Dawn King has walked a few kilometres — in running shoes, cowboy boots and heels.
A life coach, vocal instructor and athlete, who represented Canada at the 2012 World Triathlon in Auckland, New Zealand this past October, King, 48, is probably best known for her clear-as-a-bell voice.
As one half of well-known local music duo The King of Hearts (formerly The Kings) with her partner in music and life, Robert (Bob) King, she has performed country, rock and blues hits at a number of sold-out dances over the years.
But lately, she has been focussing on something a little more personal — her fist solo album.
Described as adult contemporary, King has just released the debut single off the soon-to-be-released album entitled It’s Time to Shine.
“The album is a heart-tugging, foot-stomping collage of tracks encompassing many different genres,” said King, adding Bob, her husband of 20 years, has written eight of the nine songs on the album. “It’ll make you laugh and make you cry and leave you inspired, motivated and aching for more.”
With some of the tracks recorded by Vancouver producer Jeff Dawson, who has also worked with Vernon’s Daniel Powter and Andrew Allen, the album’s first single, The Real Me, is an anthemic ballad that carries hope and a message that can inspire anyone, added King.
The song has also been released as a video shot by Vernon’s Bron Johnson.
Filmed at Kalamalka Provincial Park and released on Jan, 31, the video features local residents, including W.L. Seaton Secondary drama teacher Lana O’Brien and a number of her students, running along a path on a bleak snowy day.
At a screening recently, King received accolades about the song’s message.
“They said it was the kind of track that grabs you and pulls you in without reservation,” she said. “It all comes together in a passionate video that builds from the dark places we all have been, to the uplifting places we can all go.”
Music has been a part of King’s life since she was young, but after years of playing everything from barn dances to legion halls, she decided to break away from traditional vocal training techniques.
She went down to Nashville to work with celebrated voice coach Renee Grant-Williams, who has worked with the likes of Miley Cyrus, Keith Urban, Christina Aguilera, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, to name a few.
When King returned to Vernon, she had a completely new perspective on how the voice works. After her first one-day clinic with Grant-Williams, she recalled: “I was blown away by how quickly the technique worked, but equally by how unorthodox it is.
“There’s nothing out there that’s like this, let alone from a world-renowned vocal coach who really teaches the elite.”
King has since brought the technique to her Vernon studio, with a number of local clients, and says her own voice has benefitted greatly.
“I love to coach people on their confidence, their delivery and their connection with the audience. And that just comes form within, so finding those places within a person is a blast, and I love it.”
Besides helping people reach their potential through their voice, King’s work as a life coach, with 20 years in the field with the Anthony Robbins Foundation, was recognized with the Anthony Robbins Life Mastery Award.
The mother of three is also an award-winning author, co-writing (with Robert) the multi-award winning book, Live a Vibrant Life.
“My personal philosophy is what I bring to the turntable,” said King. “My passion for coaching, personal development is now completely re-focused on making a difference and contributing to others with music and the new album.”
More information is available at dawnking.com.
