Review Text
Robyn Landis is a gifted wordsmith and award-winning songwriter. Her deft, incisive, and powerful command of language has garnered repeated comparisons to Richard Shindell and Dar Williams, and a reputation among fellow songwriters as 'an astounding lyricist' with unusual depth and literacy. Her unpretentious, wistful and intimate vocals infuse her irresistible, memorable folk-pop-Americana melodies with warmth and feeling. Respected for her unflinching honesty, vulnerability and fierce intelligence, Robyn uses song to tackle subjects ranging from war to weather to (what else?) love--not to mention adoption and dementia, betrayal and longing, friendship, child abuse, old sitcoms, and the environment. Since 2005 and the release of her first CD 'Love and Other Words' (as half of the Americana duo Short & Sweet), Robyn has accrued more than 40 songwriting awards and honors nationally and internationally, in competitions and at festivals. Songwriting accolades have included first place at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, second place in the Unisong International Songwriting Competition, and honorable mention in the prestigious Telluride Troubadors competition. She is also a 2009 Falcon Ridge Festival Emerging Artist. Her eagerly-awaited 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. Co-writes include such notable songwriters as David Llewellyn (2007 Kerrville New Folk winner, 2008 John Lennon Grand Prize Winner) and Larry Murante (2009 Kerrville New Folk Finalist). In 2008-2009 she opened for Jonathan Byrd and shared the stage with Kat Eggleston, Linda Waterfall, Larry Murante, David Llewellyn and Dana Hubbard. Robyn has been a poet since she was four, a professional writer for all her adult life, and published two popular health books in her 20s before turning her focus upon music. She studied guitar with the venerable Linda Waterfall, who says 'The warmth of her voice and her intuitive connection are magnetic....Her passionate commitment to justice and the Earth won my heart.' 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.' Praise for 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. ...Even given the longing and mysteries pervading every minute of the dozen cuts (housed in gorgeous tri-fold packaging with full credits, notes, and lyric booklet), this is a very refreshing CD and stays so each time it's broached...of course, the fact that she has a list of awards and recognitions as long as your arm explains a lot of that. Robyn Landis, I'm quite sure, waited until her art was fully matured and, man, does it ever show.' ~ Mark S. Tucker, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange (FAME) * 2009 Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists Showcase Selected Artist * Finalist, Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest, May 2009 * Honorable Mention, Americana Category, Unisong International Songwriting Competition, March 2009 * Honorable Mention, Acoustic/Folk Category, Unisong International Songwriting Competition, March 2009 * Showcase Winner, W.C. Handy Music Festival, July 2008 * Finalist, Susanne Milsaps Performing Songwriter's Showcase, Founder's Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival, July 2008 * Honorable Mention, Telluride Troubadors competition (Telluride Folk Festival), May 2008 * Honorable Mention, International Narrative Song Competition, January 2008 * Alternate Finalist, Tumbleweed Music Festival songwriting contest, September 2007 * Top 20 Winner, Lyrics Category, Unisong Internat
