David Rosenfield

Listening to some of singer-songwriter David Rosenfield’s work, you get the sense that he’s a dedicated practitioner of folk music storytelling.

And he is, but he allows that while he’s strongly influenced by the tradition of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, he doesn’t care to be too literal. So when he visits Serda’s Coffee on Friday, Dec. 9, allow him a little wiggle room.

“It is storytelling, but it’s not straightforward storytelling,” he says. “You might have to listen to the song a few times and come up with your own interpretation.”

Similarly, he’s happy to be considered a folk singer, provided it’s not defined in too restrictive a manner.

“It’s pretty much folk music. Not necessarily like ‘60s folk,” he says. “It could have a little bit of punk rock in there with some country music and some blues music and it’s all just kind of mixed in there.”

This much is clear: He puts himself into his performances, taking a conversational approach, and he’s happiest when his listeners reciprocate.

“I try to talk to the audience,” he says. “I definitely like people who want to talk to me. I’m much happier with an audience who respond and say things to me.”

“I try to have them leaving happy,” he says. “I end it off on a high note, so everyone goes away feeling better.” - Press-Register

Dave Rosenfield is traveling the country in his vegetable oil-fueled Winnebago. And he’s perfectly fine with it.

“I’ve been packing up my wife and kids and we all head out on this journey together,” he says during a recent phone interview from Houston. “I couldn’t do this without them, and I’m grateful they are part of this journey.”

Rosenfield, who is based in Clearwater, Fla., is an indie folk singer who is touring in support of his latest album, “Son of Ojito.” The 34-year-old songwriter describes himself as a fatalist and an optimist and has an unconventional way of writing.

“A lot of my lyrics are just streams of consciousness,” he explains. “Whatever is happening in my head is what comes out when I write. It can be seen as very unconventional, but all of my music has a message.”

Rosenfield grew up performing in a marching band, where he played the clarinet. His mother was a folk singer and served as the inspiration for him to become a professional musician.

Rosenfield’s music has been described as a polished mixture of country, punk rock, folk and the blues.

“With my mom being a musician, I was introduced to a lot of folk music,” he says. “So as I started growing up, I went through this punk phase and you can definitely hear all of the influences in my music.”

Rosenfield says while he was recording “Son of Ojito,” he was preparing to make the album at least 16 tracks. But after reworking some of the songs, he says there were two that just didn’t fit the album.

“It’s always a difficult process to just set aside some songs,” he says. “It’s like choosing a favorite among your children. Each song is a piece of you and it’s difficult to see it get cut, but then you have to be objective and recognize which songs aren’t as strong.”

Rosenfield says that while he’s on tour, he often finds himself with a paper and pen at the wheel.

“It’s really bad, but I often get inspired when I’m driving,” he says. “It’s not the safest thing in the world to write lyrics while I’m driving, but that’s the only way to capture what I’m feeling.”

Rosenfield is looking forward to his two shows in Albuquerque because it’s a market he’s never played before.

“On this tour, I’ve been hitting areas that I’ve never been,” he says. “It’ll be interesting to introduce myself to an entirely new audience and see how they digest my music. That’s probably the best thing about being a musician. It’s a challenge to win an audience over.” - ABQJournal

Dave Rosenfield is traveling the country in his vegetable oil-fueled Winnebago. And he’s perfectly fine with it.

“I’ve been packing up my wife and kids and we all head out on this journey together,” he says during a recent phone interview from Houston. “I couldn’t do this without them, and I’m grateful they are part of this journey.”

Rosenfield, who is based in Clearwater, Fla., is an indie folk singer who is touring in support of his latest album, “Son of Ojito.” The 34-year-old songwriter describes himself as a fatalist and an optimist and has an unconventional way of writing.

“A lot of my lyrics are just streams of consciousness,” he explains. “Whatever is happening in my head is what comes out when I write. It can be seen as very unconventional, but all of my music has a message.”

Rosenfield grew up performing in a marching band, where he played the clarinet. His mother was a folk singer and served as the inspiration for him to become a professional musician.

Rosenfield’s music has been described as a polished mixture of country, punk rock, folk and the blues.

“With my mom being a musician, I was introduced to a lot of folk music,” he says. “So as I started growing up, I went through this punk phase and you can definitely hear all of the influences in my music.”

Rosenfield says while he was recording “Son of Ojito,” he was preparing to make the album at least 16 tracks. But after reworking some of the songs, he says there were two that just didn’t fit the album.

“It’s always a difficult process to just set aside some songs,” he says. “It’s like choosing a favorite among your children. Each song is a piece of you and it’s difficult to see it get cut, but then you have to be objective and recognize which songs aren’t as strong.”

Rosenfield says that while he’s on tour, he often finds himself with a paper and pen at the wheel.

“It’s really bad, but I often get inspired when I’m driving,” he says. “It’s not the safest thing in the world to write lyrics while I’m driving, but that’s the only way to capture what I’m feeling.”

Rosenfield is looking forward to his two shows in Albuquerque because it’s a market he’s never played before.

“On this tour, I’ve been hitting areas that I’ve never been,” he says. “It’ll be interesting to introduce myself to an entirely new audience and see how they digest my music. That’s probably the best thing about being a musician. It’s a challenge to win an audience over.” - ABQJournal

As we all know, Art Walk is not just about catching some great visual art. It’s also a night that often brings great music. Sometimes the music is to accompany an opening, and sometimes it just serendipitously appears on the same night.



In the latter case, Sundara Fine Art Café & Boutique will host that night David Rosenfield, a Florida-based singer-songwriter who will bring his rare brand of folk rock poetry. For anyone who is a fan of the Conor Oberst and Josh Ritter types will find something to like in Rosenfield. Check him out while basking in the arty glow. - Flagstaff Live

As we all know, Art Walk is not just about catching some great visual art. It’s also a night that often brings great music. Sometimes the music is to accompany an opening, and sometimes it just serendipitously appears on the same night.



In the latter case, Sundara Fine Art Café & Boutique will host that night David Rosenfield, a Florida-based singer-songwriter who will bring his rare brand of folk rock poetry. For anyone who is a fan of the Conor Oberst and Josh Ritter types will find something to like in Rosenfield. Check him out while basking in the arty glow. - Flagstaff Live

David Rosenfield’s Son of Ojito will never attract the masses of radio listeners, those who consume catchy chorus lines and synth beats, loud wardrobes and louder personalities. And that is for the best.

The fourteen tracks featured in Son of Ojito, the Seattle native’s first album, contain the essential ingredients of “great” music: for starters, carefully-crafted lyrics that serve as social commentary and an unrelenting flow of passionate vocals matched by a refined guitar sound. Vocally, Rosenfield resembles a faster-paced Bob Dylan and ~ like Dylan ~ is a raw-sounding, philosophical conversationalist. He’s a poetic story-teller, a man with a guitar and musical integrity.

“Fatalist and Optimist,” track three, captures Rosenfield’s lyrical prowess. He sings: “At the ripe old age of twenty-nine / I’m a fatalist and optimist combined / And death is just a factor, / We are alive.” “Fatalist and Optimist” highlights Son of Ojito’s overall commentary on life; life is constant conflict, men are mortal, and death is but a predictable closing bell.

Rosenfield’s lyrics are also witty and fun, complemented by a change of pace between tracks. The blues/rock/pop/poet/Plato that resides in Rosenfield admits that time progresses and lifespans are limited…but why the hell can’t you have fun? Why obsess over aging? Why place wealth on a pedestal? “Because,” track seven, captures Rosnefield’s philosophical wit: “Rat races don’t breed the thinkers we need / Because cogs are meant to turn at one speed / Because minnows will swim at the speed that they’re shown / No one will step up to take on the throne.” In short, be creative: break society’s chains, f**king play!

If Son of Ojito falls short in any arena (and again, SoJ is campfire and coffeehouse, not Madison Square), it’s that Rosenfield may be perceived as depressing and crude. But that’s “great” music: unforgiving, honest, a man and his guitar. - The Pulse Magazine

"Florida-based folkie David Rosenfield was born in Seattle and raised in California. Along the way, he picked up punk attitude from both locales, merging it with his singer-songwriter sensibilities to create a raw sound that combines poetic lyrics with his energetic strum." - The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, NY

David Rosenfield's official bio promises music that sounds "like Conor Oberst playing early Dylan, or The Mountain Goats with Allen Ginsberg as lyricist." That's a hefty load to bear, but Rosenfield does have the vibe of a literate poet-philosopher.

Along with the names above, we would throw Jonathan Richman into the mix. Rosenfield's songs can be bouncy and fun, but he never strays too far off message -- in May, he'll go on tour in a motorhome converted to run on vegetable oil. - Soundcheck

Born and raised on the West Coast, David Rosenfield's compositions still retain the Northwest style of independent folk rock, although he is now based out of Florida. His lyrics remind the listener of what songwriting really is: poetry. - The Indie Music Review

"...the way in which he writes and sings his story-like lyrics is astonishing – he is a true 21st century story teller through music." - Vandala Ezine, March 2011

"David Rosenfield is the quintessential gentleman songster of our times; entertaining in a truly organic and knowingly experienced way." - Simaen Skolfield, Grammy Award winning recording engineer.