Today we’d like to introduce you to David Fahl.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
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I’ve thought of myself as a poet since I was a teenager. I absorbed the world’s and my family’s belief that poetry is not useful or profitable, not something to be taken seriously. I spent early adulthood making a career in data processing. Poems continued to happen. In my mid-thirties I had a couple poems published, one of them in a data processing magazine, and decided to take my writing seriously. I started attending poetry open mics, taking classes.
One of my coworkers had a band with some of his high-school friends. They’d written and recorded some songs, but none of them had any idea of how to write lyrics. Since he knew I was writing poetry, he asked me to put lyrics to one of theirs. They were happy with the lyrics, but weren’t happy with their vocals, so asked me to come sing on the recording for them. I did that, hung around and sang while they jammed on some other songs, realized I could sing.
I had a guitar I’d played some with buddies in college, dug it out of the closet and started re-learning how to play. Started going out to open mics in Houston. I realized I could write a song, learn it, take it out and play it in front of people within a few days, and get an immediate reaction to it. With a poem, if it got published, it might be months later. If it was read, I’d have no idea what kind of response there might be. Incidentally, hanging out with songwriters and musicians, making music with others, was a lot of fun.
Over the years I’ve played with literally hundreds of other musicians, in informal jams and picking sessions, and in bands playing rock, country, and blues. Everybody I’ve ever played with has taught me something about music. More importantly, many of the musicians and others music has brought me into contact with are people outside of the homogenous neighborhoods and corporate world I’d been surrounded by. I’ve had a chance to learn what the world looks like from a huge variety of perspectives. Since I started the music journey, I’ve been keeping journals with the intention of writing something about this trip. It’s clear I’ll not be the most interesting character in any book that might come out of it.
I’ve made several albums, permanent documents of my work. They haven’t brought me fame or riches, but they’re out in the world. Because of digital versions on streaming services, my words and music have been heard by people all over the world. Over the years many people have told me about different ways my songs have had a positive impact on them.
Currently I’m performing at venues in Houston with my wife Alyson accompanying me on piano. I’m not even the best musician in my own house, but the music we make seems to make people happy. After all these years, we still find the music improving. That keeps us excited.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
While I’ve been in love with music all my life, I was in my mid-30s when I took up songwriting. I had to learn how to write music and song lyrics, play guitar, sing and perform on stage. Some of the people around me thought I was crazy or just foolish. I figured it was better to start then than to wait till I was 40.
I have not been blessed with a conventionally pretty singing voice, I have not had much vocal training. I thought of singers like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Mick Jagger, even Johnny Cash, These men do not have conventional pretty voices, but they are all singers that use their natural voices to deliver moving performances, performances that make an emotional connection with audiences. Johnny Cash has been quoted as saying “Your style is a function of your limitations, more so than a function of your skills.” I worked to find a style that worked for me. Early on I heard people tell me that I had “a voice”, that I sounded like no one else. I can’t do covers that sound like the originals, but no one else can sing quite like I do, either
Due to my lack of performing experience, I dealt with severe stage fright. Friends who saw and remembered some of my first open mic performances have told me that it was literally painful to watch my anxiety as I struggled to finish a song. The fact that I wasn’t competent at singing or playing guitar probably contributed to that pain. I was only able to keep at it thanks to the generous spirit of folks at these open mics who kept encouraging me to come back after they’d suffered through these performances. I kept practicing, kept writing songs, kept showing up and performing. I got better and my confidence grew.
I had a wife and daughter, I held down demanding professional jobs. Given that huge chunks of time were consumed with job and family, I found it impossible to work both on the music itself and on the business and promotion that a successful music career demanded. I prioritized the music, and the business side has suffered. With changes in the music business over the last few years, it’s gotten more and more difficult to make money at it. For me, the rewards have come from the people I’ve gotten to know and play with, and the music itself. I can’t not do it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a singer/songwriter. I have produced several albums and am currently performing as part of an acoustic duo with my wife Alyson on piano.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to support my effort is to listen to my music. Come out to shows to hear me live or check out the streaming services under David Fahl, Fahl&Folk and Loky. If you like it, let other people know about it. For any old-school folks out there, I’ve still got actual CDs for sale. They can follow me on Facebook as David Fahl, Songwriter, on Instagram, Spotify, Apple Music as David Fahl.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.davidfahl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfahlguy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dfahlsongs
- Youtube: David Fahl Songs – YouTube
Image Credits
The three photos on ‘additional’ page in the black shirt and the primary photo are by Carl Deal. He has given me permission to use. The others are from friends who took them at shows and sent to me.
