Artist Summary
Genres: Folk / Singer-Songwriter / Americana
Artist BioA childhood poet/spelling bee champ and published author , Robyn was a writer and author (publishing two bestselling books in her twenties) before turning her full attention to music. Her writing skills applied to song earned quick recognition. Her literate songcraft earned more than 50 songwriting honors since 2005, including first place at Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Grand Prize in the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and 2009 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist. Her second recording Many Moons was one of the most-played records on folk radio in 2009, with no special promotion or representation. An unpretentious and authentic performer, her intimate vocals and folk-pop-Americana melodies are infused with warmth, her lyrics with intelligence and vulnerability. Her articulate, sometimes fierce writing is often compared to Richard Shindell's. Born in NYC, Robyn later settled in Seattle and recently moved to Tucson.
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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.
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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