“Oh, I love it, and I hate it at the same time, you and I drink the poison from the same vine.” Many people know the words to this viral TikTok song, but who is the soulful voice behind these renowned lyrics? Chicago-born music artist David Kushner started writing music when he was young and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue his musical passions.
Kushner started out mildly strong in his career with the release of his song “Miserable Man,” followed by his first EP album “Footprints I Found” in 2022. A year later, the artist began to gain some serious traction when he released his hit ballad “Daylight”. “Daylight”, which became the artist’s first top 10 song, took off on TikTok and was used in a couple million TikTok videos.
Back in June, Kushner announced his first full debut album, The Dichotomy, which dropped on Aug. 30. In an interview with Sweety High, Kushner said, “The album name The Dichotomy represents the contrast and balance of opposing forces that we all experience in life. Whether it’s love and hate, light and darkness, or peace and conflict, these dichotomies shape our existence.” Kushner’s new album is a seventeen-song collection of moodiness, transparency, and emotional rawness. The album’s lyrics, as Kushner mentioned, explore variations of conflicting forces one might face and are accompanied by both melancholic backing tracks and his baritone voice.
The songs in the album are categorized into four different themes. The first five songs on the record, including “Poison”, “Skin and Bones,” and “You and Me” explore themes of lust, jealousy, and anger. The next five, including “Dead Man”, “Flesh x Blood,” and “Sweet Oblivion” are songs concerned with conflict and the desire for awakening. The third group of songs, “Humankind,” “Universe,” and “Heaven Sees” are inspired by Kushner’s “existential thoughts of existence.” The last few songs featured in the album, which include “Darkerside,” “California Nights,” and “Saving Your Soul” speak of Kushner’s desire for revelation, healing, and entering the light.
Kushner’s Christian faith has played an influential role in his inspiration for this album and his music composition overall. Biblical themes and concepts are often considered and explored throughout his lyrics. In a 2023 interview, when asked about his musical inspiration, Kushner revealed that “My faith in God has been a foundational thing in my life.” He also took to his Instagram the day of his album’s release and told followers, “…i hope you find the hope of God within this album…” Although Kushner does not consider himself to be a Christian artist, he is not ashamed of giving credit to his faith.
Kushner kicks off “The Dichotomy” tour this fall and I, personally, cannot wait to hear this album live. Being a Kushner fan and having met him personally, I wish this talented, thoughtful artist nothing but the best and hope that his music continues to speak to and inspire its listeners.
