After spending years in En Vogue, recording an album with the short-lived Lucy Pearl and contributing backing vocals to a number of artists, Dawn Robinson has decided to keep her silky, soulful voice all to herself.
Robinson’s debut solo album, Dawn, will hit stores October 16, with the sassy, uptempo single “Envious” leading the way at radio in mid-September.
The R&B singer/songwriter recorded the album in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Los Angeles with such songwriting and production collaborators as PAJAM (‘NSYNC, Sisqó) and Travon Potts (Christina Aguilera, Monica), according to her publicist.
The 12-song disc also will include the ballad “Just Get Up” and “MOW,” an En Vogue-esque number with a new jack swing rhythm. Other songs are “Set It Off,” “Party Party,” “Fed Up,” “Read It in My Eyes,” “Still,” “I Don’t Know Why” and “You Will Never.”
“I grew as a singer, songwriter and artist, and when it was over I felt a great sense of accomplishment,” Robinson said in a statement. “There’s something for all the En Vogue and Lucy Pearl fans, and the new Dawn fans as well.”
While with En Vogue, Robinson scored such hits as “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” and “Hold On,” but she left the group in 1997.
In late 1999 she formed Lucy Pearl with Tony! Toni! Toné! founder Raphael Saadiq and ex-A Tribe Called Quest DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The trio released their self-titled album the following May.
Robinson claimed she was shocked when her bandmates announced late last year that R&B singer Joi had replaced her. Lucy Pearl are now dormant. Saadiq announced earlier this month that he is recording a solo album.
