PRESS QUOTES
"Dawson Rutledge, Monsters, 2017"
"…since variety is the spice of life, this album has been making quite a few rounds in my CD player lately…best described as a mix of soft rock, pop, jazz and folk…grabs you with a unique voice, clever lyrics and a delivery that is beyond Rutledge’s years…his picking skills are on par with his vocals….the subtle rhythmic changes are often the icing on the cake. Personal choices are ‘When Life Gives You Monsters’ and ‘Heavy Heart,’ but there are enough choices to please many.”
YOUR MUSIC BLOG (Peter) -- April 24, 2018
read full review here ↦..
"Cranbrook's Dawson Rutledge calls KMA award 'special'"
"It's the second straight year the 20-year old songwriter has brought home hardware from the KMA's”
THE DRIVE FM (Devin Howard) -- March 23, 2018
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"Cranbrook's Dawson Rutledge Wins 'Artist of the Year' Award'"
"Local singer was one of a few musicians to be honoured at the Kootenay Music Awards”
SUMMIT 107 FM (David Opinko) -- March 20, 2018
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"Dawson Rutledge's Run at KMAs Continues"
"Cranbrook singer-songwriter wins Artist of the Year at the Kootenay Music Awards"
CRANBROOK DAILY TOWNSMAN (Paul Rodgers) -- March 19, 2018
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"Kootenay Music Awards Spotlight Local Talent"
"Dawson Rutledge of Cranbrook came away with the prestigious Artist of the Year award..."
THE NELSON DAILY (The Nelson Daily Staff) -- March 19, 2018
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"...both the songwriter and the finished record are so original...You will be enchanted by Dawson's first full-length LP..."
INDIE BEATZ MAGAZINE (Randy Lockhart) -- March 2018
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"12 Searchlight Standouts From Our 2018 Top 100 Round"
"Already an award winning songwriter, this young musician comes off as a complete natural on a song (Same Old News) that builds and builds from the first note.”
CBC Music (Searchlight 2018) -- March 5, 2018
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"He's an old-souled and wonder-filled 20 year old. His music trips senses...he sees thought bubbles and captions above murals. It's clean and universal...His songcraft is kind and playful, like a sweet Valentine to your lonely self.”
TUCSON WEEKLY -- February 12, 2018
check out link ↦
"MONSTERS is So Dreamy It's Scary"
"...these monsters deserve a spot center stage...clever, clear and concise lyrics are masterfully put together and a treasure to listen to...'Monsters' is superb. Rutledge has elevated himself into a class above many of his peers and more well-known and experienced artists"
PIPESTONE FLYER (Amelia Naismith) -- February 9, 2018
read here ↦
"...rich lyrics and well-crafted melodies...compelling from start to finish"
BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER (David Reed) -- January 25, 2018
read full review here ↦
"Dawson Rutledge Releases 'Monsters'"
"You will be enchanted by Dawson's full length LP...”
GRATEFUL WEB -- January 11, 2018
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"...a young artist taking the music world by storm. / ...strong vocals...clever lyrics...stunning instrumentals...the perfect marriage between guitar, piano and brass instruments. / ...Carrie Fisher once said "Take your broken heart, make it into heart." It seems that Dawson Rutledge has done just that with 'Monsters'...It's no wonder (he) has received so much praise for it already."
CANADIAN BEATS MEDIA (Alaina Shah) -- January 7, 2018
read full review here ↦
"...his music has a depth and maturity far beyond his years. His voice is unique and instantly identifiable, and his songwriter chops are some of the finest we have reviewed this year. The guitar picking is second to none, and the harmonies are absolutely beautiful. Just a casual listen to the first track, "Thief of a Lover," and you know that you are in the presence of musical greatness."
L.A. MUSIC CRITIC - INDIE VOICE BLOG (Bob Leggett) -- December 21, 2017
read full review here ↦
"Top 100 Songs of the Year 2017 - The International Edition'"
"Music is life, not a contest...Just 100 songs from 100 different artists that matter to me... 70. Dawson Rutledge - Yours, Truly”
ONE CHORD TO ANOTHER - A FINNISH POP SITE (Vesa Lautamaki) -- December 17, 2017
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"This album is a sure winner for Dawson...5+ out of 5 stars."
ATLANTIC SEABREEZE (John Gavin) -- December 14, 2017
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"My Round-Up of 2017 in a New Music Nutshell..."
"...some incredible emerging artists...from all over the world”
HAZEL BUTTERFIELD (The UK Americana Bar, Wandsworth Radio, Radio FM1FM) -- December 12, 2017
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"...haven't felt like this about a solo artist...since I first heard Ray LaMontagne. (Dawson Rutledge) is a talented artist with an insanely bright future ahead."
GONZO OKANAGAN - Music Reviews by the Rock Doctor (John Kereiff) -- December 8, 2017
read full review here ↦
"conceptually strong...wonderfully consistent...each song adds to a powerful feeling of romantic despair. One song slides effortlessly into the next."
CASHBOX CANADA - Features -- December 3, 2017
read here ↦
"Video Premiere - Dawson Rutledge's 'Same Old News'"
"...an album with plenty of buzz around it...he's got the chops that make you feel that he's someone sticking around for a while."
MEDIUM -- KO63 Music (Thomas Gerbasi) -- November 29, 2017
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"Mesa Music Festival Aims to Spotlight Emerging Artists"
Dawson Rutledge on live TV, performing an acoustic rendition of his song "When Life Gives You Monsters"
ARIZONA PBS (Arizona Horizon with host Ted Simons) -- November 8, 2017
view ↦
"Dawson Rutledge And His Beautiful Monsters"
"If you were a music exec, even in today’s segmented, confused and diffuse business, you’d still probably want to roll the dice and sign Dawson Rutledge. He’s young, hip, telegenic and, oh, by the way, a really good songwriter. He’s pretty much perfect, as far as packages go...he’s just released his solo debut, Monsters. Which one imagines is going to put this young Canadian on the world map."
AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE (Peter Gerstenzang) -- October 10, 2017
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"Premiere: Dawson Rutledge Releases New Lyric Video for 'When Life Gives You Monsters'"
"'When Life Gives You Monsters' has a subtle rhythmic groove, with Rutledge phrasing in a sort of Caribbean patois and spitting out smart lines like, 'Our two track minds have been tugging on each other / It seems no good can come from staying desperate lovers.'”
VENTS MAGAZINE (RJ Frometa) -- September 15, 2017
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"Exclusive Music Premiere: 'Same Old News' - Radiant Music From Dawson Rutledge"
"...it's superb!...Stylistically, Rutledge combines soft rock, pop, jazz and folk elements into a unique laid-back sound. His sound projects the best qualities of the folk genre, along with the vivacity and expressiveness of today’s pop music. It’s a unique blend quite unlike anything else around... Dawson Rutledge has it going on! 'Same Old News' is a sonic confection of redoubtable dominance; the melody flows infectiously, the instrumentation is bright and gorgeously compact and Rutledge’s voice is pregnant with didactic reflection, a kind of brooding absorption that provides an exquisitely delightful imminence. I’ve already added 'Same Old News' to my personal playlist. And I can’t wait for Monsters to drop!"
HUFFPOST (Randy Radic) -- September 7, 2017
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"Five Questions with Dawson Rutledge"
"THE HYPE MAGAZINE - Conversations (Interview with Just Jay) -- August 26, 2017
read here ↦
"Artist Spotlight: Canadian Alt. Folk Artist Dawson Rutledge"
"Establishing himself early as a talented young songwriter, musician and vocalist, Rutledge is one of those artists that we feel will break out in coming months"
INDIE ROCK CAFE (Max Hammer) -- August 19, 2017
read here ↦
"Review Fix Exclusive: Dawson Rutledge Talks Goals in Music and More"
"Taking Folk Music to a new level, Rutledge's penchant for both solid lyrics and musicianship make him someone to keep an eye on"
REVIEW FIX (Interview by Patrick Hickey Jr.) -- July 16, 2017
read here ↦
"Cranbrook Artist to Attend Wapiti"
FREE PRESS (Interview by Phil McLachlan) -- June 14, 2017
read here ↦
"Winners Announced for Kootenay Music Awards"
"...solo artist Dawson Rutledge took home two awards: Best Folk/Roots/Country Act and Best Breakthrough Artist..."
NELSON STAR (Will Johnson) -- March 13, 2017
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"...an up and coming star...played the crowd with an ease that belies his age...draws you in...you feel the music, not just hear it."
CROC RADIO (Review by Buddy Gold) -- February 20, 2017
read full review here ↦
"Dawson Rutledge: A Rising Musician Keeping it Real"
GO CRANBROOK MAGAZINE (Interview by Monica Huibers, pages 26-29) -- January 31, 2017
read here ↦
"...a hot new award-winning singer-songwriter...You are going to be hearing much more from this artist in the future." ColumbiaValley.com -- October 26, 2016
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"...album was half-composed at high school...music feels years beyond..."
The Lunchbox Interview: Dawson Rutledge with host Mark Kilfoil
CHSR-FM 97.9 in Fredericton, NB -- October 3, 2016
full podcast ↦
"...one of the most talked about musicians to come from this city."
KOOTENAY NEWS ADVERTISER -- August 30, 2016
"...just 18 years old but certainly can play!" -- SASKATCHEWAN WEEKEND (CBC Radio One) -- August 6, 2016
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"...oozing confidence on stage, he is a natural born entertainer."
EAST KOOTENAY NEWS ON-LINE WEEKLY - e-know.ca (Ian Cobb) -- May 5, 2016
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"Cranbrook Performer a Searchlight Favourite"
"Dawson Rutledge, holding down the popular vote, leads a cast of 10 acts from Interior and Northern B.C. heading into round two."
EAST KOOTENAY NEWS ON-LINE WEEKLY (e-know.ca) -- April 25, 2016
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"Dawson Rutledge in Searchlight Spotlight"
"Rutledge is certainly a dynamic and riveting performer to watch."
THE TOWNSMAN -- April 14, 2016
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"With a wealth of talent already at his fingertips...a sensational voice and a way of viewing the world unique
and well-seasoned beyond his young 18 years...it's already something magical."
-- PIPESTONE FLYER - BLACK PRESS (Amelia Naismith) -- March 23, 2016
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"I was frankly shocked that music this subtle and lived in came from somebody so young..... Today, Tonight, Tomorrow
also has a Lo-Fi, homemade feel to it that just makes it that much more enjoyable to listen to."
-- GONZO ONLINE (John The Rock Doctor Kereiff) - March 7, 2016
read the full article↦
"'Mysterious Woman' is the second track, and it’s the track that had me entranced. I couldn’t help sing along, and the beat captivated me from the beginning......Dawson seems to know just the right amount of each genre to mix into his music to create an irresistible sound that could easily appeal to many listeners. From the beginning to the very end, I was thoroughly entertained. This offering is one that will have no problem garnering interest in Dawson, and I am stoked to hear much more from this young Canadian artist."
-- CANADIAN BEATS (Review by Jenna Melanson) - February 25, 2016
read the full article ↦
-- Featured in New Faces Segment of Music Express Magazine --
"'Mysterious Woman' received positive enough reviews to suggest Rutledge is definitely a talent in the making."
-- MUSIC EXPRESS (Keith Sharp) - February 23, 2016
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"Atlantic Seabreeze gives this album very good ratings and foresees a very bright future with his music career"
-- ATLANTIC SEABREEZE (John Gavin) - February 10, 2016
read the full article ↦
Charts
January 9, 2018
WANDSWORTH RADIO (United Kingdom) - "Same Old News" chosen as TRACK OF THE WEEK
view ↦
January 2, 2018
CHSR 97.9 FM(Fredericton NB) - "Monsters" album climbs to #19 on Top 30 albums chart
-- earshot! (EARSHOT-ONLINE.COM)
check out the chart here ↦
December 26, 2017
CHSR 97.9 FM(Fredericton NB) - "Monsters" album rises to #23 on Top 30 albums chart
-- earshot! (EARSHOT-ONLINE.COM)
check out the chart here ↦
December 19, 2017
CHSR 97.9 FM(Fredericton NB) - "Monsters" album at #30 on Top 30 albums chart
-- earshot! (EARSHOT-ONLINE.COM)
check out the chart here ↦
December 12, 2017
CFRC 101.9 MHz (Kingston, ON) - "Monsters" album at #9 on Folk/Roots/Blues chart
-- earshot! (EARSHOT-ONLINE.COM)
check out the chart here ↦
October 30, 2017
Way Out Radio (United Kingdom) - "Same Old News" at #6 on Top 10 chart
-- Radio Indie Alliance (@RadioIndieAlliance)
check out the chart here ↦
October 23, 2017
Karoo 62 Radio (South Africa) - "Same Old News" at #5 on Top 10 chart
-- Radio Indie Alliance (@RadioIndieAlliance)
check out the chart here ↦
October 18, 2016
CHSR 97.9 FM (Fredericton NB) - "Today, Tonight, Tomorrow" album re-entry at #28 on Top 30 chart
-- earshot! (EARSHOT-ONLINE.COM)
check out the chart here ↦
June 26, 2016
CiBL 101.5 FM (Montreal QC) -- "Today, Tonight, Tomorrow" album holding at #5 again this week
remaining on the Country/Folk chart for a 5th consecutive week
June 19, 2016
CIBL 101.5 FM (Montreal QC) - "Today, Tonight, Tomorrow" album charted at #5 on Country/Folk Chart
June 12, 2016
CIBL 101.5 FM (Montreal QC) - "Today, Tonight, Tomorrow" album rose to #6 on Country/Folk Chart
June 5, 2016
CIBL 101.5 FM (Montreal QC) - "Today, Tonight, Tomorrow" album went to #8 on Country/Folk Chart
May 29, 2016
CIBL 101.5 FM (Montreal QC) - "Today, Tonight, Tomorrow" album charting at #10 on Country/Folk Chart
April 26, 2016
Album charted at CFBX 92.5 FM - The X (Kamloops BC) - #8 on the Folk/Roots/Blues chart
-- !earshot (EARSHOT-ONLINE.COM)
check out the chart here ↦
April 12, 2016
Album charted at CFBX 92.5 FM - The X (Kamloops BC) at #8 on the Folk/Roots/Blues chart
-- !earshot (EARSHOT-ONLINE.COM)
check out the chart here ↦
March 1, 2016
Album charted at CHSR 97.9 FM (Fredericton NB), deputing at #20 on Top 30 albums
-- !earshot (EARSHOT-ONLINE.COM)
check out the chart here ↦
