Robyn Landis
|
Join the Mailing List |
Bio
A writer of unusual depth and literacy, Robyn’s powerful command of songcraft garners frequent comparisons to Richard Shindell. She had a full career as a writer (publishing two bestselling books in her 20s) before turning her focus upon music. Her gifts applied to song earned quick recognition. Since 2005, she has accrued more than 40 songwriting honors, including Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and first place at Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. She was a 2009 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist.
Her second CD Many Moons, released May 2009, features 12 new songs of trademark honesty, vulnerability and intelligence. Guest artists include Michael Lille, Kat Eggleston, and Hans York.
About
Robyn is a writer of unusual depth and literacy. Her distinctive, powerful command of songcraft garners repeated comparisons to Richard Shindell and Dar Williams.
Writing poetry at four and her first published magazine piece by 19, Robyn had a full career as a writer and author (publishing two bestselling health books in her twenties) before turning her focus upon music. Her gifts and skills as a writer, applied to songcraft, earned her quick recognition. Since 2005 she has accrued more than 40 songwriting awards and honors. These include Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, first place at Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, second place in the Unisong International Songwriting Competition, and a Telluride Troubadors honorable mention. She was a Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist in 2009.
Robyn is especially respected for her unflinching honesty, vulnerability and fierce intelligence. Her courageous, heartfelt songs tackle subjects ranging from war to weather to love; adoption and dementia, betrayal and longing, friendship, child abuse, old sitcoms, and the environment.
Unpretentious, pure and intimate vocals infuse her memorable folk-pop-Americana melodies with warmth and feeling. Immediately recognized as a writer, she has also evolved over the past few years into a joyful performer appreciated for her authenticity, vulnerability, strength and maturity.
Her followup/solo recording Many Moons, released May 2009, has guest appearances by Michael Lille, Mark Graham, Kat Eggleston, Larry Murante, Joe and Karena Prater (Cat Loves Crow), and Hans York; and features Paul Elliott on fiddle and Cary Black on bass.
Mark Tucker of Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange (FAME) says of Many Moons, "Every cut here is a keeper, and Landis obviously either lavished a good deal of time on the arrangements or has a natural gift for it, probably both. Like David Wilcox, her work is rich with sympathy for human frailty and the thousand and one disappointments the flesh is heir to... Robyn Landis, I'm quite sure, waited until her art was fully matured and, man, does it ever show."
Indie-Music.com says, "Smooth vocals, like an earthy Laurie Lewis...Landis has won a lot of songwriting awards, and it's easy to see why...Her writing is like a good short story."
"Robyn Landis radiates excellence with every word, every note and every song. Many Moons is clearly one of the most exciting projects released by a singer/songwriter in North America this year--maybe even in the last few years and possibly for several more yet to come. This girl has what it takes--and then some!" ~ Dennis Brunnenmeyer, Nevada City Limits, KVMR Radio
