David Kushner Sets Out on a Grand Sonic Odyssey in Debut Album 'The Dichotomy'
Multi-platinum singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist David Kushner has finally unveiled his epic, autobiographical, 17-song debut LP, The Dichotomy. This project is not just an impressive musical endeavor but a personal journey for the world to behold. It chronicles his spiritual, philosophical, and ultimately musical evolution, inviting us to join him on a transformative odyssey from alienation, misery, and corruption to an uncertain acceptance of faith in the face of doubt's persistent presence.
From the booming first line of "No High," Kushner transports listeners to a soulful world overflowing with despair and desire. His husky vocals and dark Americana production guide us through familiar territories like the vulnerable "Skin and Bones" and the tragic "Hero," all while introducing different sides of his artistry on songs like the cinematic "Love Is Gonna Kill Us" and the piano-led, gospel-esque "Buried At Sea."
"Humankind" draws from Kushner's personal experiences with religious trauma. It critiques human nature and society, exploring themes such as the hypocrisy of religious practices, the allure of materialism, the commercialization of ideals, and humanity's enduring struggle for kindness and goodness. 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." 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 album's standout track, "Darkerside," is a shining jewel in this extensive collection of work. The track is a sonic epic that finds Kushner asking a higher power to help guide him as part of the album's final section, which traces his redemption. His lyrics expose the fight he's taking on with his "darkerside," sharing that not all wars are bloody. In the throes of chaos between his mind and morality, he finds himself on the edge, begging his savior to bring him "back to the light."
"Daylight" is the perfect finale for this album. Kushner's voice immediately captures your attention, starting with a barebones piano arrangement to support him. It comes together as one grand crescendo, as vocal distortion, acoustic and electric guitars, and drums surge alongside one another. The song's composition underscores the passionate lyrics. As the final chorus explodes, mirroring a release of bottled-up emotions, we are left with a cathartic exhale, reeling over everything that came before, engulfing and freeing us in the same breath.
As its title suggests, The Dichotomy is an extensive study of opposing ideals. God and Satan, light and darkness, good and evil, righteousness and sin, physical and spiritual, pleasure and pain—all are touched on throughout this expansive body of work that reverberates as a meditation on mortality, internal conflict, and the desire for awakening through revelation and transcendence. Kushner's rich bass vocals outline a life in darkness, while a soaring falsetto offers glimpses of the divine light that continually beckons him.
Listen to The Dichotomy below:
