Truth be told

Sure, local singer/songwriter Anthony David’s 3 Chords and the Truth is his debut album, but David is not a new artist by any stretch of the imagination. Making a name for himself first as a poet and later as a vocalist/musician, David played with the hip-hop/rock band El Pus before they landed a major-label deal, and performed onstage with India.Arie at Apache Cafe when it was known as Yin Yang.

“It’s a trip when I go to Apache now and hear people singing India’s songs,” says David, who penned “Part of My Life” for Arie’s first album, Acoustic Soul. “I remember when she performed there in front of just a few hundred people.”

Now an almost 10-year veteran of the Atlanta music scene, David is ready to share his blues-tinged brand of soul with a national audience — even while many contend that the masses may find his sound indigestible.

“I think what I’m doing — just like India and Donnie — is, in a sense, pop music,” says the Savannah native. “When India got the deal with Motown, they tried to put her in this ‘urban’ thing. But why can’t a song like ‘Ready for Love’ play on Top 40 radio?”

Early press, and his own bio, would have folks believe that David’s gruff, guitar-driven sound is comparable to Bob Marley and Prince. But on tunes from 3 Chords like “Cold Turkey,” “Heartstrings” and “Georgia Peach,” David comes off more like an amazingly soulful cousin or next-door neighbor — not a musical enigma.

“Ultimately, I’m trying to play the role of a companion,” says David. “I try to describe situations to a point where someone is like ‘OK, I’m not the only person going through this.’”Anthony David plays Vinyl Fri., Aug. 27, 9 p.m. $10.