Dave Godowsky

• Singer/Songwriter

Dave Godowsky’s songs combine emotion, intellect, and humor, occupying a distinct place in the songwriting world of the past decade, both locally and nationally. No stranger to Passim, Godowsy is also an active member of Sub Rosa and collaborates regularly with several local musicians including Dietrich Strause, Rose Polenzani, Mark Erelli, and Dinty Child.

His first two records, All You Love Is Need (2009) and Pregret (2016) span a diverse range of influences, earning him diverse accolades as well – from media like Billboard and Boston Globe to opening spots for bands like Bon Iver and Counting Crows.

His upcoming album, Cuts (due out Feb 28), is infused with introspective positivity, equally analytic and grateful.

According to Godowsky, the intent was not necessarily to express inner peace, but to inspire others’. “In the writing and recording processes, I focused my and the band’s energy on trying to stay Zen,” he says. “The goal was to create a sort of ‘musical Xanax’…to make an album that people could listen to and feel a little calmer and more grounded, without compromising its message or intellectual integrity. It’s positive even though it’s not always happy.”

The album ranges from upbeat roots-y pop songs (“Better Just To Be,” “So & So, By & By,”) to tongue-in-cheek irony (“The Ballad of the Man,” “What’s Her Name? What’s His Face?”) to pensive ballads (“Good Graces,” “Ghost.”) The songs lean heavily on sardonic wit and sincere lyricism, with an emphasis on melody and concision. Guests Gene Ween (“The World’s Fair”) and Sadie Dupuis (“The Ballad Of The Man”) lend their vocals, while the musical arrangements are largely centered around the presence of harpist Mairi Chaimbeul. Cuts was mixed by GRAMMY-winning engineer Chris Shaw (Bob Dylan, Public Enemy, Weezer) and mastered by GRAMMY-winning engineer Emily Lazar (Vampire Weekend, Sia, Coldplay)