In this interview feature, we chat with D.R.U. about the newest project, influences and more.
Q&A, links and streams of his music can be found below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I am from San Diego, California. Currently, I am focused on translating my influences into electronic music. I have a love of both Rock n Roll and Classical music, and these influences come through in my electronic releases as D.R.U. For me, the computer provided an easier medium to facilitate my music than bands. I tried that, but ultimately ended up here. I am a fan of heavy music, whether in emotion or tone. In terms of electronic genres, my releases fall under the umbrella of Bass Music. I would describe it as melodic driven bass music.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
As I previously eluded to, I started in bands. More specifically, I was the guitarist in quite a few different bands. I worked hard to get to a touring level, and ultimately I fell in love with the recording world. It was sort of a natural progression, I was always pushing my bands. It became more difficult to coordinate and organize, so ultimately I chose a style that I could make on my own.
Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?
Well in terms of influencing my own creativity, I would say its life. As time progresses and the further I get in all of this, the more I realize that my ideas and music are just a product of the world around me. The electronic medium feels like it goes hand in hand with the electronic driven world we live in. Beethoven, one of my favorite composers of all time, was famous for using the entire instrument at his fingertips. I believe that multiple evolutions of the piano were released during his lifetime, each evolution providing more notes, specifically lower notes. Beethoven was known for using these newly available pitches in each of his new compositions. To me, using synthetic sound, sounds that are new and inorganic, is taking advantage of the sounds created recently. I guess Beethoven is an influence as to why I feel its important to try and use whats available.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
This release, Elevate, is the first original of mine that features two artists on the same track. I have featured the JOAT on two previous tracks as well as Preston, but this time they are on the same song. I also set out to really write the tune from beginning to end. I wanted to make a second drop section that was bigger than the first. I found it challenging because I already made the first drop as big as I could.
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
Of course, a lot of things have changed in this digital age. The challenge I face is mainly getting my music to listeners, and managing social media. Social media, I feel, is the biggest challenge. In the analog recording days, there were so many more people that were needed. It wasn’t necessarily the responsibility of the artist to be their own press agent. Nowadays, we expect musicians to not just be great at their craft, but to also be able to market that craft via exploding socials. I personally feel the skill sets of a musician or producer is far different from the skill set of a publicist. However, in the current status of the industry, these skill sets are often blended because of social media. On the flip side, we live in an entrepreneur meets artist playground. Anyone can record, anyone can upload, anyone can say anything… For those who are “brand minded”, this can create a situation where they don’t need someone else to make their dreams a reality.
How do you feel about streaming services? Any romantic attachments to the physical formats: vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, CDs?
I am old enough to have quite a CD collection, and am obsessed with music enough to even have a vinyl collection. I am definitely nostalgic about those times. When you look at a vinyl or CD, the amount of work and thought that went into every aspect was astounding. It wasn’t as much about that single as it was about the product as a whole. With vinyls, its even hard to skip songs and just listen to singles. I think that fact made the listeners of that generation much more attentive and involved in the music. Its hard to argue with the fact that we live in a “singles” world.. meaning single song releases. Its not just music that is taking the hit, but I feel like everything is changing in the world to accommodate our desires for immediate satisfaction. Streaming is the audio equivalent to that. You don’t need to go to the store, flip through hard copies, drive back and play it. Instead you can stream new music all of the time! I was talking with someone the other day and we realized Netflix is sort of the TV version of this. People don’t want to wait a week for a new episode, and they don’t want to flip channels. They want to be able to stream until their hearts content. The business model of putting out a tv show all at once, a la Netflix, I think is here to stay. As far as my own sentiment, I try to just adapt with the times. I guess I just think it is what it is and its here to stay. I am thankful though, to live in an environment where I can release my own music on streaming services, and avoid the archaic label model.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
You can hear all of my releases on www.soundcloud.com/drusounds
My first EP, and soon to be my second is available for a free download at drusounds.bandcamp.com
Anything else before we sign off?
Support your local music scene and musicians who are in it for the right reason. If you like an artist take the time to get to know their story. And most importantly, be kind to others.
