Salt of the earth singer-songwriter Brock Davis is challenging the popular notion that a broken heart is the key to crafting the greatest songs.
In his own words, Davis states, “While pain can certainly produce a beautiful creation, so can love.” This idea of the beauty in creation forms the basis of his forthcoming album, Everyday Miracle, which celebrates life’s little moments of peace and joy, coupled with some folk, some country, and a bit of rock n’ roll.
Set to release July 26th, 2024 via Raintown Records, Davis’ album picks up where his last release, A Song Waiting to Be Sung, left off. Paralleling the events of his life since then, Everyday Miracle continues to chronicle a triumphant return after a difficult (but necessary) life reset. For him, music has become the vehicle by which to share the wisdom of his “agnostic gospel” acquired through years of personal growth.
Subtitled Backstage Sessions – Part 1, the album already promises another collection of songs to come (likely to be released in early 2025). These 13 songs are only half of what Davis and his band recorded at Nashville’s Backstage Studio alongside Grammy-winning engineer Zach Allen (Keb’ Mo’, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram). In these studio sessions, Davis was accompanied by an impressive array of Nashville A-list musicians whose credits include work with the likes of Eric Church, Stevie Nicks, Blake Shelton, and Tim McGraw.
Beginning with the title track, Davis enters this album with a flourish of modern acoustic country. At the heart of this tune is his curiosity in the purpose of life and finding meaning and poetry in each and everyday. With bright shining acoustic strings behind it, the resounding takeaway is that “every day is a gift.”
Released as a single in April, “Keep On” breathes new life into the old saying, “keep on keepin’ on.” As the song builds, Davis is joined by a choir whose soulful harmonies add touches of gospel to this hopeful contemporary country track. When things get tough, remember to “have a little faith that better days will come.”
Taking a more personal turn, Davis wrote “It Just Takes One” with help from his wife, who has shared her own experience of sexual harassment in the workplace. The verses set a scene of one potential instance, paired with an uplifting chorus about the importance of letting your voice be heard. The message behind this sensitive track is that each voice has power, no matter how insignificant it may seem. It only takes one person to change the world.
“September Rain,” Davis’ June single, evokes memories of summers long gone and the good ole days. It harkens to a nostalgia for simpler times and being with the ones we love, crafting a vivid portrait of a passionate summer love under pressure of impending hard times — or in this case, “rain.” This track is a less hopeful number, yet its lyrics suggest the subtle promise of a love that endures.
“Angela (Please Say Yes)” is a stirring piano ballad wedding proposal. Knowing his wife’s love of romantic gestures, Davis proposed to her in song. “My Promise To You,” the album’s closer, are his wedding vows set to music. Together, these two emotional tracks form a heartfelt set, exposing a rare kind of artistic vulnerability. Hearing the two songs back to back gives the listener a peek into the beauty and wonder of married life. At its core, love is a give and take, the consistent choice to do what’s best for the other.
Growing up near Vancouver, Canada, small town life was far from idyllic for Davis. A rather traumatic childhood led him to seek solace in music. Like many wide-eyed youngsters, Davis fell under the enchanting spell of music and life on the road. Under heavy influence from Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. and Jack Kerouac’s On The Road, he couldn’t help but embark on his own journey of discovery. As it often turns out, life on the road wasn’t as glamorous as it often appeared, so he bought a ticket back home to make his own music. After a time spent writing songs in the comforts of home, the songwriter turned his attention to life’s biggest adventure- raising a family. The release of A Song Waiting To Be Sung marked his return to the music industry.
A firm believer that pain leads to growth and new beginnings, it’s no surprise that his music reflects some bigger themes. Having spent some time on the road, Davis has since learned that life is the sum of a million little experiences and joys, all of which can be available to us if we know to look for them.
