Dawn Xiana Moon

Description

A seductive and passionate voice, evocative songwriting, and formal training make Dawn Xiana Moon one of the most distinctive Asian-American singers of her generation. With influences ranging from traditional Chinese music to modern American folk, she bridges the musical traditions of the East and West.

Work Sample

Beautiful Flowers Under a Full Moon - Chinese traditional folk song, arranged and performed by Dawn Xiana Moon.

The music video is also a collaboration between Dawn, her band, and the circus, dance, and fire performers of Raks Geek, which Dawn also founded and directs.

This song showcases a singer-songwriter exploring her roots, fusing elements from traditional Chinese music with her signature blend of folk, pop, jazz, and classical minimalism. Traditional Chinese melodies hover on top of lush layers that take a cue from Philip Glass. Erhu (Chinese violin) joins an understated piano trio, adding a melancholy, haunting note.

http://dawnxianamoon.com/music

This is a sampling of work from Spaces Between, Dawn's latest full-length album.

A seductive and passionate voice, evocative songwriting, and formal training make Dawn Xiana Moon one of the most distinctive Asian-American singers of her generation. With influences ranging from traditional Chinese music to modern American folk, she bridges the musical traditions of the East and West.

The album features a musical brew in several languages that draws influences from sources as disparate as Han Dynasty literature and Americana. In Spaces Between, traditional Chinese melodies hover on top of lush layers that take a cue from Philip Glass. The two-thousand-year-old guzheng (zither) punctuates alt folk guitar. Erhu (Chinese violin) joins an understated piano trio, adding a melancholy, haunting note.

But this synthesis of world cultures takes a back seat to Moon’s earthy songwriting and soulful vocals. She continues to wrestle with themes of brokenness, identity, redemption, and hope, delivering every note with raw conviction. At times epic and impassioned, at times quiet and introspective, Spaces Between reveals an intense honesty. “There are so many things I struggle to articulate in normal conversation,” Moon says. “But with music, there’s an immense freedom, even requirement, to drop our pretenses and reveal the mess.”

The work I've submitted highlights my fusion of American folk and pop music with influences from jazz and traditional Chinese music. 

History

Dawn Xiana Moon was born in Singapore, a cultural melting pot with a rich mixture of Chinese, British, Thai, Indian, Japanese, and Malaysian backgrounds. She began her musical training early, studying classical piano at the age of five; not long after, her family moved to the United States, settling just outside of Detroit. Her piano, a gift from her grand-uncle, traveled the 9000 miles to their new home.

Continuing her classical training in the Midwest, she earned prizes for piano, flute, and voice in regional competitions. But it was her first year at the University of Michigan, where she studied literature and theatre, that shifted her musical paradigm: she broke out of her mold and began to play the guitar.

Two months later, she was writing folk-pop songs evoking artists like Over the Rhine, Damien Rice, Sufjan Stevens, and fellow Chinese-American Vienna Teng. A few years later, she was touring throughout the Midwest and East Coast with a guitar and keyboard in tow. She moved to Chicago and began collaborating on projects ranging from a commissioned piece for Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre (with composer Christian Matjias) to the film Chase + Mello.

Moon was named the Chicago Reader's "Best Singer-Songwriter" (runner-up) in 2019 and "Best World Music Act" (runner up) in 2020. She has also sung the National Anthem for the Chicago Bulls.

Artistic Vision

With influences ranging from traditional Chinese music to modern American folk, Dawn Xiana Moon bridges the musical traditions of the East and West.

Moon was born in Singapore, a cultural melting pot with a rich mixture of Chinese, British, Thai, Indian, Japanese, and Malaysian backgrounds. She began her musical training early, studying classical piano at the age of five; not long after, her family moved to the United States, settling just outside of Detroit. Her piano, a gift from her grand-uncle, traveled the 9000 miles to their new home.

In her work, she wrestles with themes of brokenness, identity, redemption, and hope, delivering every note with raw conviction. At times epic and impassioned, at times quiet and introspective, her music reveals an intense honesty. “There are so many things I struggle to articulate in normal conversation,” Moon says. “But with music, there’s an immense freedom, even requirement, to drop our pretenses and reveal the mess.”

Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement

I am Chinese American, an immigrant from Singapore. My music reflects my heritage, with a modern fusion.