david usher bio

THE SOLO CAREER

As you can tell, this site is devoted to the solo career of singer/songwriter David Usher. Between recording Creature and Mercedes Five and Dime with Moist, the simplistic, organic sounding Little Songs was released much to my surprise and excitement. The best part of this record was that it was completely different from Moist and showed a different, softer side to David Usher. Recorded in David's kitchen in three, 10-day stretches, the album shines in its acoustic simplicty. Forestfire and St. Lawrence River are prime examples of its quiet sencerity and beauty. Trumpets and soft keyboards make its sound even more memorable.

Always the one to keep himself busy, Morning Orbit was released in the summer of 2001. The disc has more edge and heavy guitars, but still has the characteristic darkness from its predecessor. Black Black Heart screams with anger, while David continues to reveal himself through the keyboard-laden My Way Out and Blinded. Moist had a much larger impact on this record, with bassist Jeff Pearce helping produce six tracks and guitarist Mark Makoway five. Alone in the Universe could be easily mistaken for Moist, but the disc still maintains a David Usher feel. This album was a commercial success in Canada, Thailand and Germany. Best of all, David toured extensively for this record, which he did not do for Little Songs.

Although Moist's future was still up in the air, Usher's blistering touring schedule only inspired further creativity. Hence, Hallucinations was released in the fall of 2003. This album seems the most autobiographical, with songs such as In This Light and I'm Coming Down reflecting his growing maturity. What the disc lacks in prior lyrical flair is made up for in it's great "indy" feeling, similar to that generated from Little Songs. However, this feeling is different in that it is not from acoustic guitars, but rather, electronic nuggets such as Numb, Tomorrow Comes and the title track. Mixed in with Morning Orbit type songs such as Time Of Our Lives and Message Home, as well as some gratifying live bonus material, the album is a diverse creation that grows on the listener.

With three strong and diverse solo albums behind him, David now equaled Moist's album production. However, never one to like feeling comfortable, within 18 months of the release of Hallucinations, David moved from Montreal to New York, changed record labels from EMI to MapleMusic, and released If God Had Curves. The periodic electronica was replaced with more social and political notes, much inspired by living in the States. Although there was much stronger radio success with this album from the hopeful Love Will Save The Day, this is considered by many of Usher's fans as their least favourite album.

Strange Birds, released in March 2007, marks more of a return to the unique combination of electronic acoustics (tracks - Brilliant, White Flag) and heavier beats (track - Ugly Is Beautiful) that David mastered with Hallucinations. The album was improved through playing small club shows in New York that allowed David and the band to try the new songs and often add more energy to the tracks.

MOIST

Like most, my first exposure to David Usher was through his highly successful Canadian band, Moist. Moist formed in 1993 and quickly began their rocking ways in 1994 with Silver. Push was a HUGE song in Canada, but the band proved they were much more than one-hit wonders. The moody and painful classics like Silver and Low Low Low, along with the edgy Machine Punch Through, were just a taste of things to come.

In 1997, Creature was released, by far my favourite Moist album. Resurrection and Tangerine showed they could still rock out, but songs like Leave It Alone and Creature are the true gems in my opinion. They proved the seemingly fluid mix of rock and emotions that Usher and the band had perfected.

The band's third disc, Mercedes Five and Dime, released in 1999, is a lighter, electronic diversion. Underground and Tonight are my favourites. Although it's safe to say that this album is a big disappointment from the previous two, you have to give credit to the band for diverging from the easy road to succes and making an album they were happy with.

THE MAN

David was born in Oxford, England on April 24, 1966. His family traveled extensively in Malaysia, the United States and Thailand before settling in Kingston, Ontario when he was 3. In his college years, David wound up at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, majoring in political science. His degree would later influence his music career, as political themes (and big words) are a big part of his writing. A former long time resident of Montreal, David moved to New York in 2005 and recently announced (July 2007) that he would be moving back to Montreal.

David married (sorry girls) in 1997 his long time girlfriend, Sabrina, a model and photographer from New York. They had their first daughter in 2003, named Coco.

OTHER NEAT STUFF

¬ Before Moist, David was in a rap band! They were called the True Hype Crew.
¬ Little Songs was written while on tour with Moist on a $70 plywood Yamaha acoustic guitar.
¬ David is the only member of Moist who doesn't smoke.