Chicago-bred singer/songwriter
David Kushner
rose to viral success in early 2022 with "Miserable Man," a dark-hued indie folk track about breaking free that charted around the world. Along with the follow-up single "Mr. Forgettable," it was the focal point for his 2022 debut EP
Footprints I Found
. Now signed to
Virgin Records
,
Kushner
offers up his first full-length release, a moody 17-track behemoth titled
The Dichotomy
. With his soulful baritone and slow-burning balladry about temptation, passion, and the struggle between light and dark,
inhabits a world similar to atmospheric forebears like
Hozier
the Lumineers
, and
Bon Iver
, all of whom he clearly admires. There are also strong threads of his Christian faith woven throughout this deeply introspective set. Several singles preceded
's release, the most notable of which was "Daylight," an impassioned piano ballad that topped several international charts. Among the many brooding, tortured romantics plying for attention across social media,
falls pretty squarely in the middle. ~ Timothy Monger