After a Few Years Off, David Ramirez Is Back and Better Than Ever

There is no right way to handle a big breakup, especially if the relationship was long-term or the split was unexpected. Some drown their sorrows with spirits, while others throw themselves into their work. David Ramirez chose to step away from his craft entirely to rediscover himself as more than just a singer-songwriter.

“For the longest time, I wrapped my entire identity around being a songwriter and being a person who makes records and tours, and when COVID hit and I was no longer allowed to go out and play shows, I crumbled as a human, and I think that’s a large part of as to why my relationship ended,” he says. “My worldview shifted after that split by realizing I shouldn’t wrap my whole identity into the thing that I have chosen to do, and just to remember that I’m also a brother and an uncle. I also love to cook, and I love to read … that was a big shift for me to accept my duality, and not just put all my eggs in one basket.”

We spoke to Ramirez over the phone ahead of his show at The Kessler Theater on April 24 to discuss what led to his latest album, All The Not So Gentle Reminders. As we ponder the lifelong pursuit of personal growth, the 41-year-old curses an old poster he saw hung up in school that other ’80s babies may recognize: “All I really needed to know, I learned in kindergarten.”

“Turns out, no, I’m still constantly learning, so fuck that poster,” he says.

Another reason Ramirez took a break from writing was to avoid pumping out an “acoustic heartbreak sad-boy album” influenced by his vulnerable emotional state. He told himself that he wouldn’t return until he felt ready, but many times, life is like a first kiss: You can’t sit around forever waiting for the perfect moment. At some point, you just have to close your eyes and lean in.

“I wasn’t necessarily emotionally or mentally or creatively ready, but I knew it was time for me to just do the thing that I love most without any distractions,” he admits. “Every time I would sit down here at my house in Austin to write, it terrified me, and if my phone rang and someone invited me to go out, I would say yes, so I needed to get away.”

Ramirez found his quiet place 12 hours away in Waverly, a small Alabama town with a population of fewer than 200. He spent two weeks writing and produced his most authentic record to date. Taking time away and reapproaching music without the pressure of deadlines or expectations allowed him to create a grandiose record like “Rufus Wainwright, Radiohead or Fiona Apple, that’s big and lush,” something he’s long wanted to do.

Each track uses full-bodied orchestration and moderate tempos alongside Ramirez’s rich voice to create captivating musical moments. From front to back, the album feels weighty and significant without taking itself too seriously or getting caught up in some of the heavier themes, such as reflecting on the past or dealing with post-breakup blues.

“I Got People” is the perfect example; the track sounds upbeat instrumentally, and at first, Ramirez’s lyrics follow suit. He brags about the people he has who “pick up every time he rings” and “line up to hear him sing,” but none of them are who he really needs.

“I need you / To come on over,” he sings, suddenly dropping his chipper tone for one more somber and sincere. “I need you / Under my covers / A precious few moments we have left / And I want you for all the rest.”

“Twin-Sized Beds” is a laid-back tune with bright keys over the subdued drums and guitar. The soaring, swelling progression towards the end of its chorus is one of the album’s best moments. “The Music Man” is more drawn out, with strings and a soulful piano that accentuate the grandeur of the semiautobiographical track’s story.

“Waiting On The Dust To Settle” is a hopeful anthem about acknowledging pain and leaving it behind. The lyrics give an insight into Ramirez’s own attempts to drown out his demons before finally embracing “the uninterrupted silence” he’d been missing. The opening verse also inspired the title of the album.

“So often I’m reminded of how childish and selfish and terrible I have been in my past, and it sucks to be reminded of those things,” Ramirez says of Reminders. “Anyone who says they live with no regrets, I don’t believe them. I have plenty of regrets. I should have treated people better than I did, and I should have treated myself better than I did.”

Rolling through Dallas is always nostalgic for Houston-born Ramirez because it’s the first city where he performed live. After getting kicked out of Dallas Baptist University, Ramirez played every open mic in the city while working at Opening Bell Coffee. A few years later, he moved to Nashville, then again to Austin to pursue music full-time.

“Dallas is where I cut my teeth,” he says. “It always brings back memories. I love Dallas, and I’m very thankful for my time there.”

Tickets for his show at The Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis St., at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 24, tickets are $26 at  www.davidramirezmusic.com/tour.