Kimya Dawson

Singer/songwriter Kimya Dawson is best known as part of the New York City anti-folk outfit the Moldy Peaches. In 2002, Dawson released her debut solo album, I'm Sorry That Sometimes I'm Mean, a collection of spare tunes sung to an acoustic guitar and Dawson's voice, which breaks with hurt over tales of abuse and longing. The 30-year-old songwriter was born and raised in Bedford Hills, NY, where her parents run a day-care center from their home. Dawson and fellow Moldy Peach Adam Green met in 1995 at a record store in Mt. Kisco, NY, where she worked. For the next four years, Dawson moved back and forth between New York and Washington, but she and Green had become friends and began writing songs together. In 1999, Green followed Dawson to Washington, where they formed the Moldy Peaches. After a year, Green returned to New York, with Dawson following later. Eventually, the Moldy Peaches -- Dawson, Green, drummer Strictly Beats, bassist Steve Mertens, and guitarists Jack Dishel and Toby Goodshank -- began playing the anti-folk circuit. In 2001, they released their self-titled debut to critical acclaim. All the songs were co-written and sung by Dawson and Green. The band toured in the States as well as Europe. Dawson contributed backing vocals to Ben Kweller's 2002 debut solo album, Sha, Sha. Later that same year, the Moldy Peaches began a hiatus of indefinite length when both Dawson and Green's (Garfield) solo albums were released. I'm Sorry That Sometimes I'm Mean was well received by critics and Dawson embarked on a tour of Europe and the United States. In 2004, Dawson released two more albums of material culled from her bedroom sessions: Knock-Knock Who? and My Cute Fiend Sweet Princess. Later that year, Hidden Vagenda arrived on K Records. Dawson resurfaced in 2006 with the Kimya Dawson/Matty Pop Chart EP and Remember That I Love You full-length.