“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
Every Hit
Damhnait Doyle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One drop of you would set me free
But like a coffin to its grave
I'm destined only to be a slave
And I deserve every hit I take
You keep throwing me down
And I, I won't break
I deserve all the love you fake
'Cause I've caused my share of heartache
What kind of games do lovers play
Where no one wins and all are blamed
Hung out to dry like my favorite dress
The newness gone you wear it less and less
And I deserve every hit I take
You keep throwing me down
And I won't break
And I deserve all the love you fake
'Cause I've caused my share of heartache
And the fruits of my betrayal
Came rotten to the core
Could not delight in its taste on my tongue
So I went searching for more
And I deserve every hit I take
You keep dragging me down
And I won't break
And I deserve all the love you fake
'Cause I've caused my share of heartache
And I deserve every hit I take
You keep dragging me down
And I just won't break
I deserve all the love you fake
'Cause I've caused my share of heartache
The song "Every Hit" by Damhnait Doyle is an emotional ballad that speaks about the complexities of love and the pain that brings. The song uses metaphors and imagery to bring to light the issue of emotional abuse in a relationship. The initial lines of the song, "To your honey, I am the bee / One drop of you would set me free / But like a coffin to its grave / I'm destined only to be a slave" create an image of the singer being trapped in a toxic relationship where they are always trying to please their partner but unable to break free from the cycle of abuse. The use of the metaphor of a coffin highlights the finality of the situation, as a coffin is a place of confinement from which there is no escape.
The chorus of the song, "And I deserve every hit I take / You keep throwing me down / And I, I won't break / I deserve all the love you fake / 'Cause I've caused my share of heartache" is the most impactful part of the song. It speaks of the self-blame and guilt that victims of emotional abuse go through. The repeated use of words like "deserve" and "heartache" highlights the singer's awareness of their past mistakes but also shows their unwillingness to give up on the relationship. The line "I won't break" shows the singer's resilience and the power to endure.
The bridge of the song, "And the fruits of my betrayal / Came rotten to the core / Could not delight in its taste on my tongue / So I went searching for more" speaks of the cycle of hurt and betrayal that often occurs in toxic relationships. The use of the metaphor of rotten fruits highlights the negative consequences of the singer's actions but also shows their willingness to acknowledge their faults and search for a better way of life.
Overall, the song "Every Hit" is a powerful reminder of the complexities of relationships, the pain of emotional abuse, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
To your honey I am the bee
I am attracted to you and would do anything to be with you.
One drop of you would set me free
Being with you is so important to me that just a small amount of your love would fulfill me.
But like a coffin to its grave, I'm destined only to be a slave
My love for you is a burden that I cannot escape, it has entrapped me in chains of love.
And I deserve every hit I take, you keep throwing me down and I, I won't break
I acknowledge that you are hurting me, but I am unable to let go of my love for you and will continue to endure the pain.
I deserve all the love you fake, 'cause I've caused my share of heartache
I believe that I deserve to be lied to by you, as I have also hurt others in the past.
What kind of games do lovers play, where no one wins and all are blamed
I am questioning why relationships have to be so complicated and why both parties always seem to end up getting hurt.
Hung out to dry like my favorite dress, the newness gone, you wear it less and less
You are losing interest in me over time, like a piece of clothing that is no longer in fashion.
And the fruits of my betrayal came rotten to the core, could not delight in its taste on my tongue, so I went searching for more
My past actions have caught up with me and led to disappointment and regret, so I am looking for something better.
And I deserve every hit I take, you keep dragging me down and I, I won't break
Even though you are treating me poorly, I will continue to hold onto our relationship because I feel that I deserve it.
And I just won't break
I am determined to hold on despite the difficult times.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind