Kimya Dawson

Infobox musical artist
Name = Kimya Dawson

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Img_capt = Kimya Dawson in 2003
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1972|11|17|mf=y
Origin =
Instrument =
Genre = Alternative, Anti-folk
Occupation = Singer/songwriter
Years_active = 2002-present
Label = K, Rough Trade, Important
Associated_acts = Moldy Peaches, Antsy Pants
URL = [http://kimyadawson.com kimyadawson.com]
Current_members =
Past_members =
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Kimya Dawson (born November 17, 1972) is an American singer-songwriter, best known as a solo performer and as one half of The Moldy Peaches.

Career

Dawson became well known as the female counterpart to Adam Green in the band The Moldy Peaches. [ [http://www.moldypeaches.com/ The Moldy Peaches ] ] Since the Moldy Peaches went on hiatus in 2004 Dawson has released a string of lo-fi homemade albums and toured widely in North America and Europe.

Dawson recently finished work on "Alphabutt", a new album of children's music that was released September 9, 2008. Song titles include "The Alphabutt Song," "Seven Hungry Tigers," "Little Monster Babies," "Wiggle My Tooth" and "Pee Pee in the Potty," and collaborators include former Third Eye Blind guitarist Kevin Cadogan and a number of Dawson's other musical friends and their children. She has also been invited to participate in the "Sesame Street" television program. cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSN0229071320080402 |title=Singer extends Juno buzz with kids album |publisher=Reuters/Billboard |accessdate=2008-04-05 |last=Graff |first=Gary |date=2008-04-02 ]

oundtrack work

Dawson's songs are featured in the films "The Guatemalan Handshake" and "Glue", both of which were shown at the Olympia Film Festival in November 2007. [cite news|title=From K Records to the silver screen|url=http://www.theolympian.com/film/story/305029-p2.html|last=Gilmore|first=Molly|publisher=The Olympian|accessdate=2007-12-20|date=2007-12-20]

In 2008 Dawson contributed the song "Anthrax" — about 9/11 — to the soundtrack of the "Body of War" documentary.

Six of Dawson's solo songs, one from Antsy Pants, as well as one from the Moldy Peaches, are included on the "Juno" soundtrack, released in December 2007. [cite news |first=Peter |last=Sciretta |title=Juno Movie Soundtrack |date=2007-09-11 |url =http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/09/11/juno-movie-sountrack/ |work=/film |accessdate=2007-11-10] [cite news |first=Anthony |last=Breznican |title=More films are using one artist for music |date=2007-10-31 |url =http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-10-29-soundtracks_N.htm |work =USA Today |accessdate = 2007-11-10] [ [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/47117-ellen-page-talks-ijunoi-soundtrack-kimya-dawson Ellen Page Talks "Juno" Soundtrack, Kimya Dawson] Pitchfork November 21, 2007.] Composer Mateo Messina also based the film's score on Dawson's music. [cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/extendedplay/2007/12/the-quirks-in-j.html|title=The quirks in "Juno's" score ... with audio|last=Martens|first=Todd|date=2007-12-18|accessdate=2007-12-19|publisher=Los Angeles Times]

The soundtrack album, after two weeks topping Billboard's Digital Albums chart, reached #8 on the Billboard 200, in its first week of release. [cite news |first=Katie |last=Hasty |title="Juno" soundtrack a boost for little-known singer |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSN1162579820080112 |publisher=Billboard |date=2008-01-11 |accessdate=2008-01-16] In it's first full week of physical release the album sold 68,000 copies, reaching #3 on the Soundscan album chart. It missed out on the #1 spot by only 2,600 copies. [cite news |first=Phil |last=Gallo |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Keys returns to top of music charts |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117979153.html |work= |publisher=Variety |date=2008-01-16 |accessdate=2008-01-17] The following week it jumped to #2, while selling 15% fewer copies (58,000), just 2,000 copies behind first place. [cite news |title=Keys tops U.S. pop chart as overall sales slide |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSN2341348020080123 |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-01-23 |accessdate=2008-01-27] In the album's third week of physical release it finally made the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 and Soundscan charts, selling 65,000 copies. [cite news |first=Katie |last=Hasty |title= "Juno" Unseats Keys From Atop Album Chart|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003703770 |work= |publisher=Billboard |date=2008-01-30 |accessdate=2008-02-01]

Dawson has two new songs that were released on April 8 on a follow-up album "Juno B-Sides: Almost Adopted Songs" that is available exclusively on iTunes.

Other collaborations

Dawson is well-connected with many other musicians, appearing in songs by Ben Kweller, [ [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000068ZZO Amazon.co.uk: Sha Sha: Music: Ben Kweller ] ] They Might Be Giants, [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0743250249/ Amazon.com: Bed, Bed, Bed (They Might Be Giants): Books: They Might Be Giants ] ] The Mountain Goats, [ [http://www.komakinomag.de/index.php?text:lang:kimya_dawson K O M A K I N O - kimya dawson ] ] John Wayne Shot Me [ [http://www.krecs.com/html/artists/artistbio.php?interest=36 K Artists ] ] , Your Heart Breaks, and The Terrordactyls. [cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18195758|title=The Terrordactyls: 'Devices' |accessdate=2008-01-22 |date=2008-01-18 |publisher=NPR Music] The Third Eye Blind track "Self-Righteous" on their album, "Out of the Vein" features a duet with Dawson and Third Eye Blind's lead singer Stephan Jenkins. [ [http://www.3eb.com/bio/?sec=bio 3EB.com | Bio] ] Regina Spektor collaborated with Dawson on the song "Fire" on the "Hidden Vagenda" album. Kimya Dawson also collaborated with fellow antifolk Jeffrey Lewis. They made a band called 'The Bundles' though released none of the songs.

Personal life

A sometime resident of Bedford Hills, New York, Dawson moved in December 2005 — with her mother, father, brother (Akida Junglefoot Dawson), and nephew — to Seattle, Washington. She is married to a musician named Angelo Spencer and, on July 28, 2006, Kimya gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Panda Delilah, and moved with her new family to Olympia, Washington in November, 2006. After Panda was born, Dawson and Spencer took a break from touring for a few months, playing only occasional local shows. However, they now tour together with the baby.

Dawson has knuckle tattoos which read "LAFF LOUD". She also has a freebird tattoo on her left calf.

As a joke, Dawson once started a rumour that she was a cousin of The Strokes' drummer Fabrizio Moretti. [ [http://monsterfresh.com/?p=633/ Dawson’s Crack (Interview w/Kimya Dawson) « MonsterFresh.com ] ]

Discography

Before The Moldy Peaches Rough Trade releases there were several homemade CDRs.

With The Moldy Peaches

*"The Moldy Peaches" - Released September 11, 2001 by Rough Trade Records
*County Fair/Rainbows - A single released in 2002
*"" - Released March 18, 2003 by Rough Trade Records

olo albums

*"I'm Sorry That Sometimes I'm Mean" - released November 5, 2002 by Rough Trade Records
*"Knock Knock Who?" - released August 3, 2004 by Important Records
*"My Cute Fiend Sweet Princess" - released August 3, 2004 by Important Records
*"Hidden Vagenda" - released October 5, 2004 by K Records
*"Remember That I Love You" - released May 9 2006 by K Records
*"Alphabutt" - released September 2008 by K Records

With Antsy Pants

Antsy Pants - Kimya Dawson, Ben Lupus, Leo, Angelo Spencer, Howard Hughes, Billy Jet Pilot, Jarrod Bramson, Emily Madden, and Marie

*"Antsy Pants" - released 2006 by Plan It X Records

Compilations

* "Antifolk Vol. 1" - "I'm Fine"
* "Anticomp Folkilation" - "Will You Be Me" (Live)
* "Afro-Punk Compilation Record Vol. 1" - "Loose Lips"
* "AFNY Collaborations. Volume 1" - Kimya Dawson and Jeff Lewis
* "Titanium Heart and Chains of Love" - Kimya Dawson and Matt Rouse EP (collaboration) Unicorn Sounds
* "A.K.A."- smooth jams e.p. with Adam Green and Akida Junglefoot Dawson
* "The Art Star Sounds Compilation" February 2005 - "Velvet Rabbit" (Live)
* "No Parachute. Vol. 1." A compilation of indie music videos. (DVD) - "Lullaby For The Taken" (video directed by Ted Passon). 2005, Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records.
* "Robot Boy" DVD. Compilation of short films and videos by Ted Passon. - "Lullaby For The Taken". 2005, K Records/Secretly Canadian.
* "I Killed the Monster: 21 Artists Performings the Songs of Daniel Johnston" - "Follow That Dream" 2006, Second Shimmy
*"Juno" Soundtrack - Rhino Records 2008
*"" - "Anthrax". Sire Records March 18, 2008

External links

* [http://kimyadawson.com Official Website]
* [http://www.livejournal.com/users/kimya_dawson_/ LiveJournal]
*myspace|kimyadawson|Kimya Dawson
* [http://www.songmeanings.net/artist.php?aid=8589948262 lyrics] @ SongMeanings.net
* [http://www.plan-it-x.com/catalog.html#antsypants Antsy Pants] Planit X Catalog entry

Audio & video

* [http://www.archive.org/details/KimyaDawson Kimya on the Live Music Archive]
* [http://punkcast.com/1099/ PUNKCAST#1099] Live video - Union Hall, Brooklyn - January 20, 2007 (RealPlayer)(mp4)
* [http://www.amoeba.com/live-shows/videos/kimya-dawson.html Kimya at Amoeba Hollywood]

Interviews

* [http://scenemissingmagazine.com/sceneblog/?p=107 Scene Missing Magazine Interviews Kimya Dawson] February 1, 2005
* [http://groundcontrolmag.com/detail/1/972/ Kimya Dawson interview on Ground Control] March 2008
* [http://www.beatlawrence.com/2008/04/kimya-dawson-interview.html Kimya Dawson interview on BeatLawrence.com] April 2008
* [http://www.amoeba.com/live-shows/videos/kimya-dawson.html Kimya Dawson on Amoeba]

References