Interview with Drown

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

• I grew up around music. My dad was a bass player in a band, my mum played saxophone, and my sister flute. I remember watching the school of Rock at 5/6 years of age and remember thinking that's what i want to do. I was brought Silver Side Up by Nickelback shortly after which cemented this feeling. If i didn't have music I'm pretty sure I’d do something within the arts still. Or McDonalds.

 What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• My life is music so I don't do much else. I own a recording studio so it is my 9-5. I find creativity in listening to other artists and how I can nick their ideas and make it my own! I love hearing off the cuff phrases when I'm out with my mates and making it into a song.

How long has your band been around?

• We started jamming together in late 2021

 Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

• We're from all over. I'm (Billy) from Hertford, Will - Leicester, Ben - King's Lynn and Sam - Cambridge. The other 3 now sort of live near Cambridge so it works out well and we rehearse at my studio in Hertford. Lucky me.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

• We were after a one word band name and Drown just sort of stuck. We realised shortly after that its a song by some of our favourite bands - Three Days Grace, Bring Me The Horizon, Smashing Pumpkins and Counterparts

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• We did a mini tour in February and sold out every show which was a massive surprise. We played each of our hometowns in front of all our mates and random punters. Norwich was particularly memorable as I stuffed down a 5 guys before we went on and couldn't move. Never doing that again.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• The Portland Arms in Cambridge seems to be our home. We've never done a bad show there and the sound is always great. My dream venue to play is the Electric Ballroom in Camden as i've seen so many bands there - Lower Than Atlantis, Don Broco, Letlive etc

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

• Dont judge me

  Deftones

  Lower Than Atlantis

  Rage Against The Machine

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

• Keep at it, you never know what's gonna happen. Don't give in to the 9-5

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

• Growing a mullet is a bad idea

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

• Butterflies has to be up there. It was one of the first songs we wrote together and has been a set staple ever since. Its a turning point in the set and gets the crowd going and is pretty easy to sing along to.

 Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

• We do a banging Taylor Swift / 1975 medley that goes off. I won't tell you the songs as it will ruin the surprise. All the metal heads suddenly love pop music and are singing their hearts out.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

• We'll always write together as a band as it's the most organic. We'll bring a few ideas to practice each but never fully formed songs, that way it doesn't become one members song but all of ours (but mostly mine)

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• My lyrics in our songs are combination of notes I’ve written in a certain time period, so there never particularly about one thing, but how i'm feeling during that period.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

• Always, we hate each other. Ben's a right pain in the arse. 

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• Single release, music video and finally get the EP out in the next couple months! We've had these tunes for a while now and have been writings loads more new material which we'll hopefully get recorded soon and have another EP out by the end of the year. Keep in touch at https://www.facebook.com/drownbanduk