"Sometimes I have trouble telling exactly what I think and feel," he said. "But songs are a way for me to communicate the thoughts I'm not comfortable saying."
This 22-year-old Texas native generally takes the stage with cool professionalism. He's bolstered his confidence by placing in the top five in a performing/songwriting competition at the Berklee School of Music in Boston for his song "Only Imagine" and by surrounding himself with people that support his passion for music.
Howard draws from his classical background for his quiet, indie rock jams. His mother played the oboe and his father dabbled in percussion for the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphonies.
He began music with a violin, but moved on to the ukelele after his mother returned home from Hawaii with one. he picked up the guitar a few weeks later after his parents got fed up with his incessant ukelele practice.
"I came home one afternoon and found a guitar on my bed," he said. "I guess my parents had finally had enough."
Even though Howard didn't major in music at Davidson, he always knew what the would find a career in music. It was his calling.
"From the beginning with the ukelele, it's been an unconscious goal when I picked up an instrument to make it my own," he said.
Howard especially enjoys making each live performance his own and different. He'll indulge little liberties like taking longer on the second verse of a song and changing little things he can't change on his record because it's already set in stone.
Howard also sees himself evolving through his writing by mellowing out and writing more songs with constant grooves. He also plays more with the TV on so he won't be distracted by audience chatter.
Right now he's a one man show with lots of heart trying to find momentum in a business that is not always forgiving to those living off just a passion for music.
You can find out more about him at http://www.russellhowardmusic.com/