Kollaboration winner Dawen invites you into his world. Just don’t forget to take off your shoes.
By Elizabeth Eun
Photograph by Nathan Nowack
Few people were surprised when Dawen Wang, aka Dawen, won Kollaboration Acoustic 4, the talent competition at L.A.’s Ford Amphitheatre in August that featured headliner Marié Digby. The inspired lyrics of his original song “Shoes” (Baby, won’t you take off your shoes/Or else I cannot let you through), sung in Dawen’s rich, unique baritone, won over the hearts of both the audience and the judges, and the Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter walked away with the $1,000 grand prize of a competition he’s auditioned for six times. Dawen chats with KoreAm on the one-year anniversary of his debut album release (American Me, 2009) about Kollaboration, shoe etiquette and his favorite non-musical sounds.
How did it feel to win Kollaboration?
Man, it was crazy. I was thrilled. I also thought, “Oh, wow, I’m paying off my rent and buying some much needed music equipment!”
Your winning original song, “Shoes,” is a celebration of Asian American identity and culture. It’s also a clever, funny melody about asking a woman to leave her shoes at the door. So if a girl you’re dating doesn’t take off her shoes, is it a no-go?
Ha! Well, yeah, but I’m always like, “You gotta take off your shoes” to anyone that comes to my house.
What if she was THE ONE, and wouldn’t take off her shoes?
Sure, I would make an exception.
Describe your sound.
It’s rooted in soul, influenced by R&B, with touches of funk and jazz, with love for the late ‘90s sound.
What are your favorite non-musical sounds?
The sound of the first snowfall is awesome. Leaves crunching. Rain when you’re indoors or on the porch; basically, when you’re near it, but not in it. All the man-made sounds I can think of are the ones that I hate… like the alarm.
Your album cover is a composite photo of your face. What inspired that?
My friend looked at it and said, “You look like an alien.” Which, you know, I think I felt alienated for a while; I felt alienated being an American. It’s fragmented, and identity is always very complex and layered, and it can be ugly.
What were some of the things you wanted to be growing up?
A fireman, the president. But right now, music is my love and passion.
Dawen, now working on a second album, will tour the college circuit this fall. To hear tracks, visit www.dawen.us.
