Davis Gestiehr is a twenty-three-year-old, Nashville-based singer-songwriter. Born to punk parents, his formative years were spent immersed in the discographies of bands like The Ramones, Sex Pistols, and Iggy Pop. His early exposure to music resulted in Gestiehr crafting a sound that melds brooding rock and punk textures, creating a distinct, yet familiar wall of sound. Gestiehr received his first taste of what it was like to perform to thousands of fans when he was just 11 years old. Having attended a Green Day concert at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA, he was pulled up on stage to perform “Longview” with Billie Joe. Gestiehr recalls, “Billie Joe proclaimed that this was “the most memorable moment of [his] entire life” and gave me his custom shop Telecaster. That solidified everything for me, and I knew that I’d spend the rest of my life chasing that feeling.” As he continues to develop his song-craft while exploring sounds reminiscent of The Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Arctic Monkeys, with every song, Davis provides an expansive artistic statement, which combines palpable pain and poignant songwriting, to produce a dark yet palatable landscape.
His latest single “Cool With It” narrates falling for someone who you know is going to be bad for you. The songwriter confides, “I think everybody at some point is involved with somebody who they know they shouldn’t be involved with. I’ve definitely thrown caution to the wind at times and fucked around with people who haven’t been the best influences on me. This song is an ode to just that. Some people can really suck as people, but those same people can be pretty entertaining as well.”
The carefree, energetic track comes to life through gritty guitars and colorful synth lines. The playfully candid lyrics contrast with the uplifting, feel-good vibe of the song, delivering the perfect anthem for when you’re just wanting to roll with the punches and enjoy the little things in life. Gestiehr shares, “At the end of the day, sometimes those experiences are essential to enjoying life. They may fuck you up a little, but at least you’ll have a story. I’d hope my music inspires people to give less of a shit. Life is extremely short and sometimes it’s gonna kick you in the teeth. You have to capitalize on the moments when it’s not that awful.”
“Cool With It” is reminiscent of The Strokes and other New York ’00s bands including Interpol and LCD Soundsystem with Gestiehr explaining, “I wanted to try and harness the sound and energy of a lot of those New York bands that I love.”
To date, Gestiehr’s music has amassed over two million streams on Spotify alone and garnered acclaim from several publications.
Photo Credit: Josef Lloyd, provided by LPR
About Author
