The Levins - Caravan of Dawn (2019)

Ira Levin, and his wife Julia Bordenaro Levin—together known professionally, and personally, as The Levins—bridge communities with their infectious musicality, bringing the socially-conscious, the spiritual, weary, and often, the cynical. Caravan Of Dawn is an album-oriented experience that represents a milestone of assured artistry.

The Levins have previously released three albums and one EP. “What shines through our body of work with a consistent thread of inclusiveness, and a desire to uplift our common humanity,” Julia shares. Sonically, The Levins aesthetic draws from their professional experiences in children’s music, trad folk, indie, pop, rock, ethnic music, jazz, and classical settings. Though this vibrant array of genres represents the pair’s roots, there is a signature aesthetic coursing through its body of work. This includes sharp songwriting skills, adventurous musicality, and a unique approach to vocal harmonies where the pair stack up and weave in and out of each other in fresh intervallic combinations that are both soulful and unexpected. The duo’s gorgeous harmony interlace is perched on a rich bed of guitar and piano instrumentation often delicately adorned with strings and percussion. Tracks by The Levins would fit snuggly on playlists alongside songs by The Weepies, Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel, Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, and Patty Griffin.

The Levins have garnered prime accolades and acclaim for boldly uncompromising and heartfelt music. Select highlights include ranking on Folk and Roots DJ charts, nabbing Top 10 positions more than once and landing on multiple DJ yearly Top 10 song and album lists, as well as earning awards from recognized platforms such as Indie Acoustic, Empower Music, CTFolk, S.Florida Festival, and MASC. In addition, The Levins have been selected as 2017 SERFA and 2016 NERFA Formal Showcase Artists, and 2014 Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists. The twosome has also been honored in meaningful ways through performing and presenting at the Parliament of World Religions in Toronto, and through having their album, My Friend Hafiz, come alive via a multiple-show full-scale musical production with Broadway director Mindy Cooper. (would love to have

The Levins story is something of a folk fairytale where two accomplished musicians meet at an open mic in the Bay Area, and later tie the knot. Eight years after marrying, in 2010, Ira and Julia decided to take their union one step further and leave the comfort of their respective bands, their work and the Bay Area to play music full-time out, starting out east in New York. “When discussing what we wanted to devote our lives to—we were choosing between starting a family, a mortgage, and music. It was obvious to us both that music was the path,” Julia says.

That path has reached a masterstroke destination with The Levins’ latest, Caravan Of Dawn. The album is a powerful distillation of the duo’s artistic forays, bringing together its varied musical and sonic explorations into a signature aesthetic. Adding to the album’s potency is The Levins’ careful album sequencing, offering the listener a smoothly curated experience of world music, folk, jazz, and rock, brimming with elegant touches of cello, ambient soundscapes, passages with trumpets, and tasteful electric guitar flourishes.

Taken together, the songs on Caravan Of Dawn orbit around a transformative message of healing. Album standouts include “Life Comes Pouring, “Sorrow Inside Joy,” and “Brighter Day.” The Levins frequently get pegged with the “happy folkie” tag, but the indie-pop track “Life Comes Pouring” reveals another layer of the duo’s emotional authenticity. “I struggle with my own negativity, and this song acknowledges those sentiments. We aren’t afraid to explore these feelings—they’re universal,” Ira says. The sweetly sage ballad “Sorrow Inside Joy” urges those in mourning to celebrate the lives of those we lose. And happy folk beams shine through purely on “Brighter Day” which showcases pop and jazz hues as The Levins stretch out with trumpets and richer harmonic content.

Caravan Of Dawn is a powerful release in these tumultuous times when it’s easy to be cynical or stoke the fires of anger. Ira shares: “These days people seem so divided and polarized—many people seek safety in bubbles. We want to offer people hope and a place to connect,” Ira shares. Julia concludes: “We hope the album reaches people through its openness and its honesty, and that it helps people to move forward and not feel so alone.”
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Caravan of Dawn Reviews

"The open hearted songs of The Levins feed my soul. What the world needs now more than ever is the poetry, spirituality, and humanity of their upliftng musicality" - John Platt, WFUV
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"The Levins tap into musical inspiration that is both inspiring and inspired. They seek to create a musical harmony meant to raise listeners to a higher plane. Caravan of Dawn is a gorgeous work!" - Joltin Joe Pszonek, Radio Nowhere
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“The Levins have scored another “win” with the release of “Caravan of Dawn”. Their trademark harmonies have never sounded better and the collection of uplifting songs serve up the perfect tonic for whatever ails we might be facing. Uplifting, inspiring and loving - their latest CD is a stunning production that gives us a chance to pause and celebrate the joys of life. A most welcome recording!”- Ron Olesko, WFDU

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“I wish I had a better way to communicate how your music affects me. It just goes straight to my heart.The new CD has been playing over and over since it arrived. I love the music so much! And I love your energy. “ -Barbara S. CT
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“So good… can’t listen to anything else…” - Rick R., NY
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"THANK YOU, it was truly a deep and profound evening, I had some beautiful, even tear filled feed back! 2 women came up to me afterwards, both in sweet heart touching tears. -"I didn't expect to be sooo deeply moved, this was not just Beautiful Music, this was a true Spiritual experience "!!! The other just hugged me, thanking me for booking You, in tearful smiles, blessed to have been sooo deeply moved by the evening. PreRelease Concert Venue operator,- NY
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"There are gifts for the moments in our lives that are often times not opened until the receiver is ready. Be it Devine intervention , energetic polarities , soul guidance, Mystic rhythms or just the elusive unexplainable happenstance of this thing called life that knows when you need something comforting , connective , healing and inspiring in this grand world …I’m sorta awestruck and feel I just lived an entire life in one album … what an amazing gift Caravan of Dawn is . This album came to me in my time of need , it inspired me , it comforted me , it held space for me , it picked me up and carried my soul for me .
-Matt Liam B., Ohio

Tracklist:
01. The Levins - The Story I Can Hear (3:50)
02. The Levins - Caravan of Dawn (4:56)
03. The Levins - Let's Be Big (3:25)
04. The Levins - Leela (3:35)
05. The Levins - Silence (4:00)
06. The Levins - Indivisible (4:17)
07. The Levins - Life Comes Pouring (4:25)
08. The Levins - Sing Along (5:20)
09. The Levins - Sorrow Inside Joy (5:18)
10. The Levins - Brighter Day (2:53)