Dawn’s solo project and songs are the result and culmination of her musical experiences and her ability to write real poetry. Always at the core of her songs is a very deep danceable groove. She weaves Latin, African and Brazilian rhythms with Funk, R&B, Hip-Hop and electronica, creating a new sound that is undeniably familiar. Her lyrics are written with the artistry of the standards; those songs which will not be lost with time.

Biography

Dawn Drake is a dynamic multi-instrumentalist and singer who writes eloquent yet accessible music for the groove-loving listener and dancer. An active musician in New York City's African, Brazilian and Latin music scene, she is most well-known as a talented electric bassplayer and percussionist. Recently, she has emerged as a gifted songwriter and singer as well. She offers a lot to the stage with her inspired lyrics and her ability to combine all of the elements from her eclectic palate of musical experiences. Her performance style is like a one-woman show, as she fluidly and miraculousy changes hats from bass-player to keyboardist, wailing conguera to singer. Likewise, her songs are an eclectic mix that show all sides of the human being. They portray strong will and deep emotion; they can be wickedly diva-ish as well as inspirational and consciousness-raising.

Originally from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Dawn first began playing piano at age five. She later studied West African drumming at UC Berkeley and at the University of Ghana, West Africa where she lived for the year 1992-93. In 1995, she moved to New York City, started to study the bass, and promptly had her debut in 1997 with a rock band called Buttershack, who opened for Los Lobos, Willie Nelson and others in clubs in and around NYC. She was featured in Rockrgirl magazine as a bassist in 1998. Dawn continues to play bass with groups in NYC, which have included The Femm Nameless, who has opened for The Roots and Common, and who toured internationally in 2002 and 2004; Jojo Kuo, former drummer for Fela Kuti; Páprika who has opened for Patti LaBelle and Toshi Reagon, and Manmzel, who has hit the charts in Haiti, French Guyana and Martinique with their album entitled "On the Beat" and their music video "Pa kapab".

Dawn is also an accomplished percussionist. She has studied congas and batá in Cuba, and samba percussion in Brazil, where she played in Rio de Janiero's Carnaval. She has shared the stage with Me'shell N'degeocello, Cyro Baptista, Trey Anastasio, Mo'Guajiro, Los Jovenes del Barrio, Kokolo, Jorge Alabê and members of Antibalas. She has appeared on Telemundo, PBS, WBAI, and played stages such as Symphony Space, SOB's, The Zinc Bar, Rockefeller Center's Rainbow Room, Radio City Music Hall, The Walker Art Center, Michigan Womyn's Music Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Festival. She has also appeared in several newspapers and magazines including The Village Voice, Park Slope 24/7, GO Magazine, and Time Out London.

Dawn's solo project and songs are the result and culmination of her musical experiences and her ability to write real poetry. Always at the core of her songs is a very deep danceable groove. She weaves Latin, African and Brazilian rhythms with Funk, R&B and Hip-Hop, creating a new sound that is undeniably familiar. Furthermore, her lyrics are written with the artistry of the standards; those songs which will not be lost with time. Her EP length CD opens with "Sugah Pop" a samba/funk with a salsa/timba finale, followed by "Slippin'", an Afro-beat inspired disco, "Catch", a funky hip-hop, and "How Can I", an R&B ballad.

Dawn is currently seeking national and international bookings for herself as a solo artist or with her band, PMX: Positive Musical XPerience which performs as a duo, trio, quartet or quintet depending on the needs of the venue. She is also available to teach conga drum and percussion workshops of varying levels to adults as well as children. Please contact her via email at dawn@dawndrake.com or grldetective@optonline.net for more information. Check out her website www.dawndrake.com for current show listings.