“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
Traffic
Damhnait Doyle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cursed the melting chocolate on my dress
thinking, I could be halfway to Montreal
insted im counting crows and trying not to stall, don't stall
Waiting in traffic like the rest
no way to know
that half a mile down the road
you lay silent, cold as stone
you were just going for the weekend to see your girl
you said you'd stop traffic in your new car
boy did you ever, no i bet ya didn't think you'd stop it forever
you were going to tell her that you loved her
take her down to the river and kneel before her
ask her to be your lover
and say she would make a wonderful mother
you were just going for the weekend to see your girl
you said you'd stop traffic in your new car
boy did you ever, no i bet ya didn't think you'd stop it forever
and im sorry i turned on the radio
and studied the lines on my face
makes me uneasy when the mirror talks back
kind words and good times, sharp times and bad
you said you were to old to die young
bet ya wish you didn;t prove yourself wrong with that one
you said you'd stop traffic in your new car
boy did you ever, no i bet ya didn't think you'd stop it forever
The song "Traffic" by Damhnait Doyle is a poignant reflection on the unpredictability of life and the suddenness of death. The lyrics describe the experience of waiting in traffic and being frustrated by the delay, only to learn later that the cause of the delay was a fatal accident involving someone who was on their way to see a loved one. The song highlights the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with those we love.
The first verse sets the scene of the singer waiting in traffic, irritated by the delay and frustrated with the smudge on their dress. The second verse takes a dark turn as it is revealed that the cause of the traffic was a fatal accident that claimed the life of someone who was on their way to see their significant other. The tragedy of their death is underscored by the fact that they were planning to confess their love and propose to their partner. The song ends with a mournful reflection on the inevitability of aging and death, and the regret we feel when we realize that we didn't appreciate the moments we had with the people we loved.
Overall, "Traffic" is a poignant reminder to appreciate the moments we have with the people we care about and to cherish the time we have together.
Line by Line Meaning
waiting in traffic, like the rest
I am stuck in traffic like everyone else on this road.
I cursed the melting chocolate on my dress
I'm unhappy with my stained dress that's more problematic than the traffic.
thinking, I could be halfway to Montreal
I wish I could be further along on my journey, almost halfway through by now.
insted im counting crows and trying not to stall, don't stall
I am trying not to get distracted and keep moving despite the traffic, don't stop.
no way to know
There's no way I could have known.
that half a mile down the road
Just a short distance up ahead.
you lay silent, cold as stone
You were dead, lifeless, and beyond saving.
you were just going for the weekend to see your girl
You had plans to spend a weekend with your girlfriend.
you said you'd stop traffic in your new car
You boasted about your car's ability to make an impression on the road.
boy did you ever, no i bet ya didn't think you'd stop it forever
You really stopped the traffic with your fatal car crash, you didn't realize it would be forever.
you were going to tell her that you loved her
You planned on confessing your love to your girlfriend.
take her down to the river and kneel before her
You wanted to take her to a romantic spot by the river and propose to her.
ask her to be your lover
You were going to ask her to be your girlfriend.
and say she would make a wonderful mother
You believed that she would be an excellent mother to your future children.
and im sorry i turned on the radio
I feel bad about turning on the radio after what had just happened.
and studied the lines on my face
I'm looking at my face in the rearview mirror, pondering about what just happened.
makes me uneasy when the mirror talks back
I feel uneasy when I look at the mirror and see my own reflection.
kind words and good times, sharp times and bad
Life has its ups and downs, good and bad times.
you said you were to old to die young
You believed that you were too old to die young like some people do.
bet ya wish you didn't prove yourself wrong with that one
You are regretting your boasting about being too old to die young.
boy did you ever, no i bet ya didn't think you'd stop it forever
You really stopped the traffic with your fatal car crash, you didn't realize it would be forever.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Cook
This reminds me of a night I played lead to a singing artist like her. Toronto will forever be a romantic city.
gwen2006a
Beautiful music, beautiful woman. Thank you.
mizokiZON
Dav is the best XD
mizokiZON
@Carlos guess that makes you old, too, since that's when you posted it haha
Carlos
Most older comment I saw 13 years old? Ohhh man you must be old man 😂😂
Bhilithinn
@ancientharp I don't think so. The whole song is dark humour. It happens in life sometimes. Her friend dying is completely tragic, but there's a strange sort of twisted humour in things he said (such as saying he'd stop traffic in his new car).
Mischief and Misadventure
Interesting song... but maybe it's sort of weird to smile all through a video about someone dying in a car crash?