David Redd - “Ash & Smoke”
photo by jayden becker
New York-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter David Redd has just released “Ash & Smoke,” the third single from his forthcoming LP.
“Ash & Smoke” begins with a reverberating rhythm before quickly giving way to the vibrant strings of an acoustic guitar. Straight out of the gate, the song sounds as though it has been carefully crafted by actual human beings who know their way around their instruments, with topnotch production that will hold its own against any mainstream recording.
Where “Ash & Smoke” wins us over as fans is within its vocal performance. Redd has meticulously multi-tracked his delivery, leaving the song reminiscent of all the artists that drew us to the genre in the first place, including the likes of José González, Bon Iver, and Iron & Wine. And although the vocal enters the ears in layers, it never loses its intimate integrity.
As the track progresses, more elements arrive, including some large, echoing textures of guitars and cinematic percussion. This is important to note when considering that the song was primarily tracked in a live setting, utilizing the finest studio musicians in all of Los Angeles. “Ash & Smoke” is the first we are hearing from David Redd, but we certainly hope that it’s not the last. Once you press that play button, we have a feeling that you will agree.