“Acoustic poetic vibes from singer songwriter David Berkeley with this latest release “
NMR – A very nice track delivered in expert style, minimalist in style with the guitar and vocal dominating the track, the added harmonies and sounds compliment it really nicely.
David Berkeley’s gift as a songwriter and storyteller lies in his ability to see both the tragedy and comedy in life, crafting songs that can break and heal the heart. The San Francisco Chronicle has called him a “musical poet,” and The New York Times praises his “lustrous, melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake.” It is this voice and his gift with words that set Berkeley apart from other guitar-slinging songwriters. However, it is his onstage charisma and unparalleled between-song repartee that truly place him in a class of his own. Each of his performances is unique, with his humanity shining through every note he sings and every word he speaks.
David Berkeley has released eight studio albums, one live album, and authored two books, each paired with one of his albums. He has been featured on This American Life, where he shared an outrageous story of a private serenade he was hired to perform. Berkeley has also received numerous songwriting awards and honors, including ASCAP’s Johnny Mercer Songwriting Award.
Berkeley’s newest album, A Pail Full of Fire, is a masterclass in songwriting and singing. Produced by Todd Sickafoose (known for his work with Hadestown, Ani DiFranco, and Andrew Bird) and featuring Anna Tivel on angelic background vocals and Rich Hinman on ethereal pedal steel, the album’s arrangements are spare and restrained, allowing Berkeley’s rich baritone and profound poetry to take center stage. Like all of Berkeley’s catalog, the music invites you to lean in and listen closely, as each song speaks to what truly matters in life.
The album opens with the single “Wild Gods,” a post-COVID song that reminds us that despite “all our different fears and all our different fights and all the time we waste in this our only life,” there is still a chance for redemption and connection, “because every moment dear, a new world begins.” The final track, “Until the End,” is a meditation on the unpredictability of life, with David Berkeley recalling the ancient Greek philosopher Solon as he whispers in a cracking falsetto, “until the end, no one knows how it ends…stay close, my friend.” This record stands in defiance of many modern trends—flash, noise, speed, volume, and AI—instead favoring long tones, honest reflection, and heart.
In addition to his solo career, David Berkeley is one half of the wildly creative Trans-Atlantic costumed duo Sons of Town Hall, who will be releasing a new album alongside a musical-parody podcast series. Berkeley’s music has also been remixed by many of the world’s top EDM DJs. He tours extensively across the country and the world, having opened and toured with artists such as Dido, Don McLean, Ben Folds, Billy Bragg, Ray LaMontagne, Nickel Creek, and many more. He has been a Kerrville New Folk winner, a New Song and Rocky Mountain Folks Festival finalist, and has performed on World Café, Mountain Stage, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, XM Loft Sessions, Acoustic Café, and more.
Beyond his extensive musical catalog, David Berkeley’s two books are also noteworthy. His first is a memoir about music and fatherhood. The second is a unique concept: a novella comprising ten intertwining stories paired with an album of ten accompanying songs, one for each story. For more information on David Berkeley’s art, visit www.davidberkeley.com.
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