Meet Singer - Songwriter Kira Dawn
Kira Dawn is a singer-songwriter from Wyoming. At the Amplified Studios open mic a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Kira and seeing her perform. During her performance, Kira mentioned she was on an open mic tour, and Amplified Studios was her last stop. Let's hear what she says about her music and what that open mic tour was like.
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Photo taken by @zoie.olguin
NAME, WHAT INSTRUMENT YOU PLAY, AND WHERE YOU ARE FROM.
"My name is Kira Dawn, I play guitar, sing, write songs, and I'm from Wyoming!"
WHEN DID YOU START MAKING MUSIC? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WANT TO WRITE YOUR OWN SONGS?
"I just picked up a guitar and tried it out about a year ago. I was going through many significant life changes and found a lot of comfort in music by my favorite artists. At first, I just wanted to be able to play songs that other artists had written since it felt like they took the lyrics right from my brain. Then I gradually realized I could do it with my own words and feelings, too."
WHAT ARE SOME ARTISTS THAT YOU LOOK UP TO?
"It's evident to most people who meet me that I am a massive Phoebe Bridgers girl. Phoebe's music was the most significant catalyst in my decision to make my own music. She is a brutally honest songwriter with a gift for making her lyrics resonate with whoever is listening to them. I also look up to Leith Ross because they have a dynamic style and a matching gift for lyricism. I love when artists can bare their whole soul through their music, and you feel seen by it. If I don't stop myself, I will continue with this question forever, so I'll leave it at those two."
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS OPEN MIC TOUR YOU JUST DID. WHERE DID YOU STOP BY ON THIS RUN? WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE OPEN MIC PERFORMANCE THAT YOU DID?
"We took a road trip from home to So-Cal and just stopped at as many mics as possible along the way! I usually perform in a relatively small area, so I'm always looking for new music and art. We got to meet so many incredible people. My favorite performance was the one I did at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood. It's a perfect space with such a welcoming vibe- and your set is professionally recorded and live-streamed, which was fantastic to have my friends and family back home tuning in. Picture open mic meets MTV Unplugged."
YOU DID YOUR LAST STOP AT AMPLIFIED STUDIOS. WHAT WAS THE ENERGY OF THE OPEN MIC? TELL ME A BIT ABOUT YOUR SET.
"Yes, that was our last stop! The open mic at Amplified was one we will not miss the next time we get to do this. There were so many talented artists with such unique styles and perspectives. It's also an underrated luxury to go to an open mic with top-notch sound quality and mixing as you do here. Not to mention the chance to get your songs recorded and mixed, which is an awesome feature of this mic."
Kira Dawn performing at The Boardwalk Sound
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG TO PLAY LIVE? CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE SONG IS ABOUT AND WHY IT IS SO SPECIAL?
"My favorite song to play live is my song, 'Strait and Narrow'! The song is about my experience surrounding the religion I grew up in and learning to reconcile that with being queer as I grew up. Where I'm from, I got to see this song resonate deeply with so many people who grew up in similar circumstances and had similar journeys. It's so special to hear people's stories and be there for each other through our art."
DO MOST OF YOUR SONGS FIT UNDER A GENERAL THEME, OR DOES THE MEANING IN BETWEEN SONGS VARY?
“I would say, in general, they could all be under the umbrella of big feelings music. I write as an outlet, and what comes of that is lots of honesty and emotion. Someone once described my general vibe as 'technicolor emo,' which sums it up nicely."
WHAT SHOULD FANS LOOK OUT FOR IN THE FUTURE?
"Well, my Utah and Wyoming friends can usually find a show to catch me at. But, as far as California, we want to make it back down that way to play again before the summer is over! In terms of music, there is a lot in the works- so follow along on my Instagram (@_kira_dawn_) if you're looking for updates and timelines on releases!”
