Nothing wrong in a man with a plan
Liam Davis looks to the ceiling as he contemplates his answer, as we sit in the back room at Troy’s Footsy Magoos.
The 1st Street dive bar surrounds us with chaos, though we are the only two patrons this mid-afternoon. Behind the bar, there’s a feisty redhead blasting dubstep, streaming to her LiveMe fanbase while preparing for the evening rush. The waning sun casts a warm light on the joint’s manic decor—broken mirrored frames, severed badminton racquet heads, and depictions of the animated character Mr. Magoo, with whom the bar shares a name.
Davis, 27, is nothing if not disciplined. Songwriting isn’t just about creating music; it’s about finding meaning and staying grounded. He rests his hand on an open bottle of non-alcoholic beer. It’s a one-month respite from the drink where his path in life surrounds him with it.
“Taking a break keeps me grounded,” he shared. “The lifestyle can be intense, and this is my way of staying focused on what matters.”
He released his latest single, “Lonely Man,” on all streaming services last week. He celebrated with a butcher’s cut of steak. He shared the moment on social media. The meat sizzled in the pan, bathing with a sprig of something green in a subtle pool of butter, while still on his oven burner. A meal for one.
“This is just the beginning of a long journey for me,” he said. “I’m grateful for the support I’ve found in Albany, and I hope people connect with this song on a personal level.”
“Lonely Man” is a contemplative track born from the paradox of feeling isolated amidst life’s highs. With deeply introspective lyrics and a stripped-down, melancholic melody, Davis captures the essence of loneliness in a world seemingly on his side—a theme that resonates beyond the lyrics. The song explores the complexities of human connection, especially for those who identify as introverts.
“I wrote Lonely Man during a time when everything in my life appeared to be going well,” Davis explained, recalling the inspiration behind the song. “I had a close group of friends, a budding career, and a relationship, yet there was this unshakable void.” Sitting in a park near his apartment, guitar in hand, Davis penned the poignant lines: “I’m a lonely man with the whole damn world on his side. Maybe one day I won’t feel alone.”
Davis’ journey started at 5 years old with a drumstick in his hand at Pennington Elementary School in Mount Vernon. He remembers the school as having an impressive 6th-grade jazz ensemble. He and his classmates were introduced to it by their music teacher before they were each invited to the drum kit.
From behind the kit, the teacher conducted a lesson. As he played, he asked each student one by one to tap the tom drum when it felt right. When it came time for Davis to try, he tapped to the rhythm in time. The teacher later encouraged Davis’ parents to start their boy in lessons.
By the time he was 8, Davis was behind the drum kit playing Santana with the 6th graders.
Following his parents’ separation, he moved to Tuckahoe, where he completed his education at Tuckahoe High School, graduating with a class of 65 students. In high school, Davis was recognized as “the music kid,” a label that highlighted his early dedication to music. Reflecting on his roots, he mentioned that returning home to visit family and friends serves as a reminder of where he comes from, providing a sense of grounding amidst his musical journey.
Davis has embraced a style that reveals his personal struggles and growth. This single, however, represents a new level of vulnerability for him, marking a shift from his earlier work. Davis’s first release, “Northern Lights,” was an experimental EDM track created with his college roommate. While the song captured a different sound, it laid the foundation for Davis to explore his authentic voice—a blend of rock and indie-folk he now fully embraces.
“Back in college, I worked in various genres and wrote a lot, but now I feel like I’m making music
that’s truly mine,” said Davis. This focus on self-expression and authenticity has helped him find a unique voice within the upstate music scene, where he’s played numerous shows and honed his craft over the past few years.
Davis’s career began to take shape at the College of Saint Rose, where he studied composition and gained a foundation in songwriting. It was here that he discovered the discipline of writing and performing regularly, an experience he describes as “essential training” for his path forward. After graduation, Davis immersed himself in the Albany music scene, performing with local bands and playing frequent solo gigs.
“Albany has been a fantastic place to grow as an artist,” he noted. “It’s small enough to build a solid fan base but big enough to push yourself professionally.” Davis has used his time here to refine his skills and make a name for himself, but he now has his sights set on Nashville, a city synonymous with musical opportunity.
“I’ve visited Nashville a couple of times, and the energy there is incredible,” Davis said, noting how the city’s open mics and jam sessions have introduced him to industry professionals. “You play an open mic, and there might be a social media manager from Gibson or a label rep in the crowd. The connections are endless.”
Davis plans to move to Nashville early next year, with hopes of immersing himself in its thriving music community. Until then, he’s saving up by performing weddings and events in Albany, building both a financial safety net and a repertoire of original music.
While Lonely Man is Davis’ latest release, he has a vault of unreleased material, some dating back to his college years. “I’ve probably written a hundred songs, but only a handful are ready for the world,” he said. He approaches his music with patience, releasing singles one at a time to grow his audience before unveiling a full album.
“Singles allow you to connect with listeners on a deeper level,” he explained. “Eventually, I’ll release a complete album, but for now, building a loyal following through singles feels right.”
