damhnait’s latest cd, “Lights Down Low,” is a spectacular showcase for “dav… Read Full Bio ↴damhnait’s latest cd, “Lights Down Low,” is a spectacular showcase for “dav, the vocal powerhouse” … not to be confused with “dav, the songwriter,” “dav, the budding director,” or any of her other multiple-threat incarnations. Although we haven’t officially seen her dance yet (and she assures us we never will), the fancy footwork required to pull off a new recording while working with Kim Stockwood as Shaye, writing in Nashville and Toronto, and continuing her weekly column for “The Telegram” is certainly worthy of honourable mention.

“Lights Down Low,” scheduled for release this Feb is a cd of cover tunes which may appear randomly diverse at first read – Joy Division, ABBA, Bob Marley, The Clash – but dav’s intensity and the musical ingenuity of her partner in the project, Danny Michel, create a disc that feels like a natural whole. dav explores every facet of her voice and reveals depths of tenderness and passion. She and Danny play with rhythms and arrangements that honour proven hits with fresh perspectives and a true love for the music. dav refers to the cd as “the perfect dinner party record” in its eclectic representation of musical genres and eras.

damhnait’s career is charging ahead on every level as she continues to explore a variety of creative outlets. In addition to her recent solo project, dav and Kim toured throughout 2007 to promote Shaye’s latest cd, “Lake of Fire.” The title track soared to #13 on the A/C charts and “You’re Not Alone” followed with similar success. The girls also shot a very well received 4-part reality/documentary television series with Global which featured an authentic, unscripted and sometimes hysterical glimpse behind the entertainment curtain. The show follows the girls as they promote “Lake Of Fire” which built on the momentum established by two huge radio hits from the first cd, “The bridge.” (“Happy Baby” and “Beauty” both shot instantly into the Top Twenty on the A/C charts and “Happy Baby” earned a SOCAN Award, A Canadian Radio Music Award and a Juno nomination.) Shaye’s self-titled show aired initially on the E! network and was picked up later in the fall and aired on CMT.

Whether with Shaye or performing solo, damhnait has toured Canada extensively, opening for legends like Willie Nelson and sharing the stage as special guest with such artists as Nelly Furtado, Dido and Jann Arden. With Shaye, she has represented Canada at Japan’s 2005 Expo and has performed on Canada Day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. On her own, dav has travelled to Kandahar twice to perform for Canadian forces personnel – initially as part of a CBC Christmas television special and subsequently as a guest of General Rick Hillier. She also journeyed to Africa to contribute her talents to the documentary The Song for Africa, a project aimed at raising awareness about the AIDS pandemic in Africa among Canada’s youth. Her insightful and humorous recounting of her experiences is what prompted the publication of her first book, “Miscellaneous Female.”

damhnait dedicates a significant amount of time and energy to co-writing – efforts which have paid off with covers by Brian Melo, Eva Avila, Rex Goudie and Alexz Johnson, as well as multiple television and film placements. Never one to stray far from a microphone, dav has guested on recordings with Bruce Cockburn, Kevin Parent and Justin Nozuka – to name just a few. Her previous solo effort “dav-net” was a sophisticated, acoustic, roots/rock recording, with mature, powerful writing. “dav-net” garnered two 2004 East Coast Music Awards for Female and Pop/Rock Recording of the year and dav placed as a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition for her song, “Afterglow.”

dynamic and innovative . . . emotional and intelligent . . .

QUOTES:

"...my favourite performer was Doyle, whose sassy energy lit up the stage, while her dazzling sequined mini-dress and four-inch heels lent an air of glamour to the occasion."
The Ottawa Citizen

“a versatile voice that is angel-pure one minute, deep and hurtin’ the next”
Here Magazine

“Raw acoustic sounding collage of songs full of angst, heart-breaking stories and stellar songwriting”
Newfoundland Herald

“This Newfoundland raised singer with the soaring voice just released a lovely new album.”
The Daily News

“This album is an extremely immediate, personal and moody folk-pop recording.”
The Calgary Sun

“damhnait has evolved into a great singer/songwriter.”
Times & Transcript

“The album has an earthly appeal that should click with fans.”
Canadian Music Network Magazine

“If you don’t like this cd for her sweet honesty, then you’ll likely fall for the enchantingly sexy vocals, but I promise real fans of acoustic pop that you’ll adore it for a dozen other reasons . . . I’m sorry but that girl is gold, solid gold.”
The Gate

“Her voice is now rich and mellow, with a tang, and her emphasis is firmly on the songwriting.”
New Brunswick Reader

“There are many moments of pure power.”
Metro Toronto

“Doyle’s pride in this album is deserved.”
FFWD

“Third time is a charm for Damhnait.”
The Record

Butterfly
Damhnait Doyle Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know it'll all be better come September

These miles and walls will seem like a dream

(Dream on you tonight)

I've done all I can do to help remember

Sketched your name in chalk on my ceiling

Will you pick me up in your brother's car

Just show up the way you are

I would give up all my lies to kiss you one more time

I'd be your butterfly

I'll dream on you tonight wearing something white

I'll be your butterfly

I would give up all my lies to kiss you one more time

I'd be your butterfly

I'll dream on you tonight wearing something white

I'll be your butterfly

I don't blame you for not reading my letters

But to light them on fire in the trash by the bed

When you came to visit you said you'd wait forever

Now rumor has it you only wish me dead

Picture me in a ten foot cell, lonely as hell

I would give up all my lies to kiss you one more time

I'd be your butterfly

I'll dream on you tonight wearing something white

I'll be your butterfly

I would give up all my lies to kiss you one more time

I'd be your butterfly

I'll dream on you tonight wearing something white

I'll be your butterfly

You're my cure, you're my cure, you're my cure,

oh you're my you're my cure, oh you're my my cure

Blacklisted, torn up, twisted, firewalled

Blacklisted, torn up, twisted, anything at all

Blacklisted, torn up, twisted, firewalled

I would give up all my lies to kiss you one more time

I'd be your butterfly

I'll dream on you tonight wearing something white

I'll be your butterfly

I would give up all my lies to kiss you one more time

I'd be your butterfly

I'll dream on you tonight wearing something white

I'll be your butterfly

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Damnhait Doyle’s “Butterfly” is a poignant tale of love and longing. The opening line, “I know it'll all be better come September,” suggests the singer is hopeful that time will heal their current circumstances, implying she is either struggling with a romantic or personal issue. The lines, “These miles and walls will seem like a dream (Dream on you tonight)” suggest that distance between the singer and the person she is longing for is a burden, both physically and emotionally. The singer then goes on to express her longing for her lover, saying “I’d give up all my lies to kiss you one more time.” The lyrics convey a deep desire to be reunited with this person and the importance of the relationship to the singer.

Line by Line Meaning

I know it'll all be better come September
She believes that everything will be better in the future, specifically in September.

These miles and walls will seem like a dream (Dream on you tonight)
The distance and barriers between the two people will feel unreal, and she will likely dream about him.

I've done all I can do to help remember Sketched your name in chalk on my ceiling
She's done everything she can to remember him, including writing his name on her ceiling in chalk.

Will you pick me up in your brother's car Just show up the way you are
She wants him to pick her up and show up as himself with no pretenses.

I would give up all my lies to kiss you one more time I'd be your butterfly I'll dream on you tonight wearing something white I'll be your butterfly
She would give up all her falsehoods to kiss him once more, and she'll dream about him tonight, calling herself a butterfly.

I don't blame you for not reading my letters But to light them on fire in the trash by the bed
She doesn't blame him for not reading her letters, but she's hurt that he shredded them and threw them away.

When you came to visit you said you'd wait forever Now rumor has it you only wish me dead
When he visited last time, he promised to wait forever, but now rumors say he wishes harm on her.

Picture me in a ten foot cell, lonely as hell
She imagines being in a very difficult situation, isolated and lonely.

You're my cure, you're my cure, you're my cure, oh you're my you're my cure, oh you're my my cure
He is her solution to problems in her life, and she repeats this several times.

Blacklisted, torn up, twisted, firewalled
The artist feels undesirable, destroyed, and isolated.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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