Paleo

David Andrew Strackany, performing as Paleo, is a central figure in the mid-2000s American house show and DIY folk scene. He is most historically notable for 'The Song Diary' (2006), a project where he wrote and recorded a song every single day for a year while living out of his car.

This project established his reputation for 'freakish prolificacy' and a nomadic creative ethos. Sonically, Paleo is defined by his use of a half-size children's guitar, which produces a boxy, mid-range heavy tone that complements his idiosyncratic, nasal vocal style. His work is often compared to the freak-folk movement of the era (Devendra Banhart) but retains a grittier, more grounded 'anti-folk' edge. Beyond his solo work, he has been a significant collaborator within the Partisan Records circle, producing for These United States and contributing to award-winning independent film soundtracks. Critical consensus highlights his masterful lyricism and the psychological depth of his songwriting, which often oscillates between hopeful resilience and existential despair.