Texas Performing Singer/Songwriter Katherine Dawn
2009 CD Release “25 in TX”
Question: “What happens when a native Texas indie artist writes, records,
and performs for over 35 years, and cleans out the studio, attics, closets, and storage units?”
Answer: “Reminiscences and ponders the question... why?”
In January of 2009 Texas Hill Country artist Katherine Dawn a.k.a. Dawn Davis asked herself that very question, as well as,
”What are all of these recordings good for now?”
K.D.’s latest release is the manifesto of that experience. K.D. and long time engineer/producer David Helms of Rough Diamond
Productions ,(based here in Texas as well) started blowing the dust off and listening to the various recordings in K.D.’s possessions.
The recordings some dating as far back as 1972. Poems and songs on cassette of a ten year old K.D. sitting on the porch during a rain storm were not able to be transferred but as a result
many of them were. After long listening sessions 25 of the recordings were chosen, dating from 1978-2003.
The condition and source of a lot of the recordings played a factor in the choice as well. The recordings were re-mastered and mixed for optimum transfer,
but none of the tracks were over-dubbed, or re-mixed.
“I’m dedicating this project to my children, and my children’s children” says K.D. “It’s also a great opportunity to honor what’s already been created,
and inspire the projects to come. It’s not my greatest and there aren’t any bill board hits yet, but I wanted to pay homage to the recordings and everyone
that helped in the process. I also like knowing that I’ve created a collection for my family and friends to have for their own, instead of in a bunch of boxes unheard. It is also I felt something that true indie artist fans would find interesting if not entertaining.”
On the back of the dvd cased 2 vinyl disc (Side A and B) package it says... “It’s real, good, bad, ugly and it’s part of me, AND I made it in my own kitchen.
Texas Mama, Gospel, Blues, Country, Rock, Pop, Americana music, from the bottom of my native Texan heart.” This rings so true considering the fact
that K.D. has produced this CD on her own record label His Hill Records, in her home graphics and all..
“Hey it wouldn’t have been as much fun to hire the graphic artist, pay the replicator, and have them delivered would it? I’ll have all that fun on the next CD, hmmm, maybe.” says Katherine Dawn and co-workers. Who are the co-workers you ask? Husband Darrell Hicks, sons, Case and Dylan and daughter Leila Mae.
As far as the engineering and editing that took place on this project David Helms has this to say...”It was an interesting journey. Visiting projects from the past,
and bringing old tracks back to life proved to be so much more than just satisfying.”
The single sent to radio for this release is entitled “San Marcos River Girl”. K.D. expresses that the song was chosen because it embodies who she really is and
she loves to write in the auto biographical vain. Born in San Antonio, Texas, raised on the south side of S.A. until moving to the TX Hill Country in 1973, the
influences of the south side music scene and the dance halls of the Hill Country are evident on this release no matter the genre of the track.
The cover of this release isn’t a picture of Katherine Dawn but it was created by K.D. It’s a black and white highway sign on a guitar neck pole. The sign has
a bullet hole, initials, the number 25, an autograph, and a black top road behind it. Why? K.D. answers...”it’s a long road from there to here, isn’t it?”
