There are thousands of artists today clamoring for space on internet blogs, constantly posting youtube videos, desperate to reach out to music lovers and grab their attention. This works for many of them, but there are other musicians, like David Cousar, who remain truly underground, virtually hidden. An artist who has shunned the personal spotlight, he has avoided notoriety not out of ignorance or lack of ambition, but out of a desire to continually grow and craft a body of work.
At heart David is a raconteur, and like any good storyteller, his material often dramatically shifts structures during live performances. Equally comfortable on acoustic and electric guitars, he will fearlessly direct a song in unexplored directions upon a sudden whim, dramatically altering the sonic landscape and adding sweeping textured layers. Whether the musical canvas be psychedelic pop, progressive folk rock, or experimental combination, Cousar masterfully directs his nuanced compositions behind a voice that is capable of being as deep and haunting as it can be hushed and gentle.
Over the last few years he has kept a residency at the Buccaneer Lounge in midtown Memphis, a bar known for booking eclectic acts (boogaloo/soul one night, punk the next). The eclectic atmosphere there sparked something and became a big part of how Cousar has allowed his songs to progress and grow. "They are constantly evolving," he says thoughtfully, "….virtually everything seems unfinished because I never play the song the same way. Sometimes I will change the key just to make it sing differently."
A roamer by nature, he is a man who has lived a lifetime full of lifetimes. Over the course of the years he played and toured around the globe with artists from Jim Dickinson to Rufus and Carla Thomas, studied classical guitar theory, and recorded with the likes of Al Green, Willie Mitchell, and Memphis chanteuse Susan Marshall (backing vocalist for Cat Power's "The Greatest"). In addition to his regular gigs at "The Buc," he can occasionally be spotted playing with Marshall, Star and Micey (Ardent Records), and his friends in Lucero. Each of these experiences has added a rich subtext to the way he hears music in general, especially his own. "I played in lots of different formats, as a journeyman guitarist…but playing solo allows me to explore the guitar in a different way. I like so many different kinds of music from chamber music, prepared guitar music to rootsy to beautiful pop songs." With such a diverse and creative musical range and a developing body of material, it would be a wonder if he stayed under the radar for too much longer.
For more, visit David's page over at Archer Records.com.
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