Track-by-Track: Dave Lebental Shares Underground Insight of Latest Album ‘Stylus’

For many musicians, reaching a certain age brings reflection; for Dave Lebental, it has sparked reinvention. With Stylus, his second solo album and first since 2024’s The Long Player, Lebental leans fully into his lifelong love of piano-driven melodic rock, a sound shaped by influences as timeless as The Beatles, Elton John, Supertramp, and Elvis Costello. Recorded with his live band Karma Train and crafted to reward listeners with emotional depth and melodic clarity, Stylus doesn’t look backward in nostalgia; it extends the enduring legacy of classic rock songwriting into the present moment.

What sets this project apart is how Lebental balances roots and growth. Grounded in the tradition of songs designed to last, Stylus also reflects his conviction as an independent artist committed to creative honesty over trends. From the sonic architecture of each track to the stories they tell on stage and in the studio, today’s Track-by-Track digs into how this underground rock veteran channels both his history and his future into a record for listeners who yearn for connection, melody, and thoughtful songwriting.

1. “Addition By Subtraction”

“‘Addition By Subtraction’ captures the moment when patience runs out, and clarity finally sets in. It’s amazing how much bullshit we’ll put up with before we finally do the emotional math and realize we’re better off without someone… This song is about the day I opened my eyes and was ready to move on. It’s that moment of clarity when you understand your life will actually improve without that person in it. Ending the relationship isn’t a loss — it’s addition by subtraction.”

2. “Mulberry Drive”

“‘Mulberry Drive’ looks back at my suburban childhood — bike rides, street corners, and long afternoons outside, when the neighbourhood itself was our social network. That world feels both familiar and impossibly distant to me now.

“The song opens in memory, built on bright, optimistic piano-rock riffs, but gradually shifts as the lyrics confront the weight of modern adult life. As responsibilities and noise creep in, the tone darkens, and I come to terms with the fact that there’s no returning to where we came from or who we once were.

“It completes its arc with an uplifting chorus that celebrates the joy and freedom of that long-gone suburban innocence, not as something to reclaim, but as something worth honouring. With its classic piano-rock feel and reflective edge, it will resonate with fans of The Kinks, Supertramp, Billy Joel, Elton John, and The Beatles.”

3. “Changing The Way I Feel”

“‘Changing The Way I Feel’ is my behind-the-scenes look at the songwriting process. I wrote it on piano, and it moves through the familiar private moments of creation, procrastination, writer’s block, unfinished ideas, late nights, before inspiration finally breaks through.

“The chorus marks that turning point I know so well: the rush of clarity when a song suddenly comes together and the first playback sounds exactly right. It’s the moment when frustration gives way to momentum, and the work feels worth it.

“With its playful piano-rock groove and classic pop instincts, the song sits comfortably alongside influences like ELO, Supertramp, Elton John, and The Beatles. I performed nearly every instrument on the recording: piano, organ, bass, slide guitar, synths, horns, and vocals, which really underscores its hands-on, exploratory spirit.

“At its core, the song celebrates music’s quiet power to shift perspective. It’s not about changing the world, it’s about changing the way I feel.”

4. “Hopium”

“On ‘Hopium,’ I drift into a hazy, dreamlike soundscape of chiming guitars, swirling organ, and mist-soft piano. The music mirrors the fragile comfort of belief, the place I retreat to when reality starts to crack.

“Lyrically, I explore that very human tendency to cling to hope even as things fall apart. Rather than face loss or failure, I sometimes inhale something gentler and more dangerous, the promise that things will somehow work out. That illusion can become its own kind of escape, numbing anxiety and clouding judgment.

“‘Hopium’ lives in that tension between wanting to believe and knowing better, a quiet meditation on hope as both refuge and delusion.”

Dave Lebental ‘Stylus’ album artwork

5. “Race to the Bottom”

“‘Race to the Bottom’ rides a smooth, infectious reggae-pop groove that feels easy on the surface but pointed underneath. I built it on laid-back rhythms and warm melodies as a deceptively relaxed entry point into a harder conversation.

“Lyrically, I confront the disillusionment left behind by lying politicians, disreputable business leaders, and cheating athletes, people driven by win-at-all-costs thinking. Their shortcuts and scandals don’t just damage their own reputations; they erode public trust and leave cynicism in their wake.

“I wanted to balance the message with melody, so the critique comes with a light touch. Fans of Bob Marley, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Peter Tosh will recognize that blend of groove, accessibility, and social awareness.”

6. “I Can Always Count On You”

“You know that person who takes and takes, then disappears when it’s time to give something back. I’ve known that person. The excuses are guaranteed. The disappointment is reliable.

“On ‘I Can Always Count On You,’ I channel that frustration into an edgy, no-holds-barred rock track that calls out the conceited, self-serving, and reliably unreliable. It’s a cathartic four-minute blast of rock n’ roll that says exactly what I’ve thought but never said out loud.

“The track is built on layers of sizzling electric guitars, Hammond organ, buzzing synths, deep bass, and a driving drum groove. I recorded the vocal in a single take and left it deliberately raw to preserve the venom and conviction.

“Fans of The Kinks, The Cars, Tom Petty, and Elvis Costello will recognize the sharp hooks and direct attitude. Turn it up and let it do the talking.”

7. “Mindy Please”

“‘Mindy Please’ delivers a rock-and-soul groove with a wink. It’s an autobiographical snapshot of a younger version of me, heading out for drinks with my buddies and forgetting I’d already made dinner plans with my wife. One thing leads to another, and I find myself locked out, keys missing, knocking on the door and getting exactly what I deserve.

“Driven by horns and guitar that give the verses a classic Memphis/Stax feel, the song opens up in the chorus with a burst of indie-rock energy. I handled bass, guitars, horns, and Hammond organ on the track, joined by former Brian Wilson Band drummer Nelson Bragg.

“It’s warm, self-aware, and good-humoured. A laugh at the small, familiar mistakes I made and the foolish confidence I once had.”

8. “True Understanding”

“‘True Understanding’ unfolds like a conversation… first her version of what happened, then his. The details don’t line up, the emotions don’t match, and yet both sides are convinced they’re right. What they share is the same quiet hope: to be heard.

“Built on a catchy piano-rock foundation, the song moves between punchy sections and more restrained moments, mirroring the shifting dynamics of a relationship in conflict. The arrangement rises and falls as perspectives collide, then soften, in search of common ground.

“I handled vocals, piano, guitars, and Hammond organ, supported by a steady drum performance from Bryon Holley and a fluid, elastic bass line from ‘Slick’ Mick Linden of Karma Train. At its core, the song is a simple, hard-earned reminder I’ve learned myself: listening matters as much as speaking.”

9. “Not Exactly As You Planned”

“‘Not Exactly As You Planned’ is a piano-driven blues-rock track rooted in the classic songwriting traditions that shaped me: Elton John, Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, Leon Russell, and Paul McCartney. It blends blues and gospel-influenced chord changes with a story shaped by real life.

“The lyrics follow a young couple navigating unexpected hardships, the kind of twists that derail plans and force a reckoning. I wrote it at the piano, reflecting my belief that life’s setbacks aren’t anomalies; they’re inevitabilities. When things go sideways, they’re not the exception; they’re the rule. Sooner or later, we all hit a significant bump in the road.

“I played piano, Hammond organ, electric guitars, bass, violin, and sang on the track, with Dan Boissy of Karma Train adding saxophone and former Driftwood Soul drummer Bryon Holley providing the rhythmic backbone. Together, we aimed for a sense of resilience that mirrors the message.”

10. “You Figure It Out”

“Closing the album, ‘You Figure It Out’ settles into a relaxed, island-tinged groove that feels easy and reassuring. Built on a laid-back reggae-pop rhythm, it has a light, melodic touch that lingers.

“I wrote it as a message to my children in their early twenties. Quiet encouragement rather than instruction. I know how uncertain direction and purpose can feel at that age. The song acknowledges that uncertainty while offering a simple truth I’ve come to believe: clarity comes with time.

“It’s ok. Life takes its course. Little by little, you figure it out.

“I produced and engineered the track in my Southern California home studio, performing piano, bass, guitars, and horns, alongside a steady reggae-rock drum groove by Tim Freund. It closes the record with understated optimism and trust in the process.”