The music of Dawson Cowals has been described as "Dave Matthews sings Rich Mullins," and it is this combination of driving acoustic rhythms, falsetto vocals, and poignant lyrics that have caught and held the ears of his many listeners. As Sue Braiden of CBC Radio described it: And it is this shiny soul that Dawson allows us a glimpse of through his heartfelt lyrics. However, in listening you will find that he is not afraid to humbly display some of the tarnish and rough edges as in Stubborn Man: Where he laments his mistakes and the need to learn a lesson the hard way again and again. This kind of self-examination is sorely lacking from today's collection of cotton candy pop, which promises sweet fulfillment but leaves one empty with nothing but fluff. Dawson's refreshing approach of taking an honest look in the mirror gives one pause to reflect on one's own motivations. He opens a brief window into the journey of his life and shares his sorrows and struggles as well as his hopes and joys. His introspective lyrics are woven through modern folk-rock licks with a blend of soft jazz, funk, and acoustic noodlin' that challenges the ear and the tapping foot to keep up. And the mind isn't forgotten on the side of the road to fend for itself. Borrowing often nearly word for word from scripture Dawson's lyrics cover a wide range of topics from James' admonishment to tame the tongue in "Sticks and Stones" to a parallel drawn from Mark 5 about the man in the tombs and how we all need to find ourselves "Broken" before God. His songs focus on topics relevant to both Christians and non-Christians alike; ministering to believers and holding out the truth and hope of the gospel to those who so desperately need to hear it. If you are tired of the same old, dried-up, relationship angst that is always tearing others down, be prepared for some soul searching and a refreshing glimpse of truth. Zach Garland offers this summary, calling Dawson's music: