DAVID VAUGHN

944 MAGAZINE - August '07

Written by Derek Shaw - 944 Magazine
Photo by Nick Pinto - Vigor Photography
A curly “frohawk” bounces down the street, evoking stares and high-pitched screams. His résumé is brief, but includes the sole local slot at this year’s X Fest and finalist at the San Diego Fair’s Battle of the Bands. He’s gotten significant airplay on the radio, and Tim Pyles just invited his band to perform at The Casbah. This sort of fanfare is usually reserved for rising stars, and having only performed a handful of live shows, 22-year-old David Vaughn is just that.There are select individuals who simply seem destined for greatness. It’s that undeniable spark and charisma that defies opposition, relishes competition and hovers about a stage. Vaughn possesses that certain “it” factor that A&R reps drool over: He’s young, vibrant, half-black/half-white and, furthermore, he writes, sings and dances.
He began making his own beats and writing songs in high school, and later met Christina Aguilera’s first songwriter and former producers of Paula Abdul and Destiny’s Child. Normally, he’s very chill and poised, but Vaughn is also a wild performer and flamboyant character who glides with the swagger of Jagger, has the intensity of Prince and the ease of Michael Jackson.
Vaughn’s record is energetic dance rock with radio-friendly hooks yet edgy instrumentation. He likes to keep it glossy and polished, but the grooves are raw and relentless. “I call my music alternative pop because it’s fun, funky and upbeat,” he says. Vaughn’s debut album, Wired, was released through his own record company, DTV Records, and he’s looking forward to signing to a label because “it’s too hard to finance alone.” He now works with an agent in Los Angeles, but most of his success is attributed to his own tenacity. “My average day consists of waking up and responding to e-mails, making calls, promoting shows and marketing my music,” Vaughn says. “It’s all about constantly pushing it forward and investing in new projects.”
San Diego has become deluged with nightlife options, particularly in downtown where tourists and twentysomethings are overwhelmed with trendy restaurants, clubs and bars. There are few alternatives for the underage crowd, and that market remains untapped and underexposed. Vaughn collaborates with the 18+ Static Lounge to bring dance rock to San Diego on August 10. Live bands, street performers and guest DJs will entertain the diverse crowd. If it goes well, it may turn into a bimonthly event. “My goal is to unify the music scene with the clubbing scene because the crowd could be one and the same,” Vaughn says. “I think people who go to clubs don’t know how much they’d enjoy a live band.”
There is a stark division in San Diego between those who like to dance at a bar, those who like to dance at a concert and those who like to dance at a nightclub. People get caught in the comfort of routine, and they mold identities around those narrow niches. They tend to forget that everyone loves to party and vibe to good jams.
“Our culture is always trying to sell you things left and right,” says Vaughn. “If you’re upfront and honest with people, they’ll be more likely to give it a chance.”
People are catching on to Vaughn’s brand of eccentric but authentic disco punk. Soon he’ll be opening a tour for a major artist and serenading thousands of unsuspecting fans with an optimistic message in the context of buoyant beats and irresistible melodies.
DAVID VAUGHN - Wired Commercial
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