Had the organic, neo-folk music of Kimya Dawson not been featured in the soundtrack to "Juno," the singer-songwriter might still be a relatively mysterious unknown in the pop culture world. She has several indie solo albums to her credit, as well as records as a member of the Moldy Peaches and Antsy Pants.

But those songs were on the soundtrack. "Juno" became a hit, even being nominated for a best-picture Oscar. So a great many people who had never heard of the Moldy Peaches, or the anti-folk music that she and Adam Green performed under that name, became fans of their music, especially "Anyone Else but You."

On her post-"Juno" tour, Dawson will perform tonight at The NorVa in Norfolk. We dialed her last week while she was on a tour stop in Florida.

How has having your music featured as part of the "Juno" soundtrack changed your career and life?

Well, the shows are bigger, but besides that, it's pretty much the same. I liked the movie, and I'm happy to have been a part of it.

Are many of the fans familiar with your previous work?

A lot of them are. I've been touring pretty consistently for six or seven years now, so there are a lot of kids who've been following me all along. But there's a bunch of new people, too.

What's your definition of anti-folk?

It's just a community of musicians. It's a group of people kind of hanging out at the same open mics. It's pretty much a transient community.

It's not really a type of music anymore. In the '80s, when it started, it kind of was.

During the Vietnam War, folk singers were instrumental voices in the anti-war movement.

What's your view of the Iraq war?

I think it's (expletive).

It totally started based on lies. I think it's all about oil and money. It's a bunch of people being manipulated and a bunch of people being hurt. I think our country's just trying to take over the world, and it's really, really scary.

How important is Sen. Barack Obama's candidacy at this point in American history?

Anyone who can inspire people and make them realize that they don't have to sit back and take things, I think that's pretty fantastic; to make people feel motivated and hopeful. But at the same time, I do feel a lot of people sit around and wait for a politician to come along to inspire them and change things and save the day.

I think people need to be proactive at all times and even make changes on a grass-roots level in their own communities and support their local businesses. And getting to know their neighbors and having compassion toward other people, and not just accepting what is being done and thinking they can't make a difference.

I've heard your knuckle tattoos read "LAFF LOUD." Will laughter make you live longer and better?

A lot of funny people have died young, so I can't say it'll make you live longer, but I definitely think it fills your soul with good energy and spreads good energy to other people.

Jeff Maisey, (757) 222-3934, jmaisey@pilotonline.com