Set to head out on a national tour in support of their debut album The Spinning Jenny, Kimberley Dawn Lysons, the titular heroine of Dawn, took some time out to answer some of Tone Deaf’s pressing quetsions.
Tone Deaf: Who Is Dawn and what do they do?
Kimberley Dawn Lysons: We are a band of neo-victorian-clad musical renegades, if you will, on a mission to conquer a world filled with synthesised noise in various shades of grey and beige. We perform to invoke the voices and spirits of our ancestors, to take you back to a time when the skies were filled with trails of steam and visitors from far and wide were making their way across the seas to new and exotic lands.
While the vocals may at times be soothing, the band is high in intensity – weaving together intricately textured sounds of the west, with a strong hit of spice from the east. Expect to see a stage filled with rib-popping corsets, top hats (with strapping long-haired lads in them), exquisite multi-layered garments crafted by Clockwork Butterfly, stroh violins, a shahi baaja. And a mustachio.
Do you remember the moment you decided you wanted to be a performer and what inspired it?
The moment I stood waiting in the greenroom for the first time before a ballet recital. We were all dressed up in our little costumes and I was so excited about what was awaiting around the corner. I think my heart has been on that stage from the age of five. The thing that made me want to sing, was that it is the one art form for me that I feel is a direct line to the soul that people can connect with instantly. I paint and I draw, but that is a more insular form of expression. I love people so I prefer to let the artwork unfold in front of them, to share it with them, as opposed to crafting it behind closed doors.
How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?
I would say it’s like a little music festival – you can experience lots of different sounds, textures and colours – but have the luxury of not lining up in the mud for the portaloo.
You’re a visual artist as well as a musician and was lucky enough to work on the visuals for Jay-Z’s world tour, how did that come about?
In third year at Queensland College of Art I won the AgIdeas Newstar award, which is a competition held in Melbourne every year for design students and new graduates around the country. Don’t ask me what my winning design was… it was a little bit rude!
The prize was to work at an agency of my choice anywhere in the world, so I chose UVA, which is a very cool visual arts studio in London that works with musicians like Jay-Z, U2, and Massive Attack. In between making the coffee (badly!), I designed portraits of some of Jay-Z’s favourite anti-heroes for the massive visual display that UVA engineered for his world tour with U2 a few years ago.
The Spinning Jenny, Volume 1 is due for release soon with Volume 2 due for release later this year. Tell us about the concept behind your debut album?
Jeff [Martin, The Tea Party] and I were having a big conversation about spinning wheels and I was explaining to him why their symbolism is so important to me. I grew up playing on the spinning wheels that my mother brought up from Tasmania in the late 70s when they first arrived in Australia.
One day when I was at work, Jeff called me out of the blue and just said “The Spinning Jenny – that is all”. Then he hung up on me! He’s good at that! I was a bit startled but researched the meaning- and the Spinning Jenny is equivalent to around 10 spinning wheels working at the same time – an invention which revolutionised the textile industry in the 18th century. Jeff felt that the collaboration of he and I was like taking the initial wooden spinning wheel, and magnifying it 10-fold. That era is also significant to the music but I will save that conversation for another time!
Jeff Martin produced and played on the album, had you worked with him before?
I was asked to support one of his shows in Townsville a couple of years ago because of the world music influences in my music- the venue manager thought it would be a good fit. It turned out to be a very good fit, as Jeff offered to produce my music after our soundcheck; we hadn’t even gotten through our set yet! What was supposed to only be a three-song EP, turned into a 12 song album! We nearly killed each other (on several occasions) but there is a deep sibling love there- whether we like it or not.
If you could curate your own festival, where would it be, who would be on the bill, how many people would you let in and what features would it have (attractions/food/bars etc)?
Somewhere near Coorabell, Northern NSW – possibly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life! You’re up in the hinterlands but you can still see the ocean. I would of course invite Jeff Martin and The Tea Party, as well as other world music influenced bands and artists, like Rapskallion, Xavier Rudd, and some of the fabulous folk and bluegrass musicians that I have met through my travels.
Probably wouldn’t want to exceed 4,000 people. We would definitely have an east meets west and early settler theme for all the food stalls and bars. The bar would be stocked with some old classics – and perhaps just a touch of absinthe!
If you could perform a duet with any Australian artist, who would it be and what song would it be?
That is such a hard question! There are so many amazing artists in this country. I heard an interview on Sarah Howells’ [Triple J Roots And All host] program a number of weeks ago with Mama Kin – and I am in love with this woman. She is such a strong, beautiful individual – it would be an honour to sing with her one day.
What is your band’s music the best soundtrack for?
I have heard a few different suggestions, like True Blood, Game of Thrones and Downtown Abbey. So I suppose anything that has some kind of dramatic theming and perhaps slightly twisted?
What’s your favourite instrument in the world and why?
A wooden double flute, which is a traditional instrument that my friend Hwiemtun from Vancouver Island plays. I get chills listening to it. He visited me in Byron last year and loved sitting on the beach each day playing for all of the people doing their morning exercise. Those doing yoga would slowly edge their way closer to him, dogs would drag their slightly embarrassed owners over – it was both hilarious and very beautiful to watch!
Where can we see you play next and when is ‘The Spinning Jenny’ due for release.
The Spinning Jenny Volume 1 was released on 17th May, it is available through iTunes and at select stores in major city centres for the moment. It has been very surreal to see it on the shelves in amongst artists we adore.
We will also be selling it at all of our shows during our east coast tour throughout June/July. Good thing we wear neo-Victorian clothes… We’ll need all the layers we can get, it’s going to be flipping cold! We are playing in towns and cities all the way from Cairns down to Hobart, with our first shows on the Sunny Coast (Woombye) on May 31st and Brisbane at the Old Museum on June 1st. We can’t wait!
Dawn 2013 Australian Tour Dates & Tickets
Tickets and details at: http://www.bandofdawn.com/
Friday May 31 – THE WOOMBYE – Woombye (Sunny coast)
Saturday June 1 – OLD MUSEUM – Brisbane QLD w/ the Le Suits
Thursday June 6 – PACIFIC HOTEL, Yamba NSW
Friday June 7 – NIMBIN HOTEL – Nimbin NSW
Saturday June 8 – THE SHARK BAR – Gold Coast QLD
Sunday June 9 – MULLUM CIVIC HALL – Mullumbimby NSW
Thursday June 13 – THE ARMIDALE CLUB – Armidale NSW
Friday June 14 – THE GREAT NORTHERN – Newcastle NSW
Saturday June 15 – THE HERITAGE HOTEL – Wollongong NSW
Sunday June 16 – THE ANNANDALE – Sydney NSW
Wednesday June 19 – THE TOFF IN TOWN, Melbourne VIC w/ Rapskallion
Thursday June 20 – THE WORKERS CLUB, Fitzroy VIC w/ The Bon Scotts
Friday June 21 – CARAVAN MUSIC CLUB – Oakleigh VIC w/ Rapskallion & The Bon Scotts
Saturday June 22 – THE GRAND POOBAH – Hobart TAS
Thursday June 27 – ANDERGROVE TAVERN – Mackay QLD
Friday June 28 – MOLLY MALONE’S – Townsville QLD
Saturday June 29 – THE BUDDAH BAR – Cairns QLD
Friday July 19 – UPFRONT CLUB – Maleny QLD
Saturday July 20 – JOE’S WATERHOLE – Eumundi QLD
Sunday July 21 – RICS – Brisbane QLD
Friday August 3-4 – STEAM FEST, Ipswich QLD
Sunday August 14-18 – THE CULTURAL FESTIVAL, Townsville QLD
