David Sand: Finding His Voice in Los Angeles
David Sand: Finding His Voice in Los Angeles
David Sand: Finding His Voice in Los AngelesThe late‑afternoon sun drifts lazily across the Sunset Strip as David Sand settles into a quiet corner of the Coffee Bean, soft‑spoken but carrying the kind of emotional gravity that only comes from living a lot of life in a short amount of time. Born in a small town in Mexico, shaped by years of longing, movement, and reinvention, Sand has turned displacement into melody and vulnerability into craft. What follows is a conversation with an artist still becoming — honest, searching, and beautifully unguarded.
We are here with singer‑songwriter David Sand. First of all, what do you think of our local Los Angeles music scene?
It’s basically the epicenter of everything. People from all over the world come here for the music scene, right? And at the same time, there are so many small artists who are just starting out — kind of like me. It’s exciting because I’ve been meeting all these people, making friends, connecting with other creatives. It’s been really fun.
Tell me about your journey from Mexico to here.
I was born in a very small town in Mexico — really the middle of nowhere. My family always loved to travel, so from a young age I had this urge to go see the world. I ended up going to high school in Canada for a bit, and I fell in love with the idea of being away from home. I thought, Yeah, I’m never going back. Of course, I did go back for a while. My family eventually moved to the Cancún area, which was another huge change. I got to meet people from all over the world, and that opened my eyes even more.
Around 15, I became obsessed with the idea of coming to LA. I’d hear stories, I’d hear my favorite artists talk about it, and I thought, When I’m 18, I’m leaving everything behind and moving to LA. But then reality hit — visas, paperwork, all that. I first came here when I was 20, and then moved here for good at 21. And now… here I am.
Let’s talk about some of the songs you’ve released so far — and maybe a few you haven’t yet. “This Town” is such a beautiful song. What inspired it?
Thank you — that means a lot. The inspiration was really just… my life. I grew up in a town that wasn’t tiny, but it was very conservative. Everyone had the same jobs, the same dreams. All my friends wanted the same things because their families all looked the same. I always felt different. I wanted to see the world, to live other experiences, and sometimes I felt judged for that. I wanted friends, I wanted to belong, but I also didn’t want to hide who I was.
“This Town” is basically me begging for someone to be my friend — someone who understood me, who cared about my dreams too. I often felt like I had to shrink myself or stay quiet about what I wanted so people wouldn’t think I was arrogant or thought I was “too good” for the town. The song is me saying: Please see me for who I am.
You released a new song called “Party Their Way.” What inspired that one?
It’s similar in theme, but this one is more about having friends — but still not feeling like you fully fit in. Sometimes no matter how hard you try to belong, you still feel like you’re on the outside. I’d try to make good friends, and sometimes it just wouldn’t work. I’d see people in their groups, and I wasn’t really considered part of them. It’s about that feeling of being close… but not quite there.
You played a song called “Falling Short” at Breaking Sound. Could you tell me about that one?
That one’s one of my favorites, and I can’t wait to release it — but I’m saving it for a little later. I wrote it when I realized time was moving fast, I was growing up, and a lot of my dreams weren’t coming true yet. I’ve always had big dreams, and sometimes life doesn’t move the way you want it to. It takes years, not months.
I’d compare myself to people I look up to and think, I’m not where I’m supposed to be yet. It’s frustrating when you want so much and dream so big. It’s scary to realize how fast time moves and how hard it is to keep up. That’s what “Falling Short” is about — that fear, that honesty, that reality check.
And then the first song you performed at Breaking Sound – Breathing Fire. Can you tell me about that one?
It’s coming out soon, hopefully. I love that song because it’s more upbeat and there’s more rage in it. It’s not melancholic or nostalgic or sad like some of my other songs. It’s angry — in a cathartic way. It’s about the first time you get hurt by someone you love. That first heartbreak where someone betrays you or lets you down, and it feels like the end of the world. I wrote it when I was 16, and at that age everything feels so intense. I didn’t write it about the person who hurt me — I wrote it about the person they hurt me with.
At 16, you’re not mature enough to see the situation clearly. Instead of realizing the person you loved messed up, you blame the other person. But I still love that song. It’s fun to play.
You recently played at the Hotel Café, which is closing soon. What was it like performing at such an iconic venue?
It was really special. I got to play there twice. One of my favorite artists — Katy Perry — used to perform there in the mid‑2000s before she blew up. I’d watch those old videos of her playing the Hotel Café, and even as a kid I knew the name. When I finally moved to LA and realized it was a place indie artists could actually play, it blew my mind. I thought it was this impossible, legendary venue. So getting to perform there felt meaningful. I was really happy.
You also played Breaking Sound at Rudolph’s Bar & Tea. What was that experience like?
I had a lot of friends in the audience — my producer friend, my engineer friend. People who’ve meant so much to me during my time in LA. Seeing them there, feeling their support… it was special.
Sometimes it feels like you’re writing songs for nobody, or playing shows no one comes to. So when you look out and see even two or three familiar faces, it means everything. I’m grateful for my artist friends, my music friends, my LA friends — and honestly for anyone who listens. Even one person makes you feel like you’re not crazy for doing this. I don’t want to feel like I’m writing for myself. I want to share it.
One of those friends was Chad Courtney, who’s produced a few of your songs. How did that collaboration come about?
I met Chad through his manager, who’s my friend. I saw him play a show last year and was blown away. Just him and his guitar — I loved it. We became friends for about six months, and then I asked if he wanted to produce one of my songs. We’ve been working together for a few months now, and it’s been fun.
What do you hope the rest of 2026 brings for you?
I want to release my full project. I’m working on it as an album, but depending on funding and timing, it might end up being an EP. Hopefully it’ll be a full album. It’s a body of work I’ve been building for a few years — my little debut project. That’s my focus, and I hope it happens this year.
What advice would you give someone living in a small town who feels different — someone who wants to come out here and make it in the music scene?
I don’t know if I have the authority to give advice — I’m still going through it in real time. But I guess I do have some experience. There’s a balance you have to find. Your little town isn’t the whole world — there’s so much more out there. But when you finally leave, being away from home is also hard. So be gracious. Stay focused on what you want. Go after it. But don’t rush too much, and don’t be ungrateful for where you came from. Take your time. But never stop dreaming. And if you want to leave it all behind and go somewhere else — do it.
Last question: tell me about busking on Hollywood Boulevard. What has that experience been like?
I thought it was going to be terrifying. Hollywood Boulevard can get crazy. But it’s actually a lot of fun. After doing it once or twice, I fell in love with it. I get to practice my music and practice playing for people. And I’ve noticed the people who pay the most attention — or tip the most — are usually other people on the street trying to do the same thing. Street vendors, other performers, people getting off the train or going to the gym. I thought tourists would be my main audience, but they don’t really care. It’s regular people. And I love that.
Editor’s Note:Â David Sand will be playing at the iconic Viper Room on the Sunset Strip on July 3rd – presented by Kelly McGarry and Pop Cautious!
(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Scott Waters)
