David Davis: Silver Linings
Rival Magazine interviews the up and coming singer songwriter
Singer songwriter David Davis is on a steady ride to the top as he takes on the music industry one hit song after another. The “pop-soul” singer grew up in Chicago studying Motown’s greatest, and went on to marry that sound with a pop style of his own that won the Ben Platt episode of the hit singing competition show NBC’s Songland. Producers like Redone (Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj), and Aaron Sprinkle (One Republic), have worked side by side with Davis, and he’s studied next to some of the industry’s biggest names. During the pandemic we at Rival had a chance to sit down with Davis “distance” style to learn more about his art and career.
“I was the type of kid who would ride in the backseat of my folk’s car and make up silly songs for my own entertainment,” David says of his Chicago upbringing. One of seven siblings, David started singing and performing at an early age by taking piano lessons and singing in his church choice. “By middle school, I found that the best way to express my feelings was through writing songs, “ he says, “and once I realized the power of putting emotions into art, I became obsessed with it.” At that point he knew he was going to pursue a career in the music industry. Being from Chicago, that industry was right at his fingertips, and Davis found himself diving deep into the excellence of the Chicago blues scene. “I played a few rooms there as I was developing my craft,” he tells Rival editors, “and that standard of excellence really made me step up my game every time I played.
Davis says that he feels like the music that inspires all of us sort of “finds us,” and that after years of studying legends like Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, and listening to today’s artists like Katy Perry and Ryan Tedder, he’d finally found his sound. “I loved how infectious today’s artists’ hooks were, and how groovy the roots music I grew up on was,” he says, “and my sound came from a fusion of these two worlds.”
Of course, that sound brought him to a once in a lifetime opportunity on NBC’s Songland. “I was contacted by the show and was asked to send in a few songs in the style of the artists listed for that season,” he says, “and they heard my song and thought it’d be a great fit for Ben Platt.” Indeed, Davis’ original song “Everything it Took to Get to You” resonated deeply with Platt, who chose him as his winner:
“To be chosen as the winner was a pinch yourself moment, mainly because I was so excited to hear Ben completely crush his performance of the song! And with a voice like his, I had a feeling he’d be able to take it to the charts.”
Now, Davis has numerous projects in the works that he’s released during quarantine and that are coming up. His hit song “Ocean” was released earlier this summer, and the entire music video was produced in isolation during the pandemic. “I wrote the song in 2017 after a Tinder date. My date was visiting from London for 24 hours and we had really hit it off,” the artist says, “but we both knew that once he stepped back on that plane to the UK it would probably fizzle out.” David says that the experience prompted him to tell the story to his friend, Emma, with the final line being, “I swear we can make it work – it’s only an ocean between us!” And the song was born.
“We wrote it in about thirty minutes. The video was shot and edited quarantine style, with my dear friend and wonderful director, Gille Klabin. We only had four people on set, including the choreography Divinity Gaines. But I had to do my own my hair, styling, everything. I’m so glad how it turned out; the simplicity of the performance combined with Gille’s VFX made the vision come to life. But it was definitely a big adjustment having to keep production small.”
In his tenure as a performing artist Davis has played over 700 shows. He says that in this divided world, nothing brings him more joy than bringing people together and celebrating life with music. “I get so much energy from that,” he states, “and every performance has something unique about it because every audience is special.” And, even though live concerts are on an indefinite hiatus due to the pandemic, Davis still has been able to write and produce new music from the safety of his own home. “I’m writing a producing a lot of new music in quarantine because it’s what keeps me sane,” he states, “and my approach has always been to provide music for people to help get them through life.” David says he thinks now is the most important time to be writing music because times are rough for everyone, and so he’s working hard to crank out more than he ever has:
“Included in that is my first holiday EP ‘Hope for the Holidays.’ It is an EP about longing to be with those you love in the coming days. I hope people hear it and decide to take the extra effort to be with their people this holiday season (safely, and if the circumstances permit).”
During the global pandemic the artist says he’s been focusing on his most important job: staying mentally and physically healthy. “The silver lining is I have breath in my lungs and a song to sing. I consider that a victory.”
Favorites
1. What is your favorite song on the radio today?
1. Rain On Me – Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande
2. Who is your favorite source of inspiration?
1. Deep heart talks with friends and strangers
3. What is your favorite genre of music?
1. Soul Music
4. What is your favorite food?
1. Lasagna
5. What is your current favorite Netflix show to binge?
1. Schitt’s Creek
6. What is your instrument to play?
1. Piano
Meet the Author
Bio: Ashley works full time in entertainment in Atlanta and is a freelance writer, model, and actress. Her background in publishing and marketing, paired with a love for all things fashion and entertainment, led her straight to the Rival team. She has been featured in over twenty publications to date and continues to write for fashion magazines and entertainment journals nationwide.