Kimya Dawson is (and has been) an icon in the Olympia music scene since the mid-1990s. Although Dawson has come and gone, she has now been back in Olympia for about five years and says she's here to stay.  The folk singer, who gained notoriety with the Moldy Peaches and the Juno soundtrack, and who releases music on K records, recently began a new journey into the hip-hop world, teaming up with former Def Jux (RIP) recording artist and indie hip-hop superstar Aesop Rock. The two artists are in the middle of a tour together and are having no problem filling venues with a mix of hippies and hip-hoppers, which Dawson admits is a good sampling of people. 

I spoke with Dawson this past weekend to find out more about her current tour, the upcoming release with Aesop Rock and anything else hip-hop.

"I was told Aesop wanted to tour with me about four years ago but there really wasn't any way I could because my daughter was just born and I didn't really know who he was at the time. (I told him to) e-mail me but then I totally forgot to get him my contact info," says Dawson. "Later on (Aesop Rock) was in San Francisco and saw me perform, but got too shy and didn't come up and say anything. Eventually he got a hold of me in person and asked if I would tour with him and I was like, ‘Hey I just read about you in Spin.' He then also asked me if I would contribute to his blog."

Dawson eventually did contribute to Aesop's blog, and after that Aesop did some contributing himself by putting in work on six songs for Dawson's forthcoming solo album, Thunder Thighs. Shortly after the duo started playing shows together, including Eyedea's memorial in Minneapolis.  

The idea for a full-fledged Aesop Rock/Kimya Dawson album came about in the midst of all the shows and recording together. According to Dawson, they started writing it after Eyedea's memorial. Originally calling the project the Precious Brothers, Aesop and Dawson, as of late, have taken to opening the door to fans at shows to come up with a name for them. The duo is currently nine songs deep into their album, which consists of Dawson on the guitar and singing and Aesop Rock producing and rapping.

"I don't know if I could ever work with, not just another rapper, but another artist, because of how much he cares about each individual word in his lyrics. It's almost obsessive-compulsive," says Dawson. Although Dawson has worked with other hip-hop artists such as Murs, she now says she really can only see herself working full-time with Aesop when it comes to hip-hop. 

Dawson is set to release Thunder Thighs in September, and together with Aesop Rock is shooting to follow that up with the joint record in October. Aesop Rock's solo album will be released in November.