 (Sat) - The Metro Gallery (CD Release) - Baltimore, MD
Jun 20 (Sat) - Sidebar - Baltimore, MD
Indie Spinzone - Expressive, powerful and emotive without all the hand waving diva crap we're subjected to by "stars". They should take a lesson from this woman, because on tracks like Ladybug the magnitude of her talent is laid out plainly to see, and it's quite something. This is not her first album, and that one apparently came out 6 years ago. If she's been honing her self since then all I can say is the razor is sharp.
Leonard's Lair - ...her singing style is effortless and relaxed, yet clear and resonant, a little like Luscious Jackson’s Jill Cunniff. ...On ‘Big Emotion’ her voice enters a natural huskiness that is most becoming, as a grungy hook unravels into a fine chorus. ...this is an excellent record, full of concise and imaginative little indie pop tunes that has the all-important addictive qualities to make it an album to return to in the future.
NPR 2nd Stage feature from 'All Songs Considered' - ...lo-fi, uniquely structured songs ...she keeps everything personal while capturing ideas that are spontaneous.
Americana UK - ...a virtual one woman band Dineen is hard to pigeonhole...despite recording most of this album in a bedroom there is an almost lush ambience to it with lashings of keyboards, prominent bass and some fine guitar stylings...hypnotic modality that is reminiscent of some of David Crosby's work... organic sounding tapestry...
On Tap Magazine - ...with her fourth album, “The Ghostly Apple Tree,” Dawn Dineen manages to create her own unique sound... her voice is both soothing yet haunting at the same time... Dineen plays most of the instruments on this album, including guitar, bass, drums and keyboard. Stand out tracks include “Tomboys (You’re oh so fine),” “Ladybug” and “Picasso in the Air.” The Ghostly Apple Tree is released on Dineen’s own record label, Yarner Records, which is based in DC.
Claire Sparks (7 years old) - This song ("Tomboys") is about how girls are cool!
sounds good,maybe we can get a museum in, would love to see you! that weekend is j's birthday. i think we are going to try to makeit down to party, thanks for the kudos.-love lady
Dear Ms. Dineen, I have the new record up on this site: http://exitinterview.webs.com for free downloading. The physical production of the record has become a bit daunting for now. I hope things are well with you and yours.
thank you so much, i really appreciate your willingness to listen and i have a great deal of respect for your opinion. i hope you have a very lovely evening!
