We previously featured David Howls for exploring toxic attraction, emotional pain and the addictive pull of destructive relationships with his single, Hooked, so when we heard that David was back with The Great Deception, we were curious to say the least and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
The Great Deception opens with a rising guitar frequency, expanding into a thrashing alternative rock energy with instrumental mastery and poetic prowess as David shares the introspective lyrics, “Baby I’m to blame, for lying to friends and family, baby I’m insane, I’ve been the one drinking from that well, since seventeen…”
We are immediately enthralled by the conceptual and intelligent prose, as well as the metaphorical depth that manifests. There is no doubt that fans of Placebo would be obsessed with the track which holds a cinematic allure, making it perfect for a Cruel Intentions reboot, or a sync placement in a show like Crew Girl, the new Carrie series on Amazon Prime or an episode of Gen V. We could also imagine this being featured in a movie like The Substance or perhaps Netflix’s upcoming series, The Body.
There is a subversive, self-realized energy that comes to life as David questions life as we know it, giving up perfection and the existentialism of reality. His sound is stadium-ready and bold, tapping into a high emotional quotient that feels visceral and real, at a time when we need it the most.
David shares that The Great Deception is designed to explore the difference between missing a person and missing the comfort of having someone around. It’s a relatable sentiment, zooming into the loneliness makes us question whether walking away was the right decision. We love how this serves as a reckoning of identity, destructive patterns and personal change.
Needless to say, we are drawn to the honesty of The Great Deception and have added the song to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the growing discography of David Howls, including the entirety of his album, Colors.