It’s hard to pin one job title on David Singer. “I’m just a person who makes stuff,” says the 45-year-old multihyphenate. He has recently directed and cowritten his first feature film, Imperfections (a dark comedic thriller due out in early 2016); is looking forward to making his third indie rock album; and has composed music for the Broadway shows August: Osage County and Of Mice and Men, as well as for hundreds of political campaigns. The New York native’s diverse interests are evident in the Kilbourn Park bungalow he shares with his wife, Eva, six-year-old daughter, Ellery, and two cats. It’s a mix of midcentury modern, thrift store items, and “old weird stuff.” Here are some of his favorite things.
1962 Fender Jazzmaster guitar
($3,000, Chicago Music Exchange, 3316 N. Lincoln Ave.)
“I’ve written hundreds of songs on this, and played hundreds of shows. If my house were on fire and I got my wife and daughter and pets outside, it would be the first thing I’d grab.”
The First Bad Man by Miranda July
($16, City Lit Books, 2523 N. Kedzie Blvd.)
“Miranda July knows more about being human than anybody alive.”
Hanging terrarium
($50 for similar, Alapash, 4835 N. Damen Ave.)
“Gives the room a laboratory effect.”
Freemason art
(freemasoncollection.com)
“The Freemasons are a secret fraternal organization: I like the cool iconography here.”
Polyresin and bronze deer sculpture
($90, whitefauxtaxidermy.com)
“I love taxidermy but could never have a real animal head looking at me.”
Moon globe
($200 for similar, antiquemapsandglobes.com)
“I’m a space nut and this was a birthday gift from someone who knows me pretty well.”
Vintage jacket
“It’s new wave and ’50s-ish at the same time, and I love the white zippers.”
White Reaper Does It Again by White Reaper
($17, polyvinylrecords.com)
“They have more melodic ideas in 30 seconds than most bands have in a lifetime.”
Friese Undine artwork
(frieseundine.com)
“Supercreepy and delightful for freaking out kids of any age.”