David Newberry sings folk songs with rock sensibilities. Or is it the other way around? Either way, his compositions provide insights into the complex contemporary social world through musical and lyrical exploration.
His 2010 CD, "When We Learn The Things We Need To Learn", established him as a legitimate force in Canadian music, catching the eye of several of Canada's roots-elite, including Juno winner David Francey, who calls him "absolutely brilliant...," and EXCLAIM! Magazine, who pegged him way back then as "an artist to watch," more recently upgrading him to "evidence that Canadian roots music is in good hands."
In 2011, after featuring at several British Columbia Festivals (ArtsWells/Campbell Bay/FolkWest/CBC Sessions), Newberry travelled to Mayne Island, BC with a large group of peers to record his sophomore effort No One Will Remember You, produced by Adam Iredale-Gray of and and featuring members of the Deep Dark Woods, Fish and Bird, The Gruff, O'Mally, DRMHLLR, and more. The record sets a contemporary experimental rock vibe against a backdrop that is firmly rooted in timeless roots music. It was released in March 2012 on Vancouver's Northern Electric Label.
Newberry came to music later than most of his peers, and via a path that is less than typical. At 20 years old, while training as a carpenter, a construction accident left him without the use of his left hand. When his physiotherapist suggested learning an instrument as a means to rebuild his injured appendage, he chose the guitar, and never looked back, emerging quickly as poet with a hankering for noise.
There is a joy in David Newberry's sometimes somber music that is hard to explain. His live shows are frequently full of storytelling, humour, and a strange celebration of life somehow rooted in a twisted pessimism. Not one to waste words, David Newberry packs each phrase with the kind of thought, meaning, and complexity that is most often associated with singer-songwriters of the 1960s. But don't get the wrong idea - Newberry's music is inescapably forward looking, constantly aiming to broaden the understanding of what roots music "sounds like."
David Newberry performs solo and with his backing band.
How Do Other People Describe David Newberry's Music?
"Newberry can be filed alongside the likes of young troubadours like Jerry Leger and Corin Raymond as evidence that Canadian roots music is in good hands."
-Exclaim Magazine
"His voice has the ring of truth and there's poetic insight aplenty in these songs. Newberry is an artist to watch." -
-Exclaim Magazine
"Newberry doesn’t sacrifice lyrical creativity even when he’s making noisy, guitar-driven tunes..."
-CBC Music
"David's music is delivered with passion and intensity such as I have rarely experienced. Each song is like a masterpiece of concise writing, not one wasted word or thought. Each drives home the fact that I am listening to exquisite insights into the human condition. A brilliant blend of heart and mind that is all but missing in most of his contemporaries writing today. He is a brilliant poet and compelling performer. I will be in the audience again as often as I can. I think he is an outstanding writer. Simply outstanding."
-Three time Juno Award winner David Francey
"While other singer-songwriters talk about their storytelling skills and their ability to draw you into a song, Canadian singer David Newberry delivers. His new album "No One Will Remember You" is packed with beautifully crafted songs, the kind of music that has to be made by hand with great care. Coupled with his beautiful voice, you have quite the package... His songs are gently sad, almost wistful, possibly exhausted: really the only emotions we have anymore in a world on the brink.... a refreshingly ego-less perspective that's unfortunately very rare."
-No Depression
"...equal parts 'The River' era Springsteen and Neil Young folk rock elements in his music (No One Will Remember You is a) soulful, really impressive sophomore album."
-Alan Cross