I’m David True and I’m an Austin-based singer songwriter. Originally, I hale from Vermont, USA, the green mountain state. The name ‘Vermont’ comes from the French, ‘Vert’, meaning green and ‘Mont’, meaning mountain. It was in those green mountains, studying Creative Writing and French, where I met the artist, Mitchell Pluto in the 90s. Back then he was an art student at Johnson State College, his name was Mitchell Poor. We made the best kombucha in town and enjoyed hanging out with each other.
My music crosses many genres and is inspired by love, family, travel and humor. I have a lovely wife and two inspiring kiddos. I’ve visited over 40 countries, I try to speak a little French, Mandarin and Italian, and can say thank you in over 20 languages. My family and travels create the foundation for many of my songs.
My song ‘Kookaburra’, for example, is the story about oddities that happened to my wife in Australia to the rhythm of my then 3-year-old kiddo dancing. Once, when we were practicing tai chi in the back garden, a pair of kookaburras flew by, and one brushed my wife’s arm. Another time, I come back from a business trip to Korea only to find my 3-year-old has adopted a poisonous red back spider as a pet. You get the idea. Those and other crazy events ended up in this song. Here’s Kookaburra from YouTube
I wrote another song called ‘I Don’t Wanna Go’ and it’s about two friends who had a great divorce going but it didn’t work out — they got re-married. I recorded this track with my band, ‘David True and the Truebadours’. That band featured Linda Gonzalez, rest in peace IK, on harmony vocals and Paul Teneyuque on vocals and bass. We’d often bring in local legends Marshall Hood and Robb Kidd to play lead guitar and drums, respectively. In this recording, Connor Forsyth (Asleep at the Wheel, Belleville Outfit) joins us on Hammond organ:
Another song I’ve written is called ‘Desert Dreams’. One night it was time for bed, and my kid asks, ‘Can I have a snack?’
Being the good, firm and fair parent, I said, ‘No you can’t have a snack. You just brushed your teeth.’
‘Can I have a drink of water?’ they asked.
‘You just had a drink of water; it’s time for bed.’ I’m sure many parents are familiar with this routine. It’s important to be firm with kids and draw and hold boundaries.
Then they asked, ‘Do you want to write a song?’
I thought a moment and said, ‘Ok.’
Desert Dreams then flew in the window so quickly we had to check on the internet to see if coyotes really did sound like loons!
You get the idea after listening to a few songs. Living in Austin has really enabled my musical hobby. I get to listen to genius musicians every week. Some have even agreed to be in various bands I’ve had over the years and even more have agreed to help me out on recordings.
Most of those partnerships started after I’d written this bi-lingual French/English song called ‘Chaque Moment (Every Passing Moment is a Once in a Lifetime Event)’. In the song, I mention a couple local musicians. I somehow mustered enough courage to ask them if they’d help me record it.
Toni Price, an Austin legend who had lines outside the Continental Club in Austin every Tuesday night for more than 20 years said ‘Yes’. Not only did she say ‘Yes’, but instead of singing ‘ooo ooo ooo’ or something, as I expected, after her name, she basically turned the tune into a duet. I was shocked, amazed, humbled and grateful in equal parts. And she was a
character to work with. I picked her up because her car, given to her by a fan, wasn’t running at the moment. We stopped off at Quality Seafood to get her a po’ boy as she was hungry. And when we got to the studio, I swear she knew my song better than I did. What a pro.
Having Toni Price and Derek O’Brien and Ephraim Owens, three Austin legends and musical geniuses, willing to play on my little song, was a life-changer for me. Derek went on to help produce the record and has become a good friend. Here’s that ‘Chaque Moment’ tune from YouTube:
I’ve been writing songs since childhood. However, last summer, something changed. I was in a bit of a songwriting rut. I love the musician Guy Clark and was a little blocked because my songs didn’t sound like Guy’s songs. I was running my non-profit, Austin Band Camp, and we’d have these great songwriting workshops and workshop on all kinds of instruments, but
my songwriting was still in a bit of a rut.
Last August, 2025, I attended a songwriting workshop in the Catskill mountains near Woodstock, NY, led by Steve Poltz, Bob Schneider, Mary Gauthier and Ryan Montbleau. During Bob’s master class, he challenged us to create our own version of his weekly song club. And we did. Over the last 10 months, I’ve written one song a week, 38 songs, and I like about 9 of them so far. I encourage anyone who wants to create to just turn off the critic in your brain, and do a lot of art, music, writing, whatever, and don’t worry about how good it is, just get it out there and exercise your creative muscles. Give yourself permission to do “bad” art and just keep going. The results will likely be extremely rewarding.
Well, I’ve prattled on just about long enough. Looking forward, I have a song based on a poem written by an Irish buddy of mine, Tom Harding, called ‘Longing’, that’s coming out on the anniversary of Tom’s birth, 6/10/26. That song features 5-part harmonies, Paul and Linda (yay!), as well as a wee Scottish chick and a trio of geniuses from Cork, Ireland. In the oven are 7
more Truebadours songs recorded years ago that should also be out this summer as an album with a total of 10 or 11 songs called, ‘True Stories’. And in the recipe book are those 9 song club songs that I may also inflict on the universe, even the song about circumcision and the song about the song about circumcision, in an album called ‘Song Club Singles’.
Currently, you can find my album ‘Feeling Wonderful’ and a collection of singles on all the streaming platforms under the band names ‘David True’ and ‘David True and the Truebadours’. I play jams, open mics, house concerts and the occasional gig around Austin and occasionally somehow find gigs and audiences in Europe.
Stay connected with me at: https://davidtruemusic.com
Love to all y’all. Be gentle with yourselves.
Smile from your Hearts,
David
Mitchell Pluto 