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Debut Album 'Close Youe Eyes' was Launched (at long last !!)
Thursday 2nd December 2004
Betty Nicols, Kirkcaldy
Cd's are £12
There is also a song book to accompany the album. also priced at £12
If you wish to purchase a CD please contact:
dawndiamondok@yahoo.com
or
Sandy and Elma Stanage at easystages@aol.com
Also, if you wish to buy the CD, or to listen to a few of my songs as well as collaborations I have been involved with, please click on the following links:
All songs written and composed by Dawn Diamond Copyright 2004
All production and arrangements and cover art by Sandy Stanage.
Back cover photo taken by Trisha Dingwall, enhanced by Sandy Stanage.
Track 8 harmonies by Fiona Forbes
Track 8 violin by Amy King
Track 9 violin by Sandie Forbes
Track 10 acoustic guitar by Stuart Bell
Track 10 backing vocals by Sandie Forbes
All other instruments by Sandy Stanage.
Hi all and thank you for taking the time to browse through my web site!!!
My name is Dawn Diamond and I have lived here in Kirkcaldy all my life. I have been married to Paul for 20 years and we have two sons, Paul and Gary and a dog called Sandy.
I have played a bit of guitar since the age of 11 but only started song writing and performing in public about 11 years ago when I started going along to a local acoustic music club at Betty Nicols, High Street, Kirkcaldy. Initially I went along every Thursday to listen to the various artists playing a mixture of folk, blues and country and I just loved the atmosphere and the people and I just felt so at home.
Eventually I was persuaded to do a floor spot which was a big thing for me as the only audience I usually had was my 4 bedroom walls. Anyway I got such a good response so I decided to pursue the singing, then eventually started song writing . I went from doing floor spots to half night performances and then whole nights, in Betty's as well as a few other local music clubs. I have also been involved in a few local charity events which I loved and I look forward to doing more, the audiences were great! I got together for a time with Stuart Bell, another very talented, local singer, songwriter, who went along to Betty's and we formed a duo for a while covering songs by Nanci Griffiths, Tom Waites, Dean Martin, Jewel and some of our own materiel. Stuart introduced Me to a Nanci Griffiths album as he thought I sounded like her and I was hooked. Stuart was a great influence to me in my early days at Betty's and he encouraged me to try a range of songs which helped my singing and my confidence and I am very grateful to him. Stuart has gone from strength to strength with his own writing and performing. He released his debut album, 'Toledo' 3 years ago and gigs regularly in Glasgow and he had a successful week at the Edinburgh Festival in 2003. Stuart and I then met our friend Amy King through a local song writing workshop and we formed a trio 'Buddy K' a few years ago now. We did 2 or 3 gigs together but split to spend more time on our own songs. We are all still good pals and both Stuart and Amy accompany me on my album.
Over the years I have written and performed a few of my own songs as well as covers by Eva Cassidy, Nanci Griffiths, Iris Dement and Jewel. I love country music and some of my own songs have a bit of a country feel about them and they are all written about something I or my friends and family have experienced. I feel it is easier to write about something I can relate to and then hopefully, my audience can relate to them too.
I love ballads hence a lot of my songs are heartfelt ballads but I try to keep up with the times and have written a few up tempo, pop songs as well. I've even written a couple of funny songs which always go down a treat at the club. I'm always trying different styles and I am working on several songs at the moment, though it's hard to find the time I need to complete them and this is very frustrating. I enjoy listening to all of the above artists as well as Dolly Parton, Shania, Anastacia, Celine Dion, Leanne Rimes but I also like Queen, Bon Jovi, Guns n Roses, Meat loaf, Elton John and I wouldn't mind sending them some of my songs to sing. I also love classical music and I feel I have incorporated a bit of all the above in my songs.
I love writing songs first and foremost and I enjoy singing them as I know how I want them to sound but I have written a few songs that I feel are not suited to my voice hence I would love to send them to people I think could do them justice. Maybe one day.
I nearly always have a tune before any lyrics come along. I sit for hours sometimes, just playing around with different chords till I come up with something I like, then eventually it makes Me think or feel a certain way and then the words eventually follow, sometimes this can take a couple of hours and sometimes it takes months. I 'I've got a folder full of bits of songs that I hope to use at some point. I get such a buzz when I know I'm onto something that I know I will finish and perform one day. Sometimes I get words before the melody, but very seldom. My mum or sister in law Carol are usually first to hear my latest efforts and usually they cry when they like something, especially Carol, so I keep plenty of hankies handy !!
I have had lots of praise and support and encouragement from friends and family and regulars at Betty's these last few years and have been nagged at for some time to make a CD for them, so over the last 6 months, with the help of producer/musical genius Sandy Stanage (Fishtail Records), that is exactly what I have done!!! My debut Album "Close Your Eyes" was launched on Thursday 2nd December at Betty Nicols and I think everyone I know was there. It was a fantastic night and it went by in a flash and a good few CD's were sold !! The album comprises of 13 self penned songs to suit all genres and we've tried to make each track different. There's orchestras and drums and cellos and violins and guitars on there, all arranged beautifully by Sandy.
The CD is a bit different to what you would hear if you came along to one of my gigs, this is because I wanted to make it extra special for listeners. I would love to get a band together one day to help me perform the songs live just as they are on the CD but with a venue like Betty's, a solo singer / guitarist seems to go down rather well. :o) I have dreamed of having my own album for years and now that it is here its still hard to believe. If it wasn't for the likes of Fiona and Sandy Forbes, Elma and Sandy Stanage, Bruce and Sandra Davies, Stuart Bell, Amy King, Sandy Forbes and everyone at Betty's and work mates at MGt, I probably would have given it up as a bad joke. It is very intimidating though these days as there are so many talented people out there but I love what I do though ,and if people get pleasure out of listening to me then I will carry on.
I wish to thank my mum and dad, gran and sister Julie and bro in law Robert, sister in law Carol and bro in law John for all their support over the years. I wish to especially thank my husband Paul and my sons Paul and Gary for their patience and understanding and allowing me the time to pursue my dream.
Thankyou all xxxxx
I hope this is just the beginning for me as I have many more songs under my belt and tons more to write and hopefully lots more albums to put together over the next few years......so watch this space!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope to get together again with Sandy Stanage sometime in 2006 to record my second album which will include some of my older songs, re-vamped, and some new songs that I am working on at the moment. I can't wait!
If Dolly Parton or Nanci Griffiths happen to be reading this page, I have a few songs I would love to send you :o)
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