The press has likened Landes to "the grand old dames of country" and in the same breath The Black Keys and The White Stripes (Uncut). She’s also garnered comparisons to Cat Power and Pavement, an interesting mix that made even NPR’s David Dye wonder.
Raised in the fertile musical fields of Branson, Missouri and Louisville, Kentucky, Landes came to New York City in 1999 and did a cannonball into the music scene. While holding down several jobs to pay the rent, she abandoned university (NYU) and began to intern at some of the best studios in the city. "I had very little experience", she says. "I was just really, really curious. Dangerously curious in the studio… I picked heros like Tchad Blake and Brian Wilson and took a flying leap."
What started as a job getting coffee for engineers has blossomed into a truly enviable resume; among others she has worked with Phillip Glass, Ryan Adams, Hem, Joseph Arthur, The Earlies and Josh Ritter in the studio. Working late into the night, and often sleeping at the same studios she was interning in, Dawn began producing and recording her own songs after hours. "I wanted to get the sounds in my head onto tape exactly as I heard them. And that’s not an easy thing, there are a lot of sounds in there!"
After meeting the band Hem in the studio, Landes joined them on the road as an 8th band member (vocals and glockenspeil) and opening act. Her performing career started to gain speed. Her first full-length, «dawn’s music» was released in France in 2005, followed by extensive touring in Europe and two other European releases; «234» a 7-song EP released in the UK and finally «Fireproof», released worldwide in 2007. Since then her music has become the stuff of whispers and internet buzz, and her touring schedule has put her on the road with artists such as Feist, Jose Gonzales, Midlake, Suzanne Vega, Martha Wainright, The Swell Season…(the list goes on) At times solo, at times with a revolving cast of musical guests, her shows have the guileless and vibrant quality of a work of art in constant creation.
Landes penned the end-credit song for the movie «Savage Grace» starring Julianne Moore and plucked the WST Bluegrass band from a BBQ in Austin, TX to help her record her version of the Peter, Bjorn and John classic, «Young Folks.» Rumor has it, James Blunt liked it so much he covered dawns cover of the song! In 2007 Landes became the co-partner, designer and full-time dry-waller of Saltlands Studio in Brooklyn. «What if we get bored?» Dawn sings in the Fireproof gem, «Kids in a Play.»
As a solo artist, Landes has put out a number of albums:
* Dawn’s Music (self-released-US/Ocean Music-Europe) 2002
* two, three, four (Boy Scout recordings-UK) 2006
* Fireproof (Cooking Vinyl-US/Fargo Music-Europe) 2008
* Sweetheart Rodeo (Cooking Vinyl) 2010
Official Website: www.dawnlandes.com
Scars
Dawn Landes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That day, I decided that I wanted, I wanted you maybe
I just wanted the shoes
Fit me
Hudson again, might as well be Mars
People everywhere french-kissing in their cars
These romantic scenes denigrate ours
They're scripted and stars
When you gonna get up
Can I get more than shouting, it's not about you, it's about me
Give me something to doubt, something sharp to annull everybody I know has
Scars
Scars
Everyone that I know
Has scars
Maybe later
Much much later
We can compare ours
Everyone that I know has scars
And I'm sorry
About this, about me
Cause I think, I think I raced you to those crazy shoes you wore that day
I decided that
That I wanted you
Maybe I just wanted the shoes
When you gonna get out
Can I have more than shout
And it's not about you, it's about me
Give you something to doubt, something sharp to annull everybody I know has
Scars
Scars
Everyone that I know
Has scars
Maybe later
Much much later
We can compare ours
Everyone that I know has scars
The song "Scars" by Dawn Landes speaks about the scars we all carry with us, both physical and emotional. Told from a personal perspective, the singer sings about a moment where they raced someone to a pair of "crazy shoes." This event seems to represent a pivotal moment in which they became attracted to this person. However, they question whether they truly desired the person or if it was just the shoes they were after.
As the song progresses, the singer discusses the difficulties they face in their relationships compared to those depicted in Hollywood films. They yearn for a connection that is genuine and feels authentic, not something that is just scripted and performed. The repeated assertion that "everyone that I know has scars" suggests that we all carry baggage from past relationships, traumas, or experiences. The singer is willing to confront this reality, and even apologizes for their role in causing pain.
Overall, "Scars" by Dawn Landes is a raw and emotional exploration of our complex relationships and the emotional baggage we bring with us. It is a reminder that although we all have scars, it is possible to find connections that are authentic and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
I think, I think I raced you to those crazy shoes you wore
I remember when we both raced to buy those unique and eccentric shoes
That day, I decided that I wanted, I wanted you maybe
I realized that day, perhaps I wanted to know you more
I just wanted the shoes
I was initially only interested in owning those shoes
Fit me
I wanted the shoes to fit perfectly like they were made for me
Maybe
But maybe there was more to it than just the shoes
Hudson again, might as well be Mars
Being in Hudson feels so foreign and unfamiliar, it might as well be another planet, far away and unrecognizable
People everywhere french-kissing in their cars
Couples all around are passionately kissing in their cars
These romantic scenes denigrate ours
These beautiful love scenes make us feel inferior and our own love seems less significant in comparison
They're scripted and stars
These love scenes in movies or TV shows are carefully planned and acted by famous celebrities
When you gonna get up
When will you finally take action and make a change in our relationship
Can I get more than shouting, it's not about you, it's about me
Can we have a calmer and more rational discussion where it's not about blaming one another, but rather understanding each other's perspective and feelings
Give me something to doubt, something sharp to annull everybody I know has
Challenge me with something that makes me question my own beliefs, something that will cut through any biases or preconceptions I have, because everyone I know has faced difficulties and struggles in their life
Scars
Scars
Everyone that I know
Has scars
We all carry our scars from difficult experiences. It's a reminder that we're all human and have gone through tough times
Maybe later
Much much later
We can compare ours
Perhaps in the far future we can open up to each other and compare the scars we've gained along the way and see how much we've grown
And I'm sorry
About this, about me
I apologize about everything, about my behavior, about how I've been acting lately
Cause I think, I think I raced you to those crazy shoes you wore that day
I decided that
That I wanted you
Maybe I just wanted the shoes
I realize now that, while I was initially captivated by those shoes, what I truly wanted was you, but maybe I wasn't ready to admit that to myself
Contributed by Charlotte H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brian Sechrist
I've always liked this one.