2008 Woodie Awards
'Juno' songstress to perform tunes
Music provides hope
CAMERON HUBBARD
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: Variety
In the final scene of the Oscar-nominated film "Juno," Paulie Bleeker and Juno MacGuff sit down to play their guitars and sing together.
The song that actors Michael Cera and Ellen Page play is a cover of The Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You." First released in 2001, the song and the group have been tugged into the spotlight thanks to the hit film.
For Moldy Peach Kimya Dawson, 35, however, the fame has not made life too different.
and Paul Baribeau
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: 40 Watt
Price: $10
"It's not really changing how I do things. It's just changing the amount of people who are interested," Dawson said. "Some people get more exposure than others, but we're all just trying to do our stuff - trying to live our lives the best way we can."
Though The Moldy Peaches has more or less disbanded, Dawson met up with bandmate Adam Green for a recent taping of "The View" to sing their band's hit song.
In a later interview with Page, Barbara Walters, host of "The View," mentioned the group, saying she just didn't "get it."
Indeed, the music and lyrics of Dawson and The Moldy Peaches are somewhat atypical.
Lo-fi, simple melodies backing semi-absurd and often dirty songs don't usually make for a Billboard chart-topper.
"I write in reaction to what's happening around me," she said. "Life isn't just one emotion."
Like her lyrics, Dawson is a bit nontraditional herself. Perhaps the connection comes back to the fact that, now nine years sober, Dawson has used music to help her on her journey.
"The first Moldy Peaches show was three weeks after I got out of rehab," she said. "It's just been a different way of self-medicating, processing information that might have been overwhelming before."
Recently, Dawson posted an online journal entry detailing some of her struggles.
Readers left more than 100 responses. Many explained she is an inspiration. It's a role Dawson recognizes.
"I hope I can make kids realize they don't have to be superficial and materialistic and self-conscious and all those horrible things that we're all tricked into feeling like we have to be. You can just have an exciting, fun life and have adventures and be able to deal with sad stuff and not get overwhelmed. That's the most I could hope for."
Dawson currently is on tour with her husband, musician Angelo Spencer, who will open for her and her daughter. Having a young child while maintaining a touring musical career might seem like a struggle, but Dawson said she isn't fazed.
"Things are a little more challenging on the road trying to keep her happy," she said. "[But] I've always been around kids, so it's not totally strange for me to have a baby around while I'm doing stuff."
In fact, Dawson's daughter provided the inspiration for her new children's album called "Alphabutt."
The song that actors Michael Cera and Ellen Page play is a cover of The Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You." First released in 2001, the song and the group have been tugged into the spotlight thanks to the hit film.
For Moldy Peach Kimya Dawson, 35, however, the fame has not made life too different.
KIMYA DAWSON
with Angelo Spencerand Paul Baribeau
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: 40 Watt
Price: $10
"It's not really changing how I do things. It's just changing the amount of people who are interested," Dawson said. "Some people get more exposure than others, but we're all just trying to do our stuff - trying to live our lives the best way we can."
Though The Moldy Peaches has more or less disbanded, Dawson met up with bandmate Adam Green for a recent taping of "The View" to sing their band's hit song.
In a later interview with Page, Barbara Walters, host of "The View," mentioned the group, saying she just didn't "get it."
Indeed, the music and lyrics of Dawson and The Moldy Peaches are somewhat atypical.
Lo-fi, simple melodies backing semi-absurd and often dirty songs don't usually make for a Billboard chart-topper.
"I write in reaction to what's happening around me," she said. "Life isn't just one emotion."
Like her lyrics, Dawson is a bit nontraditional herself. Perhaps the connection comes back to the fact that, now nine years sober, Dawson has used music to help her on her journey.
"The first Moldy Peaches show was three weeks after I got out of rehab," she said. "It's just been a different way of self-medicating, processing information that might have been overwhelming before."
Recently, Dawson posted an online journal entry detailing some of her struggles.
Readers left more than 100 responses. Many explained she is an inspiration. It's a role Dawson recognizes.
"I hope I can make kids realize they don't have to be superficial and materialistic and self-conscious and all those horrible things that we're all tricked into feeling like we have to be. You can just have an exciting, fun life and have adventures and be able to deal with sad stuff and not get overwhelmed. That's the most I could hope for."
Dawson currently is on tour with her husband, musician Angelo Spencer, who will open for her and her daughter. Having a young child while maintaining a touring musical career might seem like a struggle, but Dawson said she isn't fazed.
"Things are a little more challenging on the road trying to keep her happy," she said. "[But] I've always been around kids, so it's not totally strange for me to have a baby around while I'm doing stuff."
In fact, Dawson's daughter provided the inspiration for her new children's album called "Alphabutt."
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