On April 14, up-and-coming singer/songwriter David Kushner released his long-anticipated single “Daylight.” If this name sounds familiar to you, it should. Kushner has been steadily releasing music for over a year but has made sizeable waves in the indie pop scene. His singles “Miserable Man” and “Mr. Forgettable” garnered a lot of traction because of his talent and creative use of Tik Tok for marketing.
If you spent time on Tik Tok these past few months, you have heard this ballad’s sweeping, ethereal chorus. “Daylight” was first previewed on Jan. 21, featuring a serene rainy night. Fans and newcomers instantly fell in love, likening his baritone voice and elegant production to Hozier and Bon Iver. It quickly caught on and people used it for videos from relationship posts to showing off outdoor scenery.
Breaking down the song
“Daylight” is a song all about temptation. Kushner described the concept behind the song as “a realization of my own desires and the complexity of those desires.” This is demonstrated in the song’s chorus and the first words we heard from the snippet released three months ago:
Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time
You and I drink the poison from the same vine Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time
Hidin’ all of our sins from the daylight
From the daylight, runnin’ from thе daylight
These lyrics show the dichotomy between what we want and how we perceive what we want from a religious perspective. A considerable struggle with those who are religious, or grew up religious, is giving into your desires that have been demonized your whole life, especially lust. He loves it and hates it all at once because he is doing something he wants, which feels good, but he cannot shake the idea that he is also sinning.
This section of the song leans even more into religious imagery, as it repeatedly references Adam and Eve, the original sinners. “You and I drink the poison from the same vine” is the most overt reference. While it is not exactly an apple, drinking poison from a vine sounds like wine, considered a sacred drink throughout the Bible. Another thing to consider is the lyrics, “Hidin’ all of our sins from the daylight.” After performing the original sin, Adam and Eve became aware of their nudeness and tried to hide from God. The “daylight” referred to in this song may not strictly be God, but it represents some form of salvation Kushner is trying to achieve. However, in pursuit of his desires, he continues hiding from it.
Watch the Video Here
The video captures the vibe and energy you get from listening to the song. It is set against a woodland backdrop as Kushner faces many trials, representing his falling into his desires. He attends a church filled with people he does not recognize and they stone him with black rocks. At his home, he shakes hands with a man on fire, emulating Kushner consumed by his desires. The video is quite beautiful and tied to an equally fantastic song.
I cannot recommend this song enough. David Kushner has hit his stride and will not stop anytime soon. He has several more songs if you want to hear more. His next performance will be at the Crystal Palace Park in London on July 8th along with The Lumineers. Get tickets here!
