The Slow Drag’s rebellious nature has lead him off the beaten path of the music industry, operating almost entirely outside the confines of the standard. That defiance drove this in-house venture of an album.
I am, for better or worse, aggressively independent. When I started this project, it was to release singles recorded in my home studio, but inspiration took over and I ended up finishing a record. I played, engineered, and mixed it all—except for the saxophone. Haha, I knew my limits in that instance and decided to hire a professional. That professional was the illustrious Peter Eddins of Arts Fishing Club, who rounded out the album’s sex appeal like a dollop of whipped cream on a cherry.”
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Austin James of The Slow Drag (the one and only member) about the latest release (Dope Tunage, Vol 1), technology, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music 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’m a 5th generation Californian. I make the kind of rock n roll that 16 year old me would blast while ditching class in my ‘77 Chevy Nova.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
At first, I played in a band and wrote music because it was something my friends and I were doing as kids. Once that first band broke up, I couldn’t stop. Now I keep going because I want to see how far I can go.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
Primarily, this is the first album I’ve recorded, mixed, and mastered on my own. I learned a lot about the process and have grown immensely. I’m so happy to have developed the skills and confidence necessary to continue to release my own music.
This release is also different because it’s a collection of songs, rather than a string of singles. I think overall, I prefer to release singles, but when you’re trying to submit to festivals, blogs, and licensing agents, they like to see that you’ve just released an album for some reason, haha. As long as the music keeps flowing, I’m happy.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
My whole career is built online via live broadcasting. I play shows here and there, but if my internet went out, I’d have a lot of rebuilding to do, haha. I think the hardest thing to do is find a way to effectively market yourself on a small to non-existent budget. There’s not a lot of wiggle room for trial and error, so you have to make sure your efforts are well-advised and well-implemented as possible.
What was the last song you listened to?
One Song Glory from Rent.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I like digital music–my CDs were always getting scratched or lost, so I love having all the music in the world at my fingertips.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I like spotify. Once you get the hang of it, it’s like having a personalized DJ sending you music which you already love and/or have the potential to love.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
My website, www.theslowdrag.com
Anything else before we sign off?
Thanks for the questions and the opportunity to share some of what I do. If there are any independent musicians reading this who’re looking to build a fanbase and community, I’d recommend thinking about whether or not broadcasting your music live on the internet is right for you. It really works!
