Radio Drive is an Alternative Pop Rock band featuring Kevin Gullickson. As the engine behind Radio Drive, Kevin has won international awards and nominations for his songs and music videos. The music of Radio Drive is being aired on radio around the world alongside major artists and is receiving rave reviews by music critics. He has been featured on web zines and radio shows in Europe, Canada and the USA.
Kevin’s music has landed on charts on indie stations around the world, including Canada, Germany, the UK and the South Pacific. His music has been used on shows airing on Animal Planet, National Geographic, Comedy Central, Fox Channels, History Channel, Spike TV and Discovery Channel in the USA and TV programs in England, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Kevin about the latest Radio Drive project, challenges, surviving the pandemic and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and how do You describe your style of music?
My hometown is Rochester, Minnesota, USA. I’ve moved around a little bit over the years, but have settled in a suburb of St Paul, Minnesota USA.
The genre I use to describe my music is: “Alternative Pop Rock”. I need three genres to cover the diversity of my musical influences and style of my music.
“Alternative” because it isn’t always mainstream, it’s a little different, but not too different. Many of my influences came from the 80s and 90s new wave alternative bands, such as The Cure and REM.
“Pop” because I love catchy pop melodies. When I was young I listened to the Monkees and Beatles and all the Top 40 bands. Even today, I love pop bands like One Republic.
“Rock” because in my teens I listened to the heavier sounds of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and the classic rock bands of the 70s.
How did you get here? As in, what inspired or motivated you to take on this journey through music and the music biz?
I started writing songs when I was 7 years old and started playing in my first rock band at age 12. Since then I’ve always been doing something with music, whether playing clubs as a solo artists on acoustic guitar, or a full band playing the clubs, or writing and releasing music. It’s always been a part of me.
I remember when I was 7 years old and I was over at a friends house. His older brother was playing the drums, a big cool drum kit. That made a huge impression on me. My parents bought me a drum set for Christmas that year. I played drums for about 10 years and during that time took up guitar, piano and singing. When I graduated from high school, I set the drums aside and focused mainly on guitar, piano and singing. I wanted to focus my creative attention more toward songwriting.
I’m pleased to say that over the years my music has always been very well received by fans and others in the music industry, which of course, is a motivation to continue.
Certainly my wife and family have been a huge part of the journey. The music biz is not for the faint of heart and comes with many disappointments and rejections. You need roots and a foundation to keep yourself balanced during the lows as well as the highs. I’m so blessed to have that.
How does your latest project compare/contrast with your previous release(s)? Were you setting out to accomplish anything specific, follow a specific theme, or explore different styles of creation?
I had just released a full album in September of 2021 titled “Before The Day is Through”, which I’m pleased to say, was a huge success with the album and individual songs winning awards and nominations. In the early months of 2023, while it was still winter here in Minnesota, I started working on some new songs. I’m not much for the ice and cold of winter. So I stay indoors and hibernate and work on music. The band wasn’t up to playing live gigs just yet, so I wanted to start recording some of my new songs. I didn’t want to take on such a huge project as a full album and I had too many songs to just do a single. So I settled on doing a 4-song EP.
I always try to do something a little different with each release. This time, I wanted it to be a little more “pop” in style, while still holding onto the “alternative rock” roots. I ended up working with a sound engineer/producer out east, Steve “Mr Mig” Migliore. He’s worked with some amazing pop artists, including Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift.
I had also just purchased some new software during the winter to help with piano and string arrangements, so I wanted to feature that in the new songs. Basically, I had some new toys and sounds to play with!
Name the biggest challenge you faced as a creative artist during these unprecedented times with the social distancing and Covid? How did you adapt? How have you kept the creative fires burning during all this?
As you know, Covid changed everything. I don’t think there is one part of society, commerce, business that Covid did not affect. Certainly the music industry was hit among the hardest.
Back in January 2020 the band had gotten back together after a 5 year hiatus from live performances. We were well rehearsed and ready to start doing live shows. We playing one show in late January and had several more lined up. Then Covid hit and everything shut down.
During the early months of Covid I did some house concerts and broadcast on social media. Later in 2020 I started writing new material and recording the album “Before The Day is Through”, which was later released in September 2021. Since Covid was still in full swing for most of 2021, I took my time on the album. It was my most ambitious project ever. I’m thankful to say I have my own home studio. So I could continue recording and arranging songs on my own. Since I wasn’t meeting with musicians in person, I hired several to play on the album through an online community called AirGigs. I worked with a drummer in Italy, a violinist in Russia, a cellist in Venezuela, a singer in Italy and the mix and mastering with someone in California.
I kept very busy squirrelled away in my home studio. There was always something to do with writing or recording. I even signed up for some online guitar and vocal lessons to keep sharp.
What was the last song you listened to?
I just saw One Republic in concert a few days ago. It was an absolutely fantastic show! I’ve had their hit song“Counting Stars” on my playlist. I just listened to that yesterday. Did you know that song has over 1 and a half BILLION plays on Spotify. That is crazy cool.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? 8-tracks? Cassettes? CDs? MP3s? Streaming platforms?
Good question. I grew up with vinyl. I had a sweet stereo with amazing speakers. Those vinyl records of Led Zeppelin, The Stones, The Beatles, all those bands sounded amazing. I don’t think the sound characteristic and quality can be replicated with digital.
Having said that, I love the convenience of MP3 and streaming. Now days I listen to most of my music on Spotify on my headphones. If I really like something, I’ll buy and download to my iTunes and listen. With MP3 and Streaming you can take your music anywhere. Plus, you have access to an endless number of songs.
For years, all my demos had to be burned to cassette because CDs and MP3 files hadn’t been invented yet. Then you had to mail them out and wait for them to receive the package and listen. Now days, it’s so nice and convenient to email a link to someone to stream my music.
Where is the best place to connect with you and follow your journey?
You can connect with me and my music all over the internet. Here are my links:
Website: http://www.radiodrive.net
Facebook: https://fb.me/RadioDriveMusic
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/radiodrivemusic
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/RadioDriveMusic
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/radio_drive
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5JZELlsigjpKLVji8J1n3e?si=0z00cEbgReCUflTkYoGsUQ
iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/radio-drive/313677115
I really appreciate Your time. Anything else before we sign off?
Thank you so much! This has been awesome sharing a little about myself and my music. I look forward to connecting with your readers and welcome them to join me on my musical journey.
