designer

bio

Born in Bangor, Maine and raised in Augusta, Maine, David Barley is a 23-year old Brazilian-American rapper, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He has been performing and releasing music as designerdave since March, 2021, and graduated with a Songwriting degree from Berklee College of Music in 2024.

Growing up, David learned to perform during his summers spent in Brazil. His first experiences playing guitar and singing were in 2010, playing acoustic music with his father and his uncles at get-togethers. In 2014, he started playing in rock bands and performing locally around central Maine. With experiences as a singer, guitarist, and bassist, David has over a decade of performance experience.

David is a skillful singer with a clean upper register, a thoughtful guitarist, and a punchy energetic bassist. When asked about his love of performance, he says, “I’ve always loved performing. I love the energy and the way instruments interact with each other. I feel my playing is very conversational. When I play bass, I love to lock in with the drums and really communicate. Somehow, the stage has always felt like a safe space for me. Any anxieties or worries I have disappear in the moments when I’m performing.”

In high school, he participated in both school band and chorus for all four years, even being selected for District Choir and All-State Mixed Choir four years consecutively. He participated in Cony High School’s annual “Chizzle Wizzle” variety show, and continued performing locally with bands until 2019.

When it came time to decide about his higher education, he ended up at Berklee College of Music and declared Songwriting as his major in 2021. This coincided with his transformation into designerdave.

When asked about the influence of hip-hop, he says “I’ve always loved the groove of music. Whether it was James Brown or Led Zeppelin, I’ve always loved drums and the energy they gave me even since I was a toddler. Around the time I was 14, I really fell in love with hip hop and A Tribe Called Quest. I definitely have old-school sensibilities. Things evolved and I really fell in love with rap when I discovered Kendrick Lamar. It was the first time I understood the kind of depth that could be achieved in a hip-hop landscape.”

In 2021 he released his debut studio album Reflections, a pop-infused hip-hop album that depicts a young man struggling to find his place in the world. Drawing inspiration from acts like Mac Miller and Saba, Reflections offers a unique perspective on themes of isolation, love, and self-discovery with ethereal production and introspective storytelling.

Dave released his sophomore album KIRA’S REVENGE in 2024. Inspired by lyrical hip-hop acts such as MF DOOM and Griselda, designerdave’s next album is filled with harder bars, grittier beats, and surrealist themes.

David is a unique talent. He is a versatile artist in his own right, and a tasteful collaborator. He has credits for playing guitar on tracks like “Villain” and “So Much Downtime” by Olas, and bass on the songs “Been Fine “by Olas, and “Philosophy” by Worthy. He is part of the music collective Phenom Forever, and is an emerging artist in the Boston music scene.

designerdave’s music is cinematic, cohesive, and thought provoking. His honest and introspective approach to music makes him an easy persona for listeners to connect with. Constantly pushing himself to evolve artistically, each project is a new venture. With an already impressive catalog, Designer Dave is continuing to build his resume as an important voice in an ever-changing musical landscape.

your local lyricist