“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
Jeff
Damhnait Doyle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stopped to ask your name
But you didn't give an answer
Always afraid of fame
you're a clip in the paper
You're a picture in her living room and
Your scent is vaguely familiar
the magnet mississippi stole your breath
As you sunk into it's lonely depths
This final image of you freezes
Where you're surrounded by jewels and missing pieces
you're a clip in the paper
You're a picture in her living room and
Your scent is vaguely familiar
To her who cradled you in her womb
sometimes the daydreams are worse then the nightmares
For in the night at least you reappear
You may be voiceless, disfigured, disadvantaged, but you're here
you're a clip in the paper
You're a picture in her living room and
Your scent is vaguely familiar
To her who cradled you in her womb
The lyrics to Damhnait Doyle's song Jeff describe the life of a person who never quite felt comfortable with the idea of fame. The song begins by describing the image of a shooting star in the sky that stops to ask for Jeff's name, but Jeff is too afraid of fame to reply. The lyrics continue to describe Jeff's life as a clip in the paper and a picture in someone's living room. Even though Jeff's scent is familiar to the person who cradled him in her womb, Jeff doesn't seem to have found the personal connection he'd hoped for.
The second verse of the song mentions Mississippi and how it stole Jeff's breath. This seems to be a metaphor for a difficult period in Jeff's life, perhaps a time when he felt lost or alone. The final image of Jeff in the lyrics is poignant - he is surrounded by jewels and missing pieces. This could suggest that he was someone who was admired or even envied, perhaps for his potential, but he was never quite complete.
The third verse of the song is perhaps the most revealing. Jeff's daydreams are described as worse than his nightmares because at least in his nightmares, he still appears. This suggests that Jeff may have felt invisible or overlooked for much of his life. Despite his potential disadvantage, the lyrics highlight that Jeff is still present and still here - he may be voiceless, disfigured, or disadvantaged, but he can still be seen in the small memories people hold of him.
Line by Line Meaning
A shooting star in the sky
You were once full of wonder and beauty, shining brightly like a shooting star.
Stopped to ask your name
Someone or something took notice of you and was curious about your identity.
But you didn't give an answer
Despite the attention you received, you chose to remain silent and not reveal who you truly are.
Always afraid of fame
Your fear of success or recognition prevented you from embracing opportunities that could have propelled you to greatness.
you're a clip in the paper
Your existence is reduced to a brief mention in a news article that will be easily forgotten.
You're a picture in her living room and
Someone has kept a photo of you, symbolizing your presence in their life long after you're gone.
Your scent is vaguely familiar
Even though you're no longer around, a subtle reminder of you lingers and triggers memories in those closest to you.
To her who cradled you in her womb
The one who brought you into this world still feels a maternal bond with you, even if you're no longer physically present.
The magnet mississippi stole your breath
A sudden and unexpected catastrophe, represented by the Mississippi River, robbed you of your life.
As you sunk into it's lonely depths
You fell into an abyss of isolation and despair, cut off from the world and any possibility of rescue.
This final image of you freezes
Your memory is preserved in a snapshot of your final moments, eternally fixed in time and unable to be altered.
Where you're surrounded by jewels and missing pieces
Despite the beauty that surrounds you, there are noticeable absences and imperfections, representing the things you never got to experience in life.
Sometimes the daydreams are worse than the nightmares
Your mind torments you with idealized visions of what could have been, which are often more painful than the worst fears you can imagine.
For in the night at least you reappear
In moments of darkness or solitude, you can still feel a sense of connection to the past, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of the person you used to be.
You may be voiceless, disfigured, disadvantaged, but you're here
Even though you may be powerless or incomplete in some way, your memory and spirit lives on, inspiring those who remember you to persevere through their own struggles.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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