Dawn Langstroth
The young lady I’ll be sharing some time with today is Dawn Langstroth, singer/songwriter and painter. Many of us are getting to know Dawn as a very gifted singer/songwriter. Her latest release is a full length album called “Highwire”. The CD features a diverse collection of songs that Dawn co-wrote. “Highwire” is now available on iTunes!
Music has played a big part in Ms. Langstroth’s life. Her mother is none other than music icon Canadian songstress Anne Murray (Snowbird, You Needed Me). Dawn has inherited a great set of pipes and could easily stand toe-to-toe with any currently charted pop diva and then some, and win quite easily I might add. Her voice is so naturally pure and clear and her singing seems effortless. Not many singers can claim that. I believe that is part of something else she picked up from her mother, the simplicity and pureness of voice that truly is missing in today’s music.
We’ve quietly been introduced to Dawn over the years. She’s toured with her mom through Canada and the U.S. and with The Rankin family. We’ve also been graced with two EP’s from her in the past couple years and a couple duets with her mom on the albums What a Wonderful World: 26 Inspirational Classics
Dawn isn’t just about the music, she’s also a very talented painter. Getting to know her a little better I have found she has an extremely peaceful, enlightened way about her that is very appealing. And that is just one of the other reasons she’s continuously gaining more and more friends on Twitter (@dawnlangstroth) and Facebook and I must also add a doggone nice person.
When thinking about doing this interview with Dawn I knew I wanted to focus on the painter and only touch a little on the music. Her paintings are unique and are causing a stir in the art world and requests for her paintings grow day by day. I’m hoping to catch a different side of Dawn in this interview and to give you a peek into her “creative soul”.
First off I just want to say thank you Dawn for taking some time out of your busy schedule of rehearsals, performances, and painting to let us into your world. Let’s get the party started, eh?! 
KB: I love your paintings, they make me smile when I see them. I think that most people who see your paintings would say you have a unique style all your own. It borders on semi-cubism. How did you arrive at your style of painting?
Dawn: In 2003, i was living in Vancouver, and I was a little irked at having to do Christmas the same way every year, which reminded me how bored I was with my painting. I came up with a sketch of my dog, Mikey in the room where we usually celebrate Christmas, loved it, and decided to paint it. That’s how “Cubist Christmas” came about. I thought if I did something different, that nobody would like it. As it turned out, the opposite was true. Everybody seemed to enjoy it as much as I did, so I’ve painted in that style ever since.
KB: When it comes to influences & inspiration, who or what influences or inspires your paintings? Obviously Mikey has made some appearances in your work. That little West Highland White Terrier who loves to have his ears kissed is a good subject to paint! He’s just adorable.
Dawn: It really depends. Sometimes I’ll be driving and see something that my gut tells me to paint, or I am in my place and I can suddenly think that my Kleenex box looks interesting enough to sketch. The happiest part about the style I do, is that not only do other people wonder what things will look like in that style, but I wonder it, too. I never really know where the painting is going to go, so that keeps things interesting.
KB: When you were growing up were you a creative child, or did that come along later as a teenager or adult?
Dawn: I’ve been doing art my whole life. My father taught me as a child how to draw realistically, and I was totally into that for a long time, until it got boring, because I just copied things that had no soul. I love just being able to let the paintings go where they want and just try to keep up with them.
KB: If I handed you a brush and paints and told you to paint the world as you wish to see it, would you paint it any differently than it currently is?
Dawn: I’d paint it the way that I paint currently. A little brighter, and a little more wonky.
KB: There are so many colors in the world… and in a box of crayons (fyi: Crayola manufactures 120 different Crayola Crayon colors, not including specialty colors.) In a box of crayons, what color would you be?
Dawn: I actually don’t have a favorite colour. I go through phases of loving certain colours for a while for certain reasons. I figure, when there are so many colours to love, why choose just one?
KB: Many artists want to make “some” kind of impact on the world or others. What impact do you wish your paintings to make on people and/or society?
Dawn: I hope they make people happy. I love painting them so much, that I hope a little part of that love is transferred.
KB: Here’s a deeper question… do you think that creativity is universal?
Dawn: I think that everyone can and should paint or make marks of some kind, whether it be writing, drawing or painting. It upsets me when people have been trained out of thinking that they are able to draw, when EVERYONE can draw. It doesn’t have to be Michaelangelo, Claes Oldenberg, Picasso, or Pollock. Judgement is the greatest rival of honest art, and there are so many people who are talented and they don’t even know it yet.
KB: A lot of creative people say that they are most creative into the late nights. When you paint or write songs, is there a particular time of the day that you find yourself most creative?
Dawn: In high school, I’d stay up until 4am painting, but I have this habit of waking up early now, no matter what time I go to bed. They don’t call me Dawn for nothing! When I’m in a painting phase, and not having to do as many gigs, I usually take the morning to work out, get caught up on e-mails, work in the afternoons, have dinner and then continue working until I go to bed.
KB: I know you had input into the cover of your new CD “Highwire”. How did you arrive at the cover photo/design? You still need to tell me what the backward letters on the flip of the CD mean. 
Dawn: Everyone thought I was crazy to put that photo on the cover. I was told that I should have a face-front shot, because that’s what you do. Well, I’m not one to remain within traditions when it comes to being creative, so that’s the shot that spoke to me. Marc Lostracco did the design and the photography. We click creatively. I love working with him. You’ll have to ask him what that means.
KB: I know there are artists that do paintings and drawings of themselves. I also know there are artists that will have nothing to do with that because they feel they can’t capture the true image of themselves. By that I mean visually as well as the essence. Would you ever consider painting a self-portrait? Would you want to since a major part of you is already out there in your music and your art.
Dawn: I have tried to draw a self portrait, but it never looks quite right. For someone who was trained in classic drawing technique, I have a fairly odd perception problem when it comes to assessing and perceiving myself.
KB: With this whole online art mag concept I’m hoping to impart creative secrets, visions to other creative people out there. So if there was anything you could say to an aspiring singer, songwriter, painter, sculpture etc., what would it be?
Dawn: Just keep swimming… Listen to your gut.
KB: Always one of the first questions a painter gets asked… and I waited until later in the interview to ask you. Have you had any gallery showings of your art? Are there possibly any in the future?
Dawn: I haven’t had any showings of my art… Yet… I have been working on commissions lately, so they are keeping me really busy. I hope to come up with some pieces when I have a bit of time off of doing gigs in January and February.
KB: Let’s take that a bit further and I’ll toss a bit of my marketing brain in here, could we see a tour not only with you performing but also an exhibit of your paintings?
Dawn: That’s a good idea. If I get enough paintings, I would definitely consider that.
KB: Every artist has their favorite medium to work in. For myself I have a tendency to do a lot of mixed medium, including digital. One time you mentioned to me that you work in Acrylics. Obliviously it’s your preference when painting. Have you worked in oils, watercolor etc?
Dawn: I have worked in both oils and watercolour. I find oils to be time consuming, messy and somewhat stinky. I like watercolour, but I love acrylic, because it’s the half way between oils and watercolour.
KB: Let’s say I walk into your studio or where ever you enjoy painting and opened your paint box, what would I see and find?
Dawn: You would see a bright pink paint box that I got on sale in Kingston, Ontario the last time I played there, you’d see my couch, and my TV, because I paint in my living room. My apartment faces North, so I get great light in my “studio”… I can also “watch” TV while I paint, which is fun. I don’t have cable, so I usually put on a television series on DVD, and watch the whole thing from beginning to end.
KB: Ok, this interview needs to touch on that other side of you, the music. Because with a new CD, we must make sure people get out there and get their copy! <— Insert “Highwire” CD blurb here. *LOL* You seem extremely comfortable playing guitar and doing live acoustic shows. How long have you been playing? And do you have a preference of full band or not?
Dawn: I’ve been playing guitar since I was 14. Honestly, I’m not all that comfortable playing the guitar. I love to play, but I am really self conscious about it. I’ve been around AMAZING musicians my whole life, and my guitar playing sounds a bit like if a 3 year old picked up a ukulele compared to these hot shots. Frankly, I also sing a whole lot better when I don’t play the guitar. I’m starting to think I should be putting it down a little more often…
KB: When I first heard your voice it was a CD by your mom. I was blown away and then was very happy to learn that you were releasing a full album. The CD of which I speak is “Highwire” it was 10 years in the making. Do you think we’ll have to wait that long for the next one? Personally I’m hoping we don’t have to wait too long.
Dawn: I’m not even sure there will be another one. If this one goes well, and people like it, and want to buy it, then there is a chance that there will be another. At this point, it’s supply and demand, because I don’t have a record company, and recording is a REALLY expensive hobby…..
KB: When it comes to writing songs, that’s a process some feel is rather daunting and others feel it comes easily. Is there any particular way you go about it? Melody first or words?
Dawn: Totally depends on the day. I have a lot of poetry hanging around, but sometimes a chord progression will jump into my guitar and want to be played over and over again. Sometimes I’ll use the words to find a melody or a rhythm.
KB: What do you dream for tomorrow?
Dawn: I really do my best to stay in the present. I do a lot of brain-time travel into the past and future, but it always makes me incredibly anxious, so I’m trying to stay where I am to remain as calm as possible.
KB: Since this is artist-to-artist, if you could ask me one question, what would you ask me? Kind of tit-for-tat.
Dawn: What’s your take on art criticism? Judgement?
KB: Something you said earlier, EVERYONE can draw… that is something I so agree with. Critics of art I believe do not help artists or would be artists in the long run. Mainly because art is just that… art, it’s something that comes from the artist’s soul. It is their body, it is their blood, and it IS them. It is probably the most personal thing that an artist can share with people. And when it is shared with the world artists are bearing all that they are, no protection, no shield, and no armor. Artists are not saying because I shared this with the world, sling arrows at me. When an artist shares their art it is to hopefully benefit all in some way. Be it if it is to share the beauty, to make you think or to make a bold statement on the state of the world. I do not really understand how or why people need to criticize… judge something that is a gift that is given so openly to others to enjoy. The artist, him or her, has been given a wonderful gift that is to see, discover, enlighten and inspire others. How or why should anyone be criticized by anyone else for that?
To judge a piece of art as great or not, stifles the artist… or the would be artist. Because of that it is very likely a prime reason many people are literally afraid of allowing themselves the joy of creativity in many mediums. Many people can not bear the pain and it is far easier to hide that part of ourselves than to allow others to see it. And it could be why the none importance of art according to people who judge it as such influences some schools, I’m going to say North America, to drop art classes because they are frivolous. Children grow up believing that art/creativity is not needed in life. But in fact it IS needed. For art/creativity comes in many forms… an artist comes in many forms. And that impacts all of our lives in some way or another.
Such judgment of art causes fear of attack and ridicule where there should be none. Art is pure, it’s from the heart and soul. Attacking that darkens our world. It takes away the best part of all that we are. It stops what more we could become. That should be something we don’t allow for ourselves or others.
Ya ask me a question and “look” what comes out! *L*
I’d like to say once again, thank you to Dawn for spending some time doing this interview. And below you can view a few of Dawn’s paintings. But I would highly recommend that you visit www.dawnlangstroth.com to see more of her art, to purchase her latest CD and get to know her even better.
I hope Dawn and I helped inspire you a bit and I hope it allowed you to see “all” that she is.
Thanks and until next time… go ahead and dabble a little bit. Ya know you want to.
You can keep up with Dawn @ the following places!
