Musicians travel – that’s what they do. Every day, cord-plucking upstarts and guitar heroes alike traverse the country to play shows, meet fans and occasionally even net a dollar or two for themselves. Traditionally, the road is where artists indulge in the frivolities of parties, excess and debatably legal behavior. Living it up like a rock star doesn’t leave much time for a spiritual routine, but when it comes to sex, god and rock ‘n’ roll, Stuart Davis wrote the book – literally.

Davis has been touring for more than a decade, taking his unique formulation of pop music all over the United States and abroad. Davis’ music, which he has termed “post-apocalyptic folk,” is a sincere attempt to integrate the profound mysteries of human existence with the catchy tunes and trappings of popular music.

As a Buddhist practitioner, Davis said he feels compelled to create art that is fundamentally meaning-based, even if it means exile from the sensibilities of the greater music industry.

“What I do is very hard for the mainstream music community to digest and assimilate in some meaningful way,” Davis said.

One way Davis’ music breaks out of the established mold is his analysis of spirituality. Davis said although he respects all faiths, through his music he attempts to share his personal mission of opening up awareness to an ever broader perspective. His wide-open version of spirituality paired with catchy tunes and lyrics have earned Davis a dedicated following.

“I am really into spirituality, but it is in a way that would be considered heretical in many religious factions,” Davis said. “There are a lot of people who are passionately and curious about and desiring of a spiritual life, but they don’t want the baggage of a religious convention.”

Convention is Davis’ first jump-off point from mainstream music. As an artist, Davis said he allows himself to give music fans more credit as thinking individuals. Giving the fans more credit means moving beyond the classical radio formulas, which Davis said tends to herd music into over-formulaic structures and subject matter.

“I like those songs as much as anybody else, but why would we settle for 1 percent of what a human being is?” Davis said. “My philosophy is just the opposite: People natively inherit the whole human experience.”

The message has not fallen on deaf ears. Throughout his career, Davis has enjoyed the support of a core of loyal fans he has named the “punk monks.”

Punk monks are more than just a fan base to Davis – in fact, he shies away from the term as much as possible. He prefers to think of his fans as a community of friends with whom he tries to make a personal connection.

To Davis, the title punk monk is almost a definition of his philosophy of life and music. The two words, which he points out also rhyme nicely, are meant to evoke the dual nature of Davis’ music.

“Punk,” Davis said, addresses the necessary aggression and willingness to stand for change. “Monk” emphasizes the need for restraint and purpose while breaking down contemporary ideas.

“There is actually a depth and a meaning to this,” Davis said. “We are not just doing this for a folly to tear shit up and deconstruct it.”

One of his own ideas that Davis has had to deconstruct is his aversion to greater mainstream success. Although he still harbors critiques on the status of popular music, he said he has recently opened up to the idea of courting a larger audience.

“I basically sabotaged any possibility of it happening over and over,” Davis said. “Part of me did not want to have mainstream success until I thought my spiritual life was strong enough to take it.”

Now Davis’ fear of exposure and exploitation is being won over by a desire to connect to a larger audience. Through the support of his punk monk community, connecting with a spiritual teacher and the discipline of raising a daughter, Davis said he believes he has reached a point where he can forge a mutually beneficial relationship with the music industry.

Davis is currently developing a television project, as well as finishing the publication process of what is sure to become the canonical text of his thoughts and insights, a book entitled “Sex, God, Rock ‘N Roll.” Davis said he doesn’t know how his advances will be received, but he is no longer afraid of undertaking a larger career.

“I think I can do some useful things with it, but I really don’t think I was ready until about a year ago,” he said.

Although his devotion to meaning-based music has attracted ready ears for his philosophy, Davis is careful to avoid didacticism in his art.

He said an overly pointed agenda usually detracts from the quality of the music and tries instead to put his own experiences on display for the audience to consider.

“If I do a show or write an album that has this big agenda, it just doesn’t work; it feels forced and contrived,” Davis said. “I try to make art that I think speaks to all the perspectives.”

Davis’ two DVD release shows at the Maintenance Shop will be a homecoming of sorts. Davis was born in Des Moines and recorded a live album – “Sixteen Nudes” – during a previous visit to Iowa State.

He said he makes the most of every visit to his “incarnation portal” by visiting family and indulging in some of his favorite local delicacies.

“Ames is very close to my heart,” Davis said.