There must be hundreds of country music singer-songwriters whose orbit lies well beyond the Nashville mainstream but can't accurately be identified with the 'Alt.Country' scene either. Ed Dupas is one such artist.
Dupas (pronounced “doo-PAH”) was born in the USA (in Texas to be precise) but spent his early years in Winnipeg, Canada . Although now back in the States as a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan, you get the sense that his short time away has given him an outsider's perspective.
This is apparent in the two most striking songs on his debut album - the title track and Flag. Both of these manage to be fervently patriotic while at the same time picking fault with America's domestic and foreign policies.
A Good American Life (the song) finds him running in circles "trying to catch my breath so I can tell myself I'm free" while on Flag he notes bitterly that the red white and blue flies particularly high for the taxman "you gotta pay just to be someone". These views are not those of a man who buying into the propaganda serving the American dream.
Holding such views will only complicate the task of finding an audience. On his website there is a rather sad video of Dupas doggedly playing a solo set at a street bazaar in Jackson and, like an unsuccessful busker, being totally ignored by the passers-by.
This is a real pity because he certainly has an ear for a good tune and, while his songs are not in any way ground breaking, they do give a real sense of a singer songwriter with something to say.
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Other songs give a vivid sense of the limited options at his disposal. "When you're travelling in circles, ain't nothing bound to last", he sings on This Old Town as he documents humdrum surroundings dominated by pool halls and pawn shops.
Produced by Michael Crittenden (Drew Nelson) and mastered in Athens, Georgia by John Keane (R.E.M, Uncle Tupelo) the album features some solid backing musicians, notably Drew Howard on pedal steel. Dupas sounds relaxed with a full band behind him, especially on the track Too Late Now.
At their best, Dupas' songs capture the importance of clinging to dreams while trying desperately to make ends meet. He comes over as a disgruntled but reasonable man with his heart in the right place. The album concludes with the tender Without You an uncomplicated but genuine declaration of love and fidelity.
My advice to Mr Lupas would be to come to Europe at the earliest opportunity where I'm sure he'd find more people willing to take the time to listen to his songs.
Ed Dupas' website
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