Dawn Landes

Dawn Landes is an American singer-songwriter and musician from Louisville, Kentucky, and is based in New York City. Born in 1980, she grows up in Branson, Missouri and Louisville, and moves to New York in 1999, where she begins building a career in music while also working in studios and taking on other jobs.

Early work and studio experience

After leaving NYU, Landes interns at several recording studios in New York and works as an audio engineer at Stratosphere Sound and at Philip Glass’s personal studio. She also works with artists including Philip Glass, Ryan Adams, Hem, Joseph Arthur, The Earlies and Josh Ritter. During this period she starts recording and producing her own songs after hours.

Hem and live performances

Landes is a sometimes-member of Hem, contributing harmony vocals and glockenspiel, and also joins the band on the road as an eighth member and opening act. She shares stages with artists including Josh Ritter, Suzanne Vega, José González, Feist, The Weakerthans, Andrew Bird, Midlake, Alexi Murdoch, Martha Wainwright and The Swell Season.

Solo releases

Her solo catalogue includes Dawn’s Music, released in 2002; two, three, four, a seven-song EP released in the UK in 2006; Fireproof, released worldwide in 2007; and Sweetheart Rodeo, released in 2010. She first releases Dawn’s Music in France in 2005, and later follows it with further European releases and touring.

Collaborations and other work

Landes writes the end-credit song for the film Savage Grace. She also records a version of Peter, Bjorn and John’s “Young Folks” with the WST Bluegrass band from Austin, Texas.

Other projects and recording spaces

In 2007, Landes becomes co-partner and designer of Saltlands Studio in Brooklyn, and also works there full time as a dry-waller. Her performances often alternate between solo sets and shows with a revolving group of musical guests.

Style and comparisons

Her music is described in relation to a range of styles, including country, classic pop and rock, indie, alternative, folk and singer-songwriter traditions. She is also compared in the press to Cat Power and Pavement, as well as to the “grand old dames of country” and to bands such as The Black Keys and The White Stripes.