45. Single Review of The Veil by Dawn Gibson
Originally Published September 20th, 2024
About the Artist
You know what everybody loves? Everybody loves a good comeback story! Comeback stories can have great outcomes, like Michael Jordan coming back to play for the Chicago Bulls and win three championships. The famous headline “I’m Back” featuring Jordan coincidentally sporting his short-lived number 45 jersey. They can also have underwhelming outcomes…. Like Michael Jordan coming back to play for the Wizards (???), having 2 average (for him) seasons hampered with injury and left him being chased out of DC. Yes, the outcomes might not always live up to the hype but when we see those pivotal words “I’m back!” we get excited.
If you visit Dawn Gibson's Spotify bio, it starts “SHE’S BACK!” with a heroic vibrato that beckons us to read on. Gibson was the lead singer and rhythm guitar player for Mixed Trix and Dedringer in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Epitomizing the robust sounds of traditional rock music, glam rock, and transitioning into the grunge faze of alternative music, she toured eastern Canada and NY State with her bands, opening for artists like Tom Cochrane and Red Rider.
After her time with these bands had ended, Gibson decided to take a break from the music business. This break ended up lasting 20 years, when she decided to return to performing and recording. Since that time she has been very busy. Since 2020, Gibson had released 4 full-length albums, starting with 2020’s Out of the Dark. She performs as a professional busker in London, Ontario, she has been featured on nearly a dozen online radio stations and podcasts in the US, UK, and Canada, and most recently, she has released her newest single, The Veil
About the Song
The Veil is a traditional rock song with hard rock, grunge rock, and glam rock influenced sounds, that released on August 16th, 2024. With a run time of just over 4 minutes, it features Gibson on lead and backing vocals, guitar, and she is accompanied by a full rock ensemble of lead guitar, bass, and drums. The Veil was produced by Gibson, along with her partners at Alzha Studios out of Indonesia.
About the Music
The Veil starts like an anthem and ends like an anthem. From the very first chord, the rhythm guitar and drums seem to pulsate into the start of the song with a rapid strum pattern that is highlighted with march-like accent points. Additionally, there is a lead guitar solo that is short but energetic performed in the bridge of the song. It performs thematically, emphasizing the overall pulse of the song, but taking ornamental liberties to impress while doing it.
Gibson offers her voice in both a lead and backing role for The Veil. Singing in a sort of call and response, Gibson performs as if she is standing at a podium, beckoning her followers to align with her agenda. The energy is real and impactful, and certainly reminiscent of the start of the grunge phase of rock music where it was no surprise to hear that the frontman of your favorite rock group just punched a fan in the mouth. Or, as Dave Grohl wrote in his autobiography, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, hit a security guard in the back of the head with a fender guitar.
Gibson’s vocal performance is the epitome of rock music. She delivers a raspy tone that sounds like it is fighting and punching its way to every note, prevailing every step of the way. Much like Joan Jett she has given us beauty in the dirty, hard, rugged form that represents every angel who has sported a pair of horns, covered her arms with tattoos, and shown the boys she will smoke them out, drink them under the table, and sing them off of the stage.
About the Lyrics
I touched on this a little bit in the previous section. Gibson’s vocals are delivered in a sort of call-and-response fashion, where the lead part stands out on its own and the backing vocals are layered, not harmonized, and they seem to expand on the forethought given by the lead part.
“I see you/ I can see the veil is lifted. I feel you/ Energy leaves my skin cringing. I need you/ Step in your light til it feels right. Believe in you/ Look real deep and heed the moonlight”
Breaking down the vocals, it seems the author is painting a gothic-like love story, with emphasis on nocturnal imagery like night and moonlight, and referencing the title of the track, the veil being lifted can be interpreted as coming into the light.
Romantically, there are elements that suggest a desire towards the subject of this story that is not without hesitation or discomfort. Maybe even a certain degree of intimidation. Saying “I feel you/ Energy leaves my skin cringing,” then “I need you/Standing all night til it feels right.”
Going into the chorus, Gibson clues us in further: “I am real/ Keep on pushing keep on trying. I can feel/ hold the tears back stay on the track. Calm my soul/ Heal the pain, I’m crumbling inside. Don’t let go/ Hold on tight with all of my might.”
This feels like the author is fighting to keep a relationship alive. There is a determination in the way the vocals are arranged that suggests the author is relating this partnership to climbing a hill, unwilling to stop until she reaches the top. In spite of all of its obstacles.
Final Thoughs
Dawn Gibson has made it pretty clear. She is back! Judging by how much music she is producing, she is back and she is here to stay for a while. 4 albums, frequent performances, and she is still churning out new music nearly every single month. It’s evident she still has a lot to say and we shouldn’t be expecting any more hiatuses any time soon.
You can hear all of Dawn’s new music on Spotify and you can follow her on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook. Make sure to follow for announcements of new music, performances, and any other news!
After her time with these bands had ended, Gibson decided to take a break from the music business. This break ended up lasting 20 years, when she decided to return to performing and recording. Since that time she has been very busy. Since 2020, Gibson had released 4 full-length albums, starting with 2020’s Out of the Dark. She performs as a professional busker in London, Ontario, she has been featured on nearly a dozen online radio stations and podcasts in the US, UK, and Canada, and most recently, she has released her newest single, The Veil
About the Song
The Veil is a traditional rock song with hard rock, grunge rock, and glam rock influenced sounds, that released on August 16th, 2024. With a run time of just over 4 minutes, it features Gibson on lead and backing vocals, guitar, and she is accompanied by a full rock ensemble of lead guitar, bass, and drums. The Veil was produced by Gibson, along with her partners at Alzha Studios out of Indonesia.
About the Music
The Veil starts like an anthem and ends like an anthem. From the very first chord, the rhythm guitar and drums seem to pulsate into the start of the song with a rapid strum pattern that is highlighted with march-like accent points. Additionally, there is a lead guitar solo that is short but energetic performed in the bridge of the song. It performs thematically, emphasizing the overall pulse of the song, but taking ornamental liberties to impress while doing it.
Gibson offers her voice in both a lead and backing role for The Veil. Singing in a sort of call and response, Gibson performs as if she is standing at a podium, beckoning her followers to align with her agenda. The energy is real and impactful, and certainly reminiscent of the start of the grunge phase of rock music where it was no surprise to hear that the frontman of your favorite rock group just punched a fan in the mouth. Or, as Dave Grohl wrote in his autobiography, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, hit a security guard in the back of the head with a fender guitar.
Gibson’s vocal performance is the epitome of rock music. She delivers a raspy tone that sounds like it is fighting and punching its way to every note, prevailing every step of the way. Much like Joan Jett she has given us beauty in the dirty, hard, rugged form that represents every angel who has sported a pair of horns, covered her arms with tattoos, and shown the boys she will smoke them out, drink them under the table, and sing them off of the stage.
About the Lyrics
I touched on this a little bit in the previous section. Gibson’s vocals are delivered in a sort of call-and-response fashion, where the lead part stands out on its own and the backing vocals are layered, not harmonized, and they seem to expand on the forethought given by the lead part.
“I see you/ I can see the veil is lifted. I feel you/ Energy leaves my skin cringing. I need you/ Step in your light til it feels right. Believe in you/ Look real deep and heed the moonlight”
Breaking down the vocals, it seems the author is painting a gothic-like love story, with emphasis on nocturnal imagery like night and moonlight, and referencing the title of the track, the veil being lifted can be interpreted as coming into the light.
Romantically, there are elements that suggest a desire towards the subject of this story that is not without hesitation or discomfort. Maybe even a certain degree of intimidation. Saying “I feel you/ Energy leaves my skin cringing,” then “I need you/Standing all night til it feels right.”
Going into the chorus, Gibson clues us in further: “I am real/ Keep on pushing keep on trying. I can feel/ hold the tears back stay on the track. Calm my soul/ Heal the pain, I’m crumbling inside. Don’t let go/ Hold on tight with all of my might.”
This feels like the author is fighting to keep a relationship alive. There is a determination in the way the vocals are arranged that suggests the author is relating this partnership to climbing a hill, unwilling to stop until she reaches the top. In spite of all of its obstacles.
Final Thoughs
Dawn Gibson has made it pretty clear. She is back! Judging by how much music she is producing, she is back and she is here to stay for a while. 4 albums, frequent performances, and she is still churning out new music nearly every single month. It’s evident she still has a lot to say and we shouldn’t be expecting any more hiatuses any time soon.
You can hear all of Dawn’s new music on Spotify and you can follow her on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook. Make sure to follow for announcements of new music, performances, and any other news!
Love this! Thanks for the great review and support! 🥰
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff great writing as always 🙏
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting and I will check it out 😊