This may sound overly cheesy and, perhaps, an opportune description given we are finally seeming to come out of the throes of winter here in Vermont, but there is something about Dave Richardson‘s voice and delivery that just screams (or gently sings, rather) “Spring” to me. There is a calming effect to his vocal patter over the intricately woven stories of his songs. He is, at heart, a story teller and a folk singer, delicately plucking from influences that came before him and those that venture alongside him in the present day. An observer of the world. A distiller of circumstance and experience with a pleasant and inviting vocal delivery and a sense of familiarity that invites you in for a warming cup of tea and some quiet conversation. A beautiful thing.

Of the new record Dave says, “I have been thinking about home, solitude, connection, and relationships. My need for space and to retreat, and my social anxiety can interfere with my desire to connect with others, share experiences, and be together. My songwriting has been reflecting these themes, and by late 2019 I had a collection of the most personal songs I’ve ever written.”

 The sentiment of the parallel between the longing for connection and the sometimes crippling uneasiness to connect is molded for us in the words of the latest single off of “Palms to Pines”. Richardson sings “Sometimes I’d rather be at home /With my earbuds in, closed off from everything / And sometimes you’ll find me sitting alone / Close to the action, watching it happen“, painting a portrait of a human of variance and layers. Comfortable at arms distance, but the occasional desire for the closer proximity of others, if only looking in from safe distances.

But its when the chorus hits with some jubilant and gorgeous harmonies that lemon-y beams of sunlight hit and the trying he is singing of is so very evident. Joined by a chorale of voices and the bow of the cello, its tapered on the edges with melancholy but the light and hope seeps through the cracks of our own vulnerability. Beautiful and tender as we have come to expect from the singer-songwriter, but with an underlying theme that is deeper, personal and reflective.

Palms To Pines is out on April 2nd. Keep an eye on Dave’s website or bandcamp for when it is out in the world.