Steve Dawson
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
“Dawson’s casually masterful style is apparent on “Love Is A Blessing,” a standout track from his solo debut, Sweet Is The Anchor. The song’s a gorgeous Al Green-style ballad that’s steeped in the old Hi Records sound--washes of strings, fatback bass drum, and subtly funky guitar lines--but its the purity of the singing, not the arrangements, that makes me think of Anchor as a soul album” - Chicago Reader
“Dawson’s casually masterful style is apparent on “Love Is A Blessing,” a standout track from his solo debut, Sweet Is The Anchor. The song’s a gorgeous Al Green-style ballad that’s steeped in the old Hi Records sound--washes of strings, fatback bass drum, and subtly funky guitar lines--but its the purity of the singing, not the arrangements, that makes me think of Anchor as a soul album” - Chicago Reader
...sublime vocals that break with anguish, murmur in isolation, and can suddenly break out and summon rigorous heights, Sweet Is The Anchor is a vocalist’s album awash in the languor of country music and the Saturday night highs of soul. The obvious touchstone is the early 70s when rock cross-pollinated with country on the West Coast, Al Green was cutting his best work in Memphis, and Van Morrison soaked up both sides of the aisle on albums that belted blue-eyed soul in the context of folk music and jazz - Chicago Daily Herald
...sublime vocals that break with anguish, murmur in isolation, and can suddenly break out and summon rigorous heights, Sweet Is The Anchor is a vocalist’s album awash in the languor of country music and the Saturday night highs of soul. The obvious touchstone is the early 70s when rock cross-pollinated with country on the West Coast, Al Green was cutting his best work in Memphis, and Van Morrison soaked up both sides of the aisle on albums that belted blue-eyed soul in the context of folk music and jazz - Chicago Daily Herald
"Dawson doesn't attempt to duplicate the sound of a band here, instead he treats the arrangements as aural experiments from a sonic laboratory, employing an array of effects with minimal outside support. The stripped-down approach calls all the more attention to the songs, and the songs are superb, from the self-laceration of "I'm The One I Despise", combining a lyric that bites like Elvis Costello's with a guitar that weeps like George Harrison's to the Zen lullaby of "The Monkey Mind Is On The Prowl" ...the melodic lilt,the bittersweet yearning, the occasional under-pinnings of 60s soul, and the seductive catchiness...the strength of the songcraft collapses the distinction between alt-country and really smart pop - No Depression Magazine
"Dawson doesn't attempt to duplicate the sound of a band here, instead he treats the arrangements as aural experiments from a sonic laboratory, employing an array of effects with minimal outside support. The stripped-down approach calls all the more attention to the songs, and the songs are superb, from the self-laceration of "I'm The One I Despise", combining a lyric that bites like Elvis Costello's with a guitar that weeps like George Harrison's to the Zen lullaby of "The Monkey Mind Is On The Prowl" ...the melodic lilt,the bittersweet yearning, the occasional under-pinnings of 60s soul, and the seductive catchiness...the strength of the songcraft collapses the distinction between alt-country and really smart pop - No Depression Magazine
Steve Dawson, better known as the frontman for the Chicago-based group Dolly Varden, is letting his soul shine in his latest solo release, Sweet Is The Anchor.
Strains of bluesy keyboard and sparkling acoustic guitar fill up the opener "Temporary" as Dawson soothes with the refrain "Don't worry child it's all temporary."
Strings chime in after each verse, adding to the heavenly vibe.
The title track sees Dawson's voice expertly navigating the soaring heights of the chorus melody. "Sweet is the Anchor, deep is the water, " he sings as guitars and tamborines jangle listeners back to the '60s/
"Love Is A Blessing" features a moody organ and a vibe that's straight up Marvin Gaye. Dawson has found the sweet spot between Soul Train and California pop, and the compelling combination will invite another listen,and another." - Performing Songwriter magazine
Steve Dawson, better known as the frontman for the Chicago-based group Dolly Varden, is letting his soul shine in his latest solo release, Sweet Is The Anchor.
Strains of bluesy keyboard and sparkling acoustic guitar fill up the opener "Temporary" as Dawson soothes with the refrain "Don't worry child it's all temporary."
Strings chime in after each verse, adding to the heavenly vibe.
The title track sees Dawson's voice expertly navigating the soaring heights of the chorus melody. "Sweet is the Anchor, deep is the water, " he sings as guitars and tamborines jangle listeners back to the '60s/
"Love Is A Blessing" features a moody organ and a vibe that's straight up Marvin Gaye. Dawson has found the sweet spot between Soul Train and California pop, and the compelling combination will invite another listen,and another." - Performing Songwriter magazine
Discography
with Dolly Varden:
"Mouthful Of Lies" (MidFi) 1996
"The Thrill Of Gravity (Evil Teen) 1998
"The Dumbest Magnets" (Evil Teen, US, Flying Sparks, UK) 2000
-the song 'The Thing You Love is Killing You' was a UK single and got
substantial airplay.
"Forgiven Now" (Undertow, US, Flying Sparks, UK) 2002
title track got US and UK airplay
with Diane Christiansen:
"Duets" (Undertow) 2003 - limited edition
solo:
"Sweet Is The Anchor" (Undertow) 2005
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Country Soul
Steve Dawson is the singer and songwriter for the Chicago group Dolly Varden. Driven by his passionate and soulful voice, allied to the dark poetry of his songs, Dolly Varden has released four albums since 1996 and has toured all over the US and Europe. The band are currently on an extended break, so Dawson has taken the opportunity to make his first solo record. On the album Dawson's singing is filled with the sounds of the classic soul and country music he grew up with.
Dawson was raised in Idaho where he discovered his father's extensive record collection when he was 12. His father, a wildlife illustrator, had everything from southern soul to classic rock to jazz. Country music was the soundtrack of life outside the house. When Steve was 13 he took guitar lessons from one of Idaho's mountain fiddle champions. He played his first gig at age 17 at the Silver Dollar Saloon in Bellevue, Idaho, with Cadillac Carl and the Road Rangers. He moved to Chicago after attending Berklee School of Music in Boston. A friend told him Chicago's music scene was bearing fruit and provided musicians endless opportunities to play. "It was great advice," he said. Upon his arrival he met Diane Christiansen, and they formed Stump the Host, a country rock band that preceded Dolly Varden. In 1996 Dolly Varden released the first of four albums that would reflect both the hook-ready depth of Dawson's songwriting and the dynamic collaboration of all five players. Critics from Rolling Stone, Uncut, and the Village Voice, among others, have praised Dawson's gift for melodic, evocative songwriting and the group's soulful vocal harmonies.
For the solo album Steve upgraded his home studio and worked through most of 2005, recording most of the parts himself. Some notable guests appear including: Frank Rosaly (drums), Jason Adasiewicz (vibes), Jason Roebke (upright bass) and Josh Berman (trumpet). Other guests include former Stump The Host violinist Tom Murray, who adds multi-tracked string parts, Joel Paterson, who plays pedal steel on a ‘country-soul’ cover of Tyrone Davis’ 1972 hit, I’ll Be Right Here, and Diane Christiansen who lends her voice to the title track. Dawson’s unabashed love of soul music is at its most pronounced on this album, especially on the Hi-records-inspired, Love Is A Blessing.
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