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

Good To You
Damhnait Doyle Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Beauty fades under fluorescent lights
Where shadows fit in between the lines
Afraid to grow old and I blame you
For taking those years and making me true

And I'm talking trash, throwing black and blue
You look at me and ask, darling what did I do

And all I want is to be good to you
And I'm buried alive trying to dig through

I don't mean half of the things I say
Hell maybe I'm trying to make you run away
And I woke up this morning and you were still here
And I haven't done a thing to deserve you all year

And I'm outta my head when you're out of sight
And I'm outta my mind almost every night

And all I want is to be good to you
And I'm buried alive trying to dig through
Trying to dig through
When all I want is to be good to you

And all I want is to be good to you
And I'm buried alive trying to dig through

And all I want is to be good to you
And I'm buried alive trying to dig through

Well I woke up this morning and you were still here
And I haven't done a thing to deserve you all year

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Damhnait Doyle's song Good To You express the inner struggles of the singer as she comes to terms with growing old and the complicated emotions she feels toward the person she loves. The imagery of "beauty fades under fluorescent lights" highlights the singer's fear of aging and how the harsh reality of life diminishes one's youthful energy and vibrance. The line "afraid to grow old and I blame you" suggests that the singer holds the person she loves responsible for making her face her fears and overcome them.

The following lines "I don't mean half of the things I say, Hell maybe I'm trying to make you run away" is an admission of the singer's own insecurities and how she may push the person she loves away by projecting her own fears and uncertainties onto them. The line "buried alive trying to dig through" reinforces the singer's feeling of being trapped by her own emotions and inability to express herself fully.

The chorus of the song "all I want is to be good to you" is a declaration of the singer's love and desire to be a better person for the one she loves. The final lines "Well, I woke up this morning and you were still here, And I haven't done a thing to deserve you all year" express the singer's gratitude for the person she loves despite feeling unworthy of their love.

Line by Line Meaning

Beauty fades under fluorescent lights
The singer is acknowledging that beauty disappears when exposed to harsh and unnatural conditions, such as those created by fluorescent lights.

Where shadows fit in between the lines
The singer notes that in the harsh lighting, shadows can hide in the spaces between things, suggesting that even negative aspects can go unnoticed if we don't look for them.

Afraid to grow old and I blame you
The singer is admitting to feeling scared about aging, and pinning that fear on their partner as though it's their fault.

For taking those years and making me true
The artist believes that their partner has caused them to grow up and mature, even though this process has caused them distress.

And I'm talking trash, throwing black and blue
The artist is saying hurtful things, possibly even physically lashing out, as a way of expressing their emotional pain.

You look at me and ask, darling what did I do
The singer's partner is bewildered and confused by the outburst, and is trying to understand what they might have done to cause it.

And all I want is to be good to you
Despite the anger and frustration the singer is feeling, their ultimate desire is to treat their partner well and maintain a positive relationship.

And I'm buried alive trying to dig through
The artist feels trapped by their own emotions, struggling to overcome their pain in order to be the loving partner they want to be.

I don't mean half of the things I say
The artist recognizes that their hurtful comments are not a reflection of their true feelings, but rather an exaggerated expression of their pain.

Hell maybe I'm trying to make you run away
The artist wonders if the outbursts are a subconscious effort to push their partner away, possibly due to a fear of intimacy or vulnerability.

And I woke up this morning and you were still here
The singer is grateful that their partner hasn't yet left despite the difficult emotions they've been experiencing.

And I haven't done a thing to deserve you all year
The artist believes they have not been treating their partner well enough, and that their partner deserves more from them than they have been giving.

And I'm outta my head when you're out of sight
The singer becomes very anxious when their partner is not physically present, suggesting that they are emotionally dependent on them.

And I'm outta my mind almost every night
The singer struggles with their emotions deeply, to the point where they feel they're losing control over their own thoughts and feelings.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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