Dawson Cowals
Sometimes his licks sound like Dave noodlin' with a notion and his voice once in a while rasps like Rob Thomas. But the sound -- and the message -- is uniquely Dawson's. He's a storyteller gifted in a lyrical way with words that make the sublime and the mundane as relevant to his generation as Harry Chapin's were.
There's always a message in the music whether it's classic and rocks or if it's simple and understated support for verbatim scripture. His lyrics, as much as his music, have won crossover listeners because his music is most accurately described as Christian without being preachy. Jesus told his disciples that the world would know us by our love, and that is how Dawson endeavors to reach his listeners. As Dawson explains in his own words, "I try to write about experiences, struggles, heartaches and victories that have happened in my own life and that I feel others can relate to easily. Then I show how I was able to go through some of these valleys, not by my own strength, but by leaning on the giver of all strength, Jesus."
As Zach Garland put it, Dawson's music is "Nice jazzy rock, with very creative lyrics; a message that doesn't hit you over the head. Dawson honors his God and shares the happiness he feels without insulting a non-Christian's intelligence. He's just got something cool he wants to share. Take note gang. Make music this good, and non-Christians will listen. Take it to the river; don't keep it in the church."
From the raw acoustic brilliance of "I'm Not That Strong" that leaves you waiting for and wondering about the missing beat in the 11/4 time signature. To the echoes of a Russian Gypsy Dance lingering after "Pain" delivers its aural pleasure. Enjoying his guitar's acoustic duet with a sweet jazz sax doesn't require a "Leap Of Faith." It's an affirmation of sound and style as much as it's a celebration of belief.
Whether it's for a crowd of one or none, Dawson's as much at home on a stool in a coffee shop as he is leading worship services or performing for thousands at an open-air concert. After listening to him play, one can't help but be left with the exhortation, that "whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
His discography includes an all original worship project, "Inhabit Our Praises", an alternative Christmas CD, "Born Is the King", which features several original songs and all new arangements of classics like "We Three Kings" and "Away In a Manger". His seventh CD, "Unplugged", has several new songs as well as some older ones all recorded live in the studio for those who wanted more of a live sound from Dawson. "Don't Look Back", is the newest, full-band CD released in October of 2001 and features 15 songs, half of them older favorites completely re-recorded, and the other half previously unreleased. Dawson will hopefully be recording some new material this summer with a new release planned for the fall.
Influences
Dave Matthews, Bebo Norman, John Mayer, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Shaded Red, White Heart, Newsboys, Out of the Grey, Jennifer Knapp, Jill Philipps, Caedmon's Call
Sounds Like...
Dave Matthews, Bebo Norman, John Mayer
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Unplugged
| Song Title | Play | Buy | $ |
| Broken |
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| $0.99 |
| Lately |
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| $0.99 |
| Sticks and Stones |
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| $0.99 |
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