Robyn Landis performed for six years in the acoustic folk duo Short & Sweet with Steve Amsden. Their CD "Love and Other Words," released in November 2004, was the first full-length recording for both musicians and garnered over three dozen songwriting honors.
Robyn is now performing solo and with a variety of esteemed musicians, and recorded her second CD (and first solo effort) in early 2009. The eagerly anticipated "Many Moons," released May 2009, has guest appearances by Michael Lille, Mark Graham, Kat Eggleston, Larry Murante, Joe and Karena Prater (Cat Loves Crow), and Hans York; and features Paul Elliott on fiddle and Cary Black on bass.
Influences
Patty Griffin, Dar Williams, Richard Shindell, Gillian Welch, Bob Franke, Nanci Griffith, Steve Seskin, Darrell Scott, Craig Carothers, Kate Wolf, Bruce Springsteen, Mary Gauthier, Aimee Mann, Kim Richey, Iris Dement, Shawn Colvin, Alison Krauss, Lucinda Williams, Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega, Elvis Costello, Bree Sharp, Kris Delmhorst, Lori McKenna, Tom Waits, Eva Cassidy, Bonnie Raitt, Indigo Girls, REM, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and probably lots more I can't think of or am not aware of. Special musical friends Linda Waterfall, Larry Murante, David Llewellyn, Michael Lille, and Kat Eggleston. Voice teacher Kathy Sankey. Bruce Jensen, Jon Dietrich. Steve Amsden.
Sounds Like
Been told Richard Shindell a bunch of times -- as a writer this is about the highest compliment anyone could pay me! Also been compared to Laurie Lewis, Giliian Welch, Dar Williams, Kate Rusby, Aimee Mann, and (I am not making this up) Sarah Maclachlan and Shawn Colvin. Once, a long while back, someone said my voice reminded them of Enya. Huh? I think this is proof that anyone can remind anyone of anyone, at some point. Undoubtedly I sound like Robyn Landis. Once a college professor said my writing reminded him of James Joyce. I still have the paper(A+). To sound completely illiterate, "it don't get much better than that."
Robyn Landis is a gifted wordsmith and award-winning songwriter. Her deft, incisive, and powerful command of language has garnered repeated comparisons to Richard Shindell and Dar Williams, and a reputation among fellow songwriters as "an astounding lyricist."
Respected for her unflinching honesty and intelligence, Robyn uses song to tackle subjects ranging from war to weather to (what else?) love--not to mention adoption and dementia, betrayal and longing, friendship, child abuse, old sitcoms, and the environment--with a distinctive, articulate writer's voice reflecting unusual depth and literacy. Her courageous and heartfelt musings are carried on warm, wistful, intimate vocals and irresistible, memorable melodies.
Since 2005 and the release of her first CD "Love and Other Words" (as half of the Americana duo Short & Sweet), Robyn has accrued more than 40 songwriting awards and honors nationally and internationally, in competitions and at festivals. Her eagerly-awaited followup solo recording, with 12 new songs and a stellar musical cast, was released in May 2009.
Indie-Music.com says, "Smooth vocals, like an earthy Laurie Lewis...Landis has won a lot of songwriting awards, and it's easy to see why." "Her writing is like a good short story."
She co-writes with such notable songwriters as David Llewellyn (2007 Kerrville New Folk winner, 2008 John Lennon Grand Prize Winner) and Larry Murante (2009 Kerrville New Folk Finalist).
She is a 2009 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artists Showcase Selected Artist, and won the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Competition Grand Prize in the Folk category (Session I).
Described as "both fierce and vulnerable," Robyn studied guitar with the venerable Linda Waterfall, who says "The warmth of her voice and her intuitive connection are magnetic....Her passionate commitment to justice and the Earth won my heart."
Robyn also trained as an actor and in musical theater. She has been a poet since she was four, has been a professional writer for all her adult life, and published two popular health books in her 20s before turning her focus upon music.
MANY MOONS REVIEWS: "Every cut here is a keeper, and Landis obviously either lavished a good deal of time on the arrangements or has a natural gift for it, probably both. Like David Wilcox, her work is rich with sympathy for human frailty and the thousand and one disappointments the flesh is heir to. ...Even given the longing and mysteries pervading every minute of the dozen cuts (housed in gorgeous tri-fold packaging with full credits, notes, and lyric booklet), this is a very refreshing CD and stays so each time it's broached...of course, the fact that she has a list of awards and recognitions as long as your arm explains a lot of that. Robyn Landis, I'm quite sure, waited until her art was fully matured and, man, does it ever show." ~ Mark S. Tucker, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange (FAME)
"Many Moons is a brightly polished piece of work that will capture and carry you gently along on an intricate narrative adventure; an exceptional release." ~ Victory Music
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* GRAND PRIZE WINNER, JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST
* SELECTED ARTIST, 2009 FALCON RIDGE EMERGING ARTISTS SHOWCASE
* Finalist, Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest, May 2009
* Honorable Mention, Acoustic/Folk Category, Unisong International Songwriting Competition, March 2009
* Honorable Mention, AAA/Americana Category, Unisong International Songwriting Competition, March 2009
* Winner, WC Handy Music Festival, July 2008
* Finalist, Founder's Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Susanne Millsaps Performing Songwriter Showcase, July 2008
* Honorable Mention, Telluride Troubadors Contest (Telluride Folk/Bluegrass Festival), May 2008
* Honorable Mention, International Narrative Song Competition, January 2008
* Top 25 MP3 of the Year, Indie-Music.com
* Alternate Finalist, Tumbleweed Music Festival songwriting contest, September 2007
* Top 20 Winner, Lyrics Category, Unisong International Songwriting Competition, July 2007
* Finalist, Solarfest Songwriter's Showcase, July 2007
* Finalist, KRCL/Founder's Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival Performing Songwriter Showcase, July 2007
* Honorable Mention, West Coast International Songwriter's Competition, May 2007
* Finalist, Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest, May 2007
* Honorable Mention, Singer-Songwriter Awards, January 2007
* First Place Winner, International Narrative Song Competition, January 2007
* Honorable Mention, International Narrative Song Competition, January 2007
* Honorable Mention, River Bluff Music Festival Songwriting Competition,
September 2006
* Finalist, 3rd Annual Williamsburg Live Songwriting Competition, August 2006
* First Place Winner, Woody Guthrie Songwriting Competition, July 2006
* Honorable Mention, Woody Guthrie Songwriting Competition, July 2006
* Second Place Winner, Acoustic/Folk Category, Unisong International Songwriting Competition, July 2006
* Top 20 Winner, Lyrics Category, Unisong International Songwriting Competition, July 2006
* Top 20 Winner, Acoustic/Folk Category, Unisong International Songwriting Competition,
July 2006
* Honorable Mention, Acoustic/Folk Category, Unisong International Songwriting Competition,
July 2006
* Alternate Finalist, Solarfest Songwriter's Showcase, July 2006
* Finalist, KRCL/Founder's Title Performing Songwriter Showcase, July 2006
* Honorable Mention, West Coast International Songwriting Competition, May
2006
* Finalist, Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest, May 2006
* Semifinalist, Peacedriven Songwriting Competition, April 2006
* Semifinalist, International Songwriting Competition, January 2006
* Honorable Mention, Billboard Song Contest, 2005 (two songs)
* Winner, William Robert Abate Songwriting Competition, September 2005
* Finalist, Tumbleweed Music Festival Songwriting Contest, September 2005
* Honorable Mention, Woody Guthrie Songwriting Competition, July 2005
* Semifinalist, U.K. Songwriting Competition, July 2005
* Finalist, Solarfest Songwriter's Showcase, July 2005
* Honorable Mention, Songprize International Songwriting Competition, June
2005
* Finalist, Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest, April 2005
* Finalist, Suwannee Springfest Songwriting Contest, March 2005
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heyy robin! great tunes, great to meet you at falcon ridge. i hope we can cross paths again before long...let me know if you're coming to boston, i'd love to meet up and hear you!
Hey Robyn! We'll meet one of these days...smiling...tried to do Cafe Luna again this summer but we had a communication mixup and the date I needed got booked.
I just checked out Falcon Ridge. Very cool! Congratulations! Knock 'em dead down there!
Ciao Robyn ,Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot,and stupendous voice. you are fantastic ..really. talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy neal
Hi Robyn, thanks again for coming out to the Red Bicycle & performing on Fri night...great show with Terry Holder, really nice turnout too. Love the new CD!! Have a great summer! ~pete~
As for newbee tips - yes lots. I'm leaving for Wildflower tomorrow night, but I'll try to call you tomorrow. I think seeing New Folk will really give you an insight for next year. And don't forget to bring those really short hotpants ;O) Only kidding, I think.
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