Dawn and Marra

by Ric Taylor
August 15 - 22, 2013
Dawn and Marra have grown up in the public eye over the last five years and have blossomed into one serious musical force but the germs of their genius could easily be seen in the two young girls even at an early age.

Singer/songwriter Kim Koren and guitarist extraordinaire Frank Koren had long hosted a west end open mic night but when a young Dawn Larsh came out to perform they immediately thought of introducing her to their own musical offspring Marrakesh. The two girls were only 16 and 14 respectively and immediately formed a bond as friends and musicians. Together they complimented and completed each other and the music they would create would be delicate, darling and demonstrative of bigger things to come. Now 21 and soon to be 19, Dawn and Marra are women on a musical mission and developing a wealth of attention for their newest recording, Teaspoons and Tablespoons.

“Music had always been a big part of my life so I think it was just a natural process making it something I could work towards being my career,” recalls Larsh. “Things academically never really came easily to me so when I started writing songs it was a huge point of pride for me because I’d never felt like I could complete something like that on my own.

“I’ve sort of known my whole life that music is what I wanted to do,” adds Koren. “I was raised in a very musical family so it’s always been what I’ve loved and what I’ve been able to connect with people on. But before I met Dawn, I really hadn’t put much thought into what I wanted to do musically, I just knew that is was something I needed to do so it was a huge life changing experience for me, to meet someone I connected with on such a staple part of my life.

“I had definitely been fishing around for a musical partner and nobody really clicked,” continues Larsh. “When we started to play together it just felt like a good thing. We knew we had to grow and learn together and I think that was kind of exciting for both of us. We have both changed a lot. When you start something at such a young age you grow up together.”

The spark of something special, honest and exciting was there from the start of Dawn and Marra coming together and over the years they’ve become better because of the other one in all facets, particularly an early case of stage jitters.

“Standing in front of a room full of people with your friend is a million times better than standing up there alone,” confides Larsh. “As time goes on of course it gets easier. But I think we’re both very grateful to have the other one up there when we forget the name of the venue we’re playing or screw up the name of the town we’re in.”

“Getting up on stage and singing and playing for people is what we love and long to do,” interjects Koren. “I think we’re becoming more comfortable with ourselves on stage as we grow into young women and are just having a great time. We have grown so much individually and as a band.”

“We like people to get to know us and like us or not at our shows,” adds Larsh. “We don’t really put on an act we just play our music for people. I think we just are who we are and that’s what we portray on stage.”

That unassuming honesty is at the crux of the beauty that is Dawn and Marra, even though Koren admits, “we’re lucky that we both inherited good genes.” Whether it was acoustic guitar and bass, two ukuleles, or some clapping hands, Larsh would write the brunt of the songs and then together, Dawn and Marra would flesh out the harmonies and presentation on what seemed the best instrumentation. When the pair won the Hamilton Music Awards Rising Star contest with a prize of recording time at Grant Avenue Studio, they fashioned their debut release, “Never Ask Me Why”.

“The first album was an amazing learning experience for us,” notes Larsh. “We were able to learn how the studio works but in all honestly had no idea how we wanted our music to sound.”

“We had only been playing music together for about a year,” recounts Koren. “I was 14, going on 15, trying to come to terms with the fact that I could no longer buy kids jeans and fan-girling like crazy over Paramore. It was a very young age to be thrown into a professional studio and asked your production opinion. I’m glad we went in that early so that now we have a much better grasp on how the studio works and how we want our production to sound. I think we have just learned better how to compliment a song with good production. We owe it to my parents for bring us together in the first place. They were and still are amazingly supportive and helped us out hugely when we were just starting out. As they’ve watched us grow into adults, they have obviously given us our space and let us control most of our own musical and business decisions.”

They scoured CD credits looking for producers they might like and on a whim emailed Howard Redekop (Tegan and Sara, Said the W - View

By James Tennant


Dawn and Marra stand on the stage at the Hamilton Blues and Roots Festival, their colourful summer dresses and cheerful banter at odds with the darkening sky. When it does start to rain, Marra remarks that the spray blowing onto the stage is refreshing. Dawn thanks the audience for sticking around. They play as though the weather hasn't changed, as though Dawn hasn't been up all night with the flu and as if they're seasoned professionals instead of two women on the cusp of their career and, indeed, adulthood itself. Dawn Larsh and Marrakech Koren may seem young — they are 20 and 18-years-old respectively — but given they were 16 and 14 when they began, they can hardly be called inexperienced.

Dawn's experience with music began when she joined the Hamilton Children's Choir at 12. Her parents were supportive; equally so when she decided to try her hand at songwriting. Once the teenager was ready to play in public, she began to appear at local open mic nights. One of these was hosted by local musicians Frank and Kim Koren and when they saw Dawn play they sensed they had to introduce her to their daughter.

Luckily for the girls and their fans, their intuition was right; Marra began to play bass on Dawn's songs and the chemistry made them fast friends as well as musical soulmates. You can hear it in the way they talk during interviews; Marra and Dawn don't quite complete each other's sentences, but they often tell stories in tandem, in some kind of sentence-relay:

Dawn: "Our first gig was the scariest thing in the whole world."

Marra: "It was some kind of outdoor festival in the middle of nowhere."

Dawn: "There was hardly anyone there."

Marra: "Our parents and her aunt and uncle, the sound guy and some vendors."

Dawn: "It didn't take the pressure off."

Marra: "I was freaking out, saying 'I think I'm going to puke.'"

Dawn: "I was going to puke, too."

This connection seems to be part of the reason they are so effective as a duo. They began as Dawn Larsh, with Marra on bass; eventually Dawn encouraged Marra to sing, and songwriting became more of a team effort. It wasn't too long before the collaboration prompted Dawn to suggest they begin to perform under the moniker Dawn and Marra.

Despite their youth — as individuals and as a duo — Dawn and Marra wasted little time before they recorded in a studio. At around the same time, the duo won the Hamilton Music Awards' Rising Star Search, bolstering their name on a local level and providing them with a smidge more time in the studio.

The debut, Never Ask Me Why, consisted mainly of Dawn's own material, a collection of songs she refers to as "a catch-all." "We didn't really know how we wanted it collectively sewn together," she says. "We didn't have a sound."

Fast-forward to 2013, and the situation has changed. Dawn and Marra have plenty of ideas. When it came time to record their followup, Teaspoons and Tablespoons, they were specific about their sound, arrangements, instrumentation and even their choice of producer. Dawn and Marra want to take control of their image and music and not be pigeonholed as something they aren't — cutesy girls singing folk songs. While traditional elements abound in their music, they are fans of other genres and don't want to be limited by labels.

"Once you're put into the folk category it's hard to gain recognition outside of the folk world," says Marra. "I think for a summer we were pegged as a folk group."

In order to help expand their sound, Dawn and Marra wanted to find the right producer. They were told to aim high — to find the producer they could work with at this point in their career. They chose Howard Redekopp, whose credits include Mother Mother, Tegan and Sara and one of their personal favourites, Said The Whale.

Marra: "We were like, okay, we'll do that, but he's never going to work with us."

Dawn: "I composed an email; I just didn't send it for a long time."

Marra: "Then we didn't hear from him for a few weeks."

Dawn: "I put the email out of my head as soon as I sent it."

Marra: "It was like 'there's no way.'"

Dawn: "'It's not even a thing. Whatever. It didn't even happen.'"

And then it did happen. After hearing good things about Dawn and Marra, Redekopp set up a Skype meeting. At first sight — Dawn with a ukulele and Marra with a tomato shaker — Redekopp was uncertain, but when they played him a song — "Joe," from the new album — he was sold.

"Once you're put into the folk category it's hard to gain recognition outside of the folk world."
Dawn and Marra flew to Vancouver to record Teaspoons and Tablespoons - Hamilton Magazine Summer Issue

Who the hell are Dawn and Marra and when did they become the best damn musical duo in Canada? OK, that’s obviously personal opinion but their new album Teaspoons and Tablespoons has been on heavy rotation in my household for over a week and I’m still excited! Filled with eight powerful songs, strong vocals and unique musical arrangements, this album is a refreshing independent release with a unique sound.
Produced by Howard Redekopp (The New Pornographers, Tegan and Sara) this album sounds great. It was recorded nice and low leaving lots of room for sound dynamics which they use nicely. The opening track Wicked Little Girl is a great example of this, making great use of studio techniques. They use a loop filled with finger snaps and hand claps to get a truly original rhythm track. This builds up a solid base to the song, soon to be joined by chanting type lyrics and rumbling drums, all leading up to the heart of the song. It gives me chills when I hear it.

Another of my favorite songs would be Animal. Leaning more to a traditional folk song filled with powerful lyrics and vocals. I especially love when they break it down to just hand clapping and singing towards the end, building up to a strong finish of them singing “I am an Animal” loudly with the drums kicking in behind them. It’s one of those songs that leave a lasting impression.

All this talent and originality, these girls must have been at this for decade’s right? Nope! Dawn is only 20 and Marra 18, proving that experience is not always necessary for a great album. Sometimes people just figure out how to do it right the first time (luck? Time will tell). Dawn and Marra are from Hamilton Ontario and have been writing and performing for a few short years. They perform new songs almost weekly, always leaving their fans anticipating the next gig. Dawn handles the majority of the song writing with Marra pitching in with great harmonies and backing vocals.

Labelled as their debut album, but I know they had another CD released a few years prior. Perhaps they consider that album a demo now, who knows. Call it what you will, Teaspoons and Tablespoons has tremendous strength and is an absolutely incredible release for these two young girls. To think that this is just them starting out, I can’t wait to hear more. - maritimevinyl.ca

I love it when a plan comes together. And I love it when talent blooms. You know those precocious high school kids who show so much promise so early, obviously skilled, natural musicians who make your own kids look like schlubs playing video games all day in the basement? Ya, I got three of the latter. Meanwhile, about three years back I ran into aspiring singing duo Dawn and Marra in Hamilton, On. Still kids, they were in the talent contest (which they won) and obviously were keen on a career in music already. Not some instant win Idol thing either, they wanted to be taken seriously.

Their music was modern folk, acoustic and pretty much what you'd expect, nice melodies and vocals, harmonies and teenage takes on bigger topics. They were clearly talented, quite charming, and in that rather large city of a half-million, and close to a really big city, they were standing out. Over the next couple of years, each time I checked in, they had done more; some recording, lots of gigs, some traveling to play out of town. But I kinda thought they'd stay much like I first saw them, with the nice melodies and folk-acoustic sound, and the harmonies, etc.

Ya, well.. guess again, Bob. After an initial recording that did stick to that folk sound, this true debut is a real revelation. Now 20 (Dawn) and 18 (Marra), Teaspoons and Tablespoons sees them blossom with new sounds, a mature set of lyrics, and an image that brings them into the vanguard of modern, vibrant performers. Incorporating an intricate vocal blend and a surprising mix of instruments, the songs leave folk at the door, and wander into a big world of possibilities. At the core are their voices, the unison and harmony singing they've been developing over the years, but now to hear the melodies fleshed out with off-kilter arrangements and inspired production choices is jarring in the best way.

Working with Vancouver producer Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, New Pornographers, Said The Whale) seems to have been the key, a sympathetic ear ready to suggest and experiment. Said The Whale join on several tracks, and Dawn and Marra found a new energy to their singing, trying on pop tricks and lots and lots of vocal blends. It's pretty rare to hear so much harmony and unison singing, with very few spots where they aren't both singing. It's even more rare to enjoy it so much, these two really are perfect together.

It's funny, I almost wish I didn't know the back story, and I'm questioning whether I needed to mention it. I guess I just wanted to say how far they've come in three years, and let you know what went into all this, the hard work and development. Anyone coming to them new should be impressed, and intrigued at what can happen when acoustic folk gets a youthful shot of energy. - Bob Mersereau's Top 100 Canadian Blogs

I love it when a plan comes together. And I love it when talent blooms. You know those precocious high school kids who show so much promise so early, obviously skilled, natural musicians who make your own kids look like schlubs playing video games all day in the basement? Ya, I got three of the latter. Meanwhile, about three years back I ran into aspiring singing duo Dawn and Marra in Hamilton, On. Still kids, they were in the talent contest (which they won) and obviously were keen on a career in music already. Not some instant win Idol thing either, they wanted to be taken seriously.

Their music was modern folk, acoustic and pretty much what you'd expect, nice melodies and vocals, harmonies and teenage takes on bigger topics. They were clearly talented, quite charming, and in that rather large city of a half-million, and close to a really big city, they were standing out. Over the next couple of years, each time I checked in, they had done more; some recording, lots of gigs, some traveling to play out of town. But I kinda thought they'd stay much like I first saw them, with the nice melodies and folk-acoustic sound, and the harmonies, etc.

Ya, well.. guess again, Bob. After an initial recording that did stick to that folk sound, this true debut is a real revelation. Now 20 (Dawn) and 18 (Marra), Teaspoons and Tablespoons sees them blossom with new sounds, a mature set of lyrics, and an image that brings them into the vanguard of modern, vibrant performers. Incorporating an intricate vocal blend and a surprising mix of instruments, the songs leave folk at the door, and wander into a big world of possibilities. At the core are their voices, the unison and harmony singing they've been developing over the years, but now to hear the melodies fleshed out with off-kilter arrangements and inspired production choices is jarring in the best way.

Working with Vancouver producer Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, New Pornographers, Said The Whale) seems to have been the key, a sympathetic ear ready to suggest and experiment. Said The Whale join on several tracks, and Dawn and Marra found a new energy to their singing, trying on pop tricks and lots and lots of vocal blends. It's pretty rare to hear so much harmony and unison singing, with very few spots where they aren't both singing. It's even more rare to enjoy it so much, these two really are perfect together.

It's funny, I almost wish I didn't know the back story, and I'm questioning whether I needed to mention it. I guess I just wanted to say how far they've come in three years, and let you know what went into all this, the hard work and development. Anyone coming to them new should be impressed, and intrigued at what can happen when acoustic folk gets a youthful shot of energy. - Bob Mersereau's Top 100 Canadian Blogs

Summer is finally here and if you haven’t yet found the soundtrack to accompany you on your last-minute roadtrips, suntanning sessions by the pool, or afternoons spent relaxing on the porch, then you’ll want to read further.

Indie-folk duo Dawn and Marra hail from Hamilton, Ontario, and their debut 8-track album titled Teaspoons and Tablespoons was officially released on the first of June – right on time for those aforementioned summer activities, but also a fantastic option for any other playlist lacking in the folk-y alternative pop department.

Recorded with producer Howard Redekopp (Said the Whale, Mother Mother, Tegan and Sara) in Vancouver, Canada, from start to finish the listener is provided with flawless, beautifully haunting harmonies and melodies that take over and get you grooving right where you stand. “Wicked Little Girl” is the first track and the second you hear the girls’ crooning, layered over faultless snaps, claps, and pats, you know you’re in for a treat. Guest vocal performances from the Juno-award-winners Said the Whale are lent on tracks like “Jaws”, “Not on Top”, and “Animals”. Seriously – if you’re not singing along to the catchy chorus of “Animals” the first time you hear it, picture yourself listening to it while driving along an open road with wind whipping through your hair and see what happens then.

With Dawn as the primary contributor when it comes to lyrics, and Marra offering her strong, creative musicality, the finished product is a genuine, nearly-magical listening experience laced with intense imagery and good vibes. Teaspoons and Tablespoons reached #1 on CFMU’s Top 5 Albums and was recently picked up by Pandora in the US. The combination of hard work, determination, and sheer talent has resulted in a solid album that can be appreciated by music lovers everywhere.

Whether you’re listening to the album in the midst of summer, or any other season, Teaspoons and Tablespoons is guaranteed to deliver you a great batch of tunes and get you singing along with each of them. Available as a digital album or hardcopy CD, it’s just begging you to welcome it into your iTunes library! Check it out on Dawn and Marra’s Bandcamp page right here.
- eastscene.com

Sometimes you've got to leave home to find your own voice, even if it's just for three weeks. So it was for Dawn And Marra, a Dundas duo that found its sound in Vancouver.

"We had to go out on our own," explains Dawn Larsh, the 20-year-old Dundas native who contributes half of the vocals and much of the songwriting to Dawn And Marra.

Larsh and her bandmate, Marra Koren, 18, had started their musical careers early, winning the Hamilton Music Awards Rising Star competition in 2010 when both were in high school. That prize was a recording session at Hamilton's Grant Avenue Studio.

The experience was exciting but not completely satisfying. The completed CD, Never Ask Me Why, featured 10 original songs by the young artists, but it never really felt right. They were too young to fully conceptualize their musical ideas.

They were listening to the music of West Coast indie bands like Said The Whale. It was closer to the sound they wanted — younger, more contemporary.

So when they started writing a set of new songs for a follow-up album, released this month as Teaspoons And Tablespoons, they decided they were going to do it differently.

"We didn't want to go in blind like we did the first time," Larch explains. "We had more ideas about how we wanted the songs to sound like, but we needed someone who had done it before, a lot of times, to guide us.

"We started looking at the back of our favourite albums, by bands like Said The Whale, and this one name popped up a lot, (producer) Howard Redekopp. Eventually I got up the courage to email him in Vancouver."

Redekopp is one of the top indie rock producers in the country, working with hip Canadian groups like Said The Whale, The New Pornographers, Mother Mother, and Tegan And Sara.

Larch's email might never have answered if it weren't for a few kind words from Hamilton rock band The Reason, which was recording its latest EP in Redekopp's Vancouver studio. The Reason told Redekopp about a great young singing duo from Hamilton called Dawn And Marra.

"The Reason had gone out there and they were just randomly talking about us, 'these girls from our hometown,'" Larch says.

Dawn And Marra went to Vancouver for three weeks to record with Redekopp who instinctively linked with their ideas on the eight new songs.

"Howard understood everything," Larsh says. "That was the special thing about going to Vancouver, to have someone say, 'Yeah, I understand you. Here you go.'"

During the recording sessions, Dawn And Marra contacted their favourite band, Said The Whale, to say hello. The two groups had met during last year's Supercrawl in Hamilton and hit it off.

The members of Said The Whale offered to come into the studio and sing back up vocals and can be heard on several tracks on Teaspoons And Tablespoons.

Dawn And Marra will perform songs from the new album Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Dr. Disc, 20 Wilson St., as part of the monthly James Street North Art Crawl. The album can be purchased through iTunes or locally at Dr. Disc in Hamilton and Records On Wheels in Dundas. - The Hamilton Spectator

One of the best things you'll hear at the Festival of Friends this year is nestled away on the acoustic side stage, not on the booming main stage.

And folk duo Dawn and Marra are just fine with that.

“The main stage? We don't want to do that anyway,” Dawn laughed, thankful the smaller stage was keeping her dry during the weekend's torrential rain.

Dawn and Marra — or Dawn Larsh and Marrakech Koren — play wistful, playful folk music.

The Dundas duo has been performing together for about three years, but their music sounds like the two grew up singing together.

Their songs are lilting and catchy, cobbled together by sparse instrumentation — usually a guitar, piano, or ukulele.

But that's for the best, because their voices need plenty of room. The two sing together effortlessly, with intricate, dense vocal harmonies bursting out of their tunes.

Oh, and they're still teenagers. Just barely though — Dawn turns 20 on Sunday.

“And I'm freaking out,” She told CBC Hamilton. “This is my last day of being a teenager.”

Marra is even younger — she's just 17.

And the secret to their musical success? “We just play a lot,” Marra said. “Through that, we've developed a really well-blended harmony.”

The two come from musical backgrounds — both spent time in choirs — Dawn in the Hamiltion Children's Choir and Marra in a home schooled choir.

Even though they sound like seasoned performers, both can be a little on the shy side.

“I wouldn't even sing a solo in choir if they asked me to,” Dawn said. “But in the end, it really brought me out of my shell. I don't think I'd be doing this if it wasn't for them.”

And like any young female duo, the two have to deal with quite a bit of male attention when their sets are done. “So I just mention my boyfriend into the microphone a lot,” Dawn laughed. “But soon Marra will be 18, so they'll be swarming her next.”

Dawn and Marra are playing around Hamilton as much as they can, and have managed to garner some label interest. Their next step is to find an agent and start to tour, they say.

“I just want people to have a really good feeling after our sets, and want to listen to the songs again,” Marra said.

Dawn agrees. “Having people come out of a show with shivers — that's the goal for me.

For more on Dawn and Marra, check out their website here. - Adam Carter, CBC News

One of the best things you'll hear at the Festival of Friends this year is nestled away on the acoustic side stage, not on the booming main stage.

And folk duo Dawn and Marra are just fine with that.

“The main stage? We don't want to do that anyway,” Dawn laughed, thankful the smaller stage was keeping her dry during the weekend's torrential rain.

Dawn and Marra — or Dawn Larsh and Marrakech Koren — play wistful, playful folk music.

The Dundas duo has been performing together for about three years, but their music sounds like the two grew up singing together.

Their songs are lilting and catchy, cobbled together by sparse instrumentation — usually a guitar, piano, or ukulele.

But that's for the best, because their voices need plenty of room. The two sing together effortlessly, with intricate, dense vocal harmonies bursting out of their tunes.

Oh, and they're still teenagers. Just barely though — Dawn turns 20 on Sunday.

“And I'm freaking out,” She told CBC Hamilton. “This is my last day of being a teenager.”

Marra is even younger — she's just 17.

And the secret to their musical success? “We just play a lot,” Marra said. “Through that, we've developed a really well-blended harmony.”

The two come from musical backgrounds — both spent time in choirs — Dawn in the Hamiltion Children's Choir and Marra in a home schooled choir.

Even though they sound like seasoned performers, both can be a little on the shy side.

“I wouldn't even sing a solo in choir if they asked me to,” Dawn said. “But in the end, it really brought me out of my shell. I don't think I'd be doing this if it wasn't for them.”

And like any young female duo, the two have to deal with quite a bit of male attention when their sets are done. “So I just mention my boyfriend into the microphone a lot,” Dawn laughed. “But soon Marra will be 18, so they'll be swarming her next.”

Dawn and Marra are playing around Hamilton as much as they can, and have managed to garner some label interest. Their next step is to find an agent and start to tour, they say.

“I just want people to have a really good feeling after our sets, and want to listen to the songs again,” Marra said.

Dawn agrees. “Having people come out of a show with shivers — that's the goal for me.

For more on Dawn and Marra, check out their website here. - Adam Carter, CBC News

Dawn and Marra’s Never Ask Me Why
Dawn Larsh and Marra Koren met in no small part because of their families but the buzz they’ve created as the musical duo Dawn and Marra is all as a result of their own talents. Their debut CD, Never Ask Me Why, recorded while the young duo still hadn’t graduated high school showcases a lot of promise.
“I’ve always loved music and my uncles on my mother’s side all played classical and folk guitar,” recalls Larsh. “At 15, I started to play the acoustic guitar because I wanted to write songs and it seemed like the instrument of choice. Creative story telling comes from my father’s side of the family, so I guess songwriting comes naturally for me. It’s a mixture of both my mom and dad’s DNA. My parents have always been supportive of what I do and when they heard my songs they said, ‘this may be what you should think about doing with your life.’
So at 16 I decided I wanted to be a singer/songwriter and everything I’ve done from that moment has been to try and make that happen.”
“I have been surrounded by music my whole life,” says Koren. “For as long as I can remember, my dad has been in bands, my mom writing songs, and both playing gigs all the time, so I was bound to be involved in music somehow or another. At around the age of five my parents got me a miniature guitar, and I would play an A chord while my dad soloed over top of it. Later in 2007, I picked up the bass
guitar. I chose this four stringed instrument because nobody else in my family played it, and I wanted to try something new. Two years later, on a Monday morning, my parents told me of a girl who had come out to their open mic night at the West End Pub the night before. That’s when Dawn and I met.”
It wasn’t long before the young pair were honing their craft, working on a duo presentation for their original songs and catching the eyes and ears of new fans. When Dawn and Marra won some recording time at Grant Avenue Studio – Frank and Kim Koren as well as a host of
musicians helped to record the duo’s debut. And now, the stars seemed aligned for Dawn and Marra to move their musical careers forward. Dawn and Marra have a strong grasp on what makes a song good and while they’ve studied their parents’ music collections, they’re probably
more apt to give nods to the likes of Ingrid Michaelson or Said the Whale. It’s clever but not calculated and the pair believe universally accessible.
“Songwriting is probably the most exciting part of doing this for me,” confirms Larsh. “It’s a thrill every time I create something new. I would say the songs are relatable to all ages because it seems like everyone takes something different from the songs. Most often, I write in a way that isn’t completely literal. I leave some things to the imagination. This lets people of all ages put their own meaning in the songs so it is more relatable to everyone. Of course, that’s not to say that I don’t write a lot about love, longing, teenage stuff etc., but I would like to think that adults can relate to these topics as well.”
Since recording, they’ve written enough songs to create another entire album but have been focusing on their stage show. One auspicious gig had them on the Daniel Lanois outdoor festival at Christie Conservation Area. Not bad for still being in high school and their debut recording, is only the beginning of what the pair hope to achieve.
“What we are having isn’t really even a CD release, it’s more of a concert to showcase everything we have done up to this point,” offers Koren. “Our backing band will be Frank Koren on acoustic and electric guitar, Kim Koren on accordion, harmonica, percussion, and Amy King on keys, kick drum, snare. Our new songs will be featured in the set as well as many favourites from the album. Of course, the album will be for sale but we really just want to show people what we can do now. We would like people to walk away from the event feeling like they just heard something great and worth remembering.”
“When playing for a live audience we get everyone from a 10–year–old girl to a middle aged man coming up to us and telling us they enjoy our music,” says Larsh. “We would love for this to be what we are doing for the rest of our lives. We are growing at a great pace for how long we have been doing this so we are very optimistic that we will be together for a long time. This summer at Harvest Picnic was sort of a glimpse into what we hope to be doing in the future.” V

Dawn and Marra play this Saturday October 1 at the Lyric Theatre (formerly the Westside Concert Theatre) with Kori Pop and Melissa Bel. Show starts at 8pm and tickets are $10.
Click on dawnandmarra.com - View Magazine

It's been a while since I updated my ongoing exploration of the music of Hamilton, Ontario. To explain, each year I travel to The Hammer for its music awards, usually held in November. During these trips, I've made many friends, and been introduced to a unique music scene, as strong as any in the country, better than most. You can find it all there, plus a strong tradition in roots and rock 'n' roll, one of the very first places in the country to welcome the wild sounds.

The big news these days is a major concert being held Saturday, August 27th. It's a concert in support of local farmers and sustainable farming practices in the area, called the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. Musically, the show is backed by local boy-made-good, Daniel Lanois, who is headlining and bringing along a bunch of his friends. Those include the great Emmylou Harris, whom Lanois has produced, singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne, Gord Downie and the County of Miracles, Sarah Harmer, and several more. It's quite a lineup.

Just added to the bill is a duo you won't know outside Greater Hamilton, and this will definitely be their biggest audience ever. I was introduced to them in a time-honoured way, at a Rising Star competition, indeed the first one the Hamilton Music Awards has held, this past November. I had a crazy job that night, acting as the MC. There were something like 15 different acts going for the prize, which was quite substantial, including free studio time and lots of gear, perks and professional help to start young artists along the right path. These were singers and groups from high school age to early 20's, all realizing this wasn't some lame contest. Now, I had no idea going in that the level of young talent would be so high that night, but it quickly became apparent that these weren't some American Idol wannabe's, these folks were serious about possibly moving into a professional career, and I know of at least of the acts that are playing lots of pro jobs in the area.

Anyway, I was glad I wasn't judging, because it was tough. There were three or four that caught my attention (while I was panicking about my next introduction), including the eventual winners. They were a duo, two young women from nearby Dundas, 18 and 16, named Dawn and Marra. It was quickly obvious, even with just two songs allowed, that these two had a spark, and a desire to perform. I'm not talking about the "look-at-me" narcissism you see on Idol shows, or among high school class clowns. These two wanted to share what they do. What really impressed most people was that they also wrote their own songs, already. You can be a great singer, a fine musician, but add songwriting to that mix, and you've turned a corner. That's the thing about music -- somebody has to write it. Fine voices, good arrangements, harmonies, confidence playing just by themselves, Dawn and Marra has everything you'd want to see in a professional duo at club, and here they were just starting out.

Fast-forward to, well, today, half a year later, and I have the new, and first Dawn and Marra album, Never Ask Me Why. Using the buzz and support from the Hamilton Music Awards, they've done exactly what you'd hope they would: made a strong debut album, played almost every weekend since, and staked out an immediate future in music. The disc is all original, ten cuts, done in their singer-songwriter style. Marra Koren sings lead and harmony, and handles bass duties, while Dawn Larsh writes the bulk of the songs, also sings lead and harmonies, and plays guitar and ukulele. Quite good ukulele in fact, there's a couple of cool numbers with that as the base instrument, a different sound for sure.

Dawn and Marra are still learning, and there's an awkwardness at times with the lyrics, or times when they still sound like teens. But mostly on this disc, and live, they're showing their strengths in performing and writing. Already they stand out. - MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: DAWN & MARRA - NEVER ASK ME WHY

It's been a while since I updated my ongoing exploration of the music of Hamilton, Ontario. To explain, each year I travel to The Hammer for its music awards, usually held in November. During these trips, I've made many friends, and been introduced to a unique music scene, as strong as any in the country, better than most. You can find it all there, plus a strong tradition in roots and rock 'n' roll, one of the very first places in the country to welcome the wild sounds.

The big news these days is a major concert being held Saturday, August 27th. It's a concert in support of local farmers and sustainable farming practices in the area, called the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. Musically, the show is backed by local boy-made-good, Daniel Lanois, who is headlining and bringing along a bunch of his friends. Those include the great Emmylou Harris, whom Lanois has produced, singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne, Gord Downie and the County of Miracles, Sarah Harmer, and several more. It's quite a lineup.

Just added to the bill is a duo you won't know outside Greater Hamilton, and this will definitely be their biggest audience ever. I was introduced to them in a time-honoured way, at a Rising Star competition, indeed the first one the Hamilton Music Awards has held, this past November. I had a crazy job that night, acting as the MC. There were something like 15 different acts going for the prize, which was quite substantial, including free studio time and lots of gear, perks and professional help to start young artists along the right path. These were singers and groups from high school age to early 20's, all realizing this wasn't some lame contest. Now, I had no idea going in that the level of young talent would be so high that night, but it quickly became apparent that these weren't some American Idol wannabe's, these folks were serious about possibly moving into a professional career, and I know of at least of the acts that are playing lots of pro jobs in the area.

Anyway, I was glad I wasn't judging, because it was tough. There were three or four that caught my attention (while I was panicking about my next introduction), including the eventual winners. They were a duo, two young women from nearby Dundas, 18 and 16, named Dawn and Marra. It was quickly obvious, even with just two songs allowed, that these two had a spark, and a desire to perform. I'm not talking about the "look-at-me" narcissism you see on Idol shows, or among high school class clowns. These two wanted to share what they do. What really impressed most people was that they also wrote their own songs, already. You can be a great singer, a fine musician, but add songwriting to that mix, and you've turned a corner. That's the thing about music -- somebody has to write it. Fine voices, good arrangements, harmonies, confidence playing just by themselves, Dawn and Marra has everything you'd want to see in a professional duo at club, and here they were just starting out.

Fast-forward to, well, today, half a year later, and I have the new, and first Dawn and Marra album, Never Ask Me Why. Using the buzz and support from the Hamilton Music Awards, they've done exactly what you'd hope they would: made a strong debut album, played almost every weekend since, and staked out an immediate future in music. The disc is all original, ten cuts, done in their singer-songwriter style. Marra Koren sings lead and harmony, and handles bass duties, while Dawn Larsh writes the bulk of the songs, also sings lead and harmonies, and plays guitar and ukulele. Quite good ukulele in fact, there's a couple of cool numbers with that as the base instrument, a different sound for sure.

Dawn and Marra are still learning, and there's an awkwardness at times with the lyrics, or times when they still sound like teens. But mostly on this disc, and live, they're showing their strengths in performing and writing. Already they stand out. - MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: DAWN & MARRA - NEVER ASK ME WHY

The 10 months that have passed since their victory at the Hamilton Music Awards Rising Star competition have been busy ones for Dawn and Marra.

In the spring, the young Dundas folk duo recorded their debut CD, Never Ask Me Why at Hamilton’s Grant Avenue Studio, featuring 10 original songs written by Dawn Larsh (Dawn) and Marrakech Koren (Marra).

From there they began performing at listening rooms like Hamilton’s Pearl Company and then onto the summer festival circuit, playing Burlington’s Sound of Music, the Dundas Cactus Festival, the Epicure Festival in Windsor and It’s Your Festival in Hamilton.

The summer season ended for Dawn and Marra with a strong performance at Daniel Lanois’ Harvest Picnic at Christie Lake, where they joined a line-up that included Emmylou Harris, Ray LaMontagne and Sarah Harmer. Dawn and Marra’s exquisite harmonies received a solid ovation from the crowd and a pat on the back from Lanois himself.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, they’ll be headlining their first true concert at the Lyric Theatre (formerly the Westside Concert Theatre on King St. W.).

Video: Dawn & Marra sing A Love Letter

It’s been a big year for two performers who were attending Parkside High School together last year.

Dawn, who sings with a smile big enough to light up any stage, has just turned 19 and completed Grade 12 last year. Dawn is the duo’s principal songwriter and is devoting this year full time to their budding music career.

Marra is just 16 and completing her final year in high school. She admits that she’s had to cut classes a couple of times when the music business has called.

And the duo is garnering attention from some industry heavy hitter. Without being specific, they say they’ve had three meetings with label reps in Toronto and they’re expecting to see some in the audience Saturday.

“They found us because some woman filmed us at a show with her iPod and she passed it on to an A&R guy from a record label and he contacted us,” says Dawn. “We’ve had some cool meetings playing in conference rooms on the top floors of office buildings in Toronto.”

The two were introduced about two years by Marra’s parents Kim and Frank Koren. The Korens are well known on the Hamilton music scene, hosting open stages every Sunday at the West End Pub on Emerson. They noticed Marra’s talent when she started performing her original songs at the open stage.


“My parents said to me, ‘There was a girl at the open mic last night. She’s marvelous. You just have to meet her,’” Marra recalls.

It wasn’t long before Marra started playing bass for Dawn. Then Marra started adding vocal harmonies. It wasn’t long before they started writing the harmonies into Dawn’s songs. When they entered the HMA Rising Star contest, they had only been singing as a duo for about two months.

- Thespec.com

Dawn and Marra, two young women writing and performing their own material, were chosen the best of the night, their excellent folk-rock songs and voices showing a promising future. They'll get a good boost in that way, thanks to a prize package including studio time at the world-famous Grant Avenue Studios, founded by Lanois. - Bob Mersereau

Dawn and Marra, a folk duo from Parkside Secondary School in Dundas, won the first HMA Star Search competition. The two teens — Dawn Larsh and Marra Koren — were judged best of a dozen young acts from the area and received a recording package at Hamilton’s Grant Avenue Studio. - The Hamilton Spectator