Poetry

The simplest pleasures matter the most. Whether it be the dawn breaking, pouring the first cup of coffee, or enjoying a tree as it sways in the wind, the little things distinguish one day from the next. In fact, the day derives color, personality, and even magic from these nuances. Davis John Patton most certainly treasures such details. In similar fashion, his songwriting bears the eloquence of a novelist, allowing the smallest moments to leave big impressions. On his 2020 Poetry EP [Nettwerk], the troubadour uses acoustic instrumentation and atmospheric production to translate life’s idiosyncrasies into five introspective and engaging folk anthems.

“I like to find people where they are and help them see the beauty in those moments,” he says. “I’m trying to highlight the profound things happening day-to-day. There’s never a surplus of joy. We can always use more inspiration and peace.”

Born and raised in the Midwest, Davis found himself drawn to music at a young age. Mom enrolled him in piano lessons during first grade. Three years later, he picked up guitar. In between choir at church and school, he discovered Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago and embraced acoustic folk. While in college, he independently wrote and recorded the 2018 Forest Park EP. The project illuminated his talent as it performed impressively on streaming platforms. “Motives” surpassed 908K Spotify streams followed by “A Tale of Rescue” with 390K Spotify streams. On its heels, the From the Garden EP maintained this momentum. In addition to praise from American Songwriter and more, Atwood Magazine described the single “We Can Find A Place” as “poignant, sweet.” Even in the midst of a prolific few years, he still found the time to recognize peace around him.

At the end of 2019, he recorded what would become Poetry with producer Logan Christian in just a week. Under the influence of writers such Billy Collins, Mary Oliver, Ted Kooser, and Anne Porter, he channeled inspiration from a different source.

“I was reading a lot of poetry, and a lot of my songs actually started out as poems,” he recalls. “They conveyed some of the same emotions I’d been getting from poetry. They reminded me of this everyday beauty and changed the way I was viewing my daily life, so I wanted to help others see the same things.”

The first single “Ecclesiastes” pairs delicate acoustic guitar with vivid couplets as Davis intones, “He wakes before the sun has dawned. He says he does it for the ones he loves. He eats in darkness on the porch alone.”

“I was reading the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible,” he recalls. “It talked about how wealth and so many things we live for can be gone in an instant. The song follows two characters. One verse is a man who’s working his tail off night and day to make money. The second verse is about a fictional character who does the same thing not necessarily in search of money, but in search of fame, notoriety, and praise. It’s a meditation on the fleeting nature of those things.”

Then, there’s “I’m Not An Island When I’m Alone.” Piano resounds between soft strumming as his voice stretches from narrative verses into a soft bridge highlighted by nostalgic vignettes.

“It’s the idea of being comforted by the words of a loved one even when you’re not physically in the same place,” he states. “There was a summer where my now-wife and then-girlfriend were on opposite sides of the world. It was a great reason to write a love song. I wrote a chorus about ultimately cherishing the times we are in each other’s presence as a way to remember one another when we’re apart.”

Strings ebb and flow in and out of “I’ve Never Found One Like You” where he likens his significant other to “the word on my tongue’s edge,” “the books I’ve left unread,” and “the knowledge men can’t attain” as piano twinkles.

“I tried to build on the idea that I’ve lived a lot of days, seen a lot of things, and read a lot of words, but mostly there’s someone special in my life I’ve never found anything like,” he elaborates. “That’s her.”

In the end, Davis might ultimately make you appreciate everything around you a bit more with Poetry and more to come.

“I’m just a normal guy,” he leaves off. “I live in the middle of a flyover state and work for a church. I make music to help people see the beauty of creation. I try to share the feeling I get when I read a great poem. I’d love for you to have a sense of awe for the world after you hear it.”

- Rick Florino / Nettwerk Music