Mikaela Dewar: Press

New Zealand singer-songwriter takes step forward in West Texas
BY WILLIAM KERNS
A-J ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR


Mikaela Dewar's dreams were always big dreams.

When she played tennis, it was with the goal of becoming the No. 1 tennis player in the world. When she co-majored in French at college, she envisioned herself a diplomat one day.

But when studying political science at Canterbury University in hometown Christchurch, New Zealand, Dewar was only investing three years in "a piece of paper (diploma)," not her future.

"Even my parents knew I didn't want to be there," said Dewar, the daughter of a school principal and a saleswoman.

Music always had been her first love, and she was determined to travel anywhere, make any sacrifice, so her songs could be heard by more people.

Her route to success thus far has seen her travel from New Zealand to Australia and then, on the basis of recording artist Jedd Hughes' recommendation, to Levelland and Lubbock, where she recorded her first compact disc, titled "Overdressed."

She moved Monday to Bristol, England, where she will stay with her parents for a three-month songwriting sabbatical. Dewar will return to Lubbock in April to record again.

She devoted three years to perfecting her sound, writing songs and gathering desired musicians and crew for her first recording. Her next CD will reflect three months of preparation.

"I didn't leave too many stones unturned the first time," Dewar said. "I changed everything I wanted to change, so there was no cringe factor when my CD finally was released. It will be easier next time, obviously."

A staunch supporter of what she calls old country, Dewar set her sights on becoming a country artist long before she followed Hughes and enrolled at South Plains College.

That's bound to surprise all who listen to the jazz vocals that fill "Overdressed."

Then again, Don Caldwell, who co-produced the album, thinks that even jazz might be a too convenient label.

"Really, this is some of the most original material I have ever been associated with," Caldwell said. "I compare it to when I was working with Terry Allen for the very first time. Nobody had ever heard anything like what he was doing — and I've never heard anything before like what Mikaela has just recorded.

"Her music embodies her sensitivity, her life, her humor. She is an entertainer unimpaired by commercial restraints."

Rusty Hudelson, one of her music professors at South Plains College, concurred.

"Mikaela is an extremely unique songwriter, different from every songwriter I know," Hudelson said. "She's political, well informed, very educated, and I've never heard anyone with a voice like hers."

Jay Lemon taught songwriting classes at SPC.

"Her real knack is with lyrics," he said. "She has an honest, intimate girl-and-guitar thing going for her."

Dewar asked for her first guitar when she turned 7. Graduating at age 9 to a steel string, red and yellow Sunburst guitar, she continued learning from musician Julia Sugrue.

Dewar followed country music as a child. She studied classical guitar through high school.

She remembers long days picking raspberries, with her mother's help, to earn $100 needed to buy her first electric guitar.

In 1997, she won the Gold Guitar, an award Dewar calls "the pinnacle of New Zealand country music." For entertainers in New Zealand, she said, the next step is forging a career in Australia.

Dewar networked with other musicians. After a stint playing electric guitar for Shrunk, an all-girls rock band, in high school, she began performing at pubs, clubs and festivals.

A move to Tamworth, Australia, in 1999, paid dividends, thanks in part to her introduction to Jane Robertson, an American musician who helped shape Dewar's songwriting technique.

"Before that, I wrote only because I had to," noted Dewar. "Now I'm much more aware of structure, and I can't compare the feeling I get from writing songs to anything else."

She accepted an offer to join a three-piece Australian country band before she even arrived. She still laughs at the band's name — Electric Barnyard. On the other hand, she pointed out, "You can make really good money there, playing in Australia and New South Wales."

By the time the band broke up, Aussie recording artist Jedd Hughes had been telling Dewar about a fantastic music school in Texas called South Plains College.

"At first I had too many commitments, but I wanted to get more music education," Dewar said. "I've always felt that to be the best, you have to put yourself around the best. Jedd, Dixie Chicks (Natalie Maines), Lee Ann Womack — they'd all gone to South Plains."

Packing all of her possessions into a single suitcase, she set off in 2001 on a 26-hour flight. Her destination: Lubbock International Airport. Homesickness struck quickly.

"I'm a person who enjoys change," she said, "but it takes me about three months to settle in.

"And even though I was only 23, I was a little older than most other students at South Plains. Australia's pretty liberal, so there was also some culture shock. But now this is one of my favorite places in the world."

It wasn't long before the 5-foot-1 Dewar, playing her Australian Maton guitar, began earning major awards on campus and a following at area music venues. She now considers herself already ahead of her own five-year plan: to eventually become an independent recording artist, maintaining creative control.

Hudelson said, "I flat out believe in her."

Entertainer Miz Ayn Bowron co-owns the Mean Woman Grill in Levelland, where Dewar performs.

"My money's on Mikaela," Bowron said. "She's the real deal. I just wish I had one-tenth her talent."


Mikaela Dewar
• Age: 27.

• Birthday: April 15.

• Born: Christchurch, New Zealand.

• Educated: 1997 bachelor of arts degree from Canterbury College in Christchurch, New Zealand, studying political science and French.

• Also attended: South Plains College in Levelland.

• Texas honors: Named 2002 and 2003 South Plains College Female Songwriter of the Year.

• First CD: 2004 release "Overdressed," recorded at Caldwell Studios, Lubbock.

william.kerns@lubbockonline.com 766-8712

“…a really really inspiring first CD. I like it very much…Mikaela Dewar’s Overdressed is as spirited a first offering as you could actually wish for."