David Kushner Battles His Inner Demons in "Humankind," Announces Debut Album 'The Dichotomy'
Breakout singer-songwriter David Kushner grapples with his inner demons and the scars of religious trauma in his latest single, "Humankind." This song, which draws from Kushner's personal experiences with church trauma, is a compelling work from the rising artist. It critiques human nature and society, exploring themes such as the hypocrisy present in religious practices, the allure of materialism, the commercialization of ideals, and humanity's enduring struggle for kindness and goodness.
"Humankind" opens with a melancholic piano arrangement that ushers in Kushner's deep, rumbling vocals. The initially sparse instrumentation allows him to weave a vivid portrait of seeing "the devil" masquerading in righteous sheep's clothing, infiltrating a space previously deemed sacred. As a sonic storm brews in the pre-chorus, Kushner croons to the ether, "I'm the one that you came and slaughtered / You spin me around / I was lookin' for livin' water / You just let me drown." On the heart-aching and brilliant chorus, the Chicago native laments putting his faith in the wrong places, feeling chained and trapped in a place that promised freedom. Trying to make sense of the chaos and find any sense of hope and kindness, he is left with the haunting realization that "Humankind just lets me down."
The accompanying music video is an equally moving visual that opens with Kushner sitting alone in a dilapidated church. Flashing back to scenes of him blindly following a mysterious church leader, he comes to a rude awakening when he realizes that all that glitters isn't gold. Kushner shared in a statement, "This project has been a long time coming and I'm excited I finally get to share it with all of you. I wanted to depict humankind's struggle between light and darkness. It's something that all of us feel in our own way, and certainly something I feel daily. I want people to understand that there are always two sides to everything, with two forces at play. Recognizing this reality is the first step towards finding true purpose in the struggle."
The single will be a part of Kushner's highly anticipated album, The Dichotomy, set to release on August 30. This twelve-track project will also include hit singles "Daylight," "Skin And Bones," and "Dead Man." Following the album's release, he will hit the road on his North American tour, 'The Dichotomy Tour,' which will kick off on September 9 in Portland, Oregon, and culminate on November 23 in Oakland, California.
Watch the "Humankind" video below:
