Interview: “The Drives” Open Up About Their Struggles with Their New Single 'Maybe I’m A Masochist’
LA's Indie-Rock Trio Faces Inner Demons in a Raw, Reflective New Single
February 8th, 2024 | By Sierra Madison
Photo Credit: Ellyn Jameson
Bursting onto the scene with their first drop of the year, Los Angeles' own The Drives come out swinging with “Maybe I’m A Masochist” — a track that hits you right in the feels with its introspective look at love gone awry, now streaming through UnderCurrent. Teasing their highly-anticipated second EP, this single delves deep into the turmoil of an unhealthy relationship with a tempo that mirrors the contemplative state of mind the song conjures.
Andrew Levin, The Drives' frontman, lays it bare: “This track is about the rut of complacency in a failing relationship. In my last one, I was so entrenched in the chaos that I missed the forest for the trees. I was patching up small leaks, oblivious to the ship sinking around me. The song is a raw look at my guilt and regret for not seeing how toxic things had really gotten.”
Their previous singles "Not That Bad" and "Life Coach" have already scored accolades from tastemakers across the globe, with "Life Coach" rocketing the band onto Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Alternative Playlist cover for a fortnight. Not to mention, these hometown heroes recently wowed with a live session at Jam In The Van.
We sat down with Andrew to chat a bit about the making of “Maybe I’m A Masochist” and what we can expect next from The Drives.
Your debut EP 'This Might Take a While' channels a mix of frustration, loudness, and manic energy. How does your new single, 'Maybe I’m A Masochist,' fit within this emotional landscape?
It’s interesting actually because “Maybe I’m a Masochist” was written at the same time and was supposed to be on that first EP. So lyrically and thematically it does fit well but musically it’s definitely a prettier sounding song than the more angsty stuff. It kinda worked out perfectly because this new EP needed a slower song as well.
Andrew Levin mentioned that 'Maybe I’m A Masochist' is about guilt and regret in a past relationship. Can you expand on how personal experiences shape your songwriting process?
For me, I end up writing from personal experiences because it’s the first thing I want to write about usually. It’s almost like I don’t have a choice. I have to write about the personal stuff first and get it all out. Then when I say everything I want to say, I can start writing about something else.
The Drives' sound has been described as having a cinematic pop/rock quality. How do you approach blending cinematic elements with the raw energy of garage rock in your music?
First of all thank you because that’s exactly what we’re going for. I think the blend comes from how Kc and I (Andrew) naturally write together. I tend to always write songs with the garage rock-y sound and then Kc will come in and make it this bigger thing with more interesting sounds that make it more cinematic.
Congrats on getting on the cover of Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Alternative playlist – how do you celebrate wins like these?
Well we definitely try to enjoy and recognize those kinds of wins because for every one win there’s usually 10 losses. I would say honestly we’re not super great at enjoying the wins yet because we’re always looking forward to the next thing right away. But that’s something we’re working on.
Can you talk about the evolution of the band's sound from your first singles to your upcoming latest EP? How have you grown as artists?
Well we started the band with just bedroom recordings that Kc and I made for fun that were almost like demos. I think the songwriting has improved a lot personally but that early 2000s indie rock sound has always been a huge influence on the sound. Once Geo joined the band, we really were able to get the live drums exactly how we wanted as well. With Kc and geo producing, I’m the luckiest songwriter ever because they can really achieve any sound or style I envision for the song.
Your music often deals with intense and complex emotions. What role do you think vulnerability plays in connecting with your audience?
I think vulnerability is everything for the songs we write. Most of my favorite artists do the same so I’m really inspired by them. I think you can tell if a song is written from a vulnerable place and I think people listening to your songs know that.
What challenges did you face in the process of creating and producing this EP, especially considering the unpredictable nature of the music industry today?
For us, writing and producing our music is the best and it’s my favorite thing to do in the world hands down. When we’re writing and producing the songs we don’t really think about anything beyond just making them sound good. But, once they’re done, then all that other stuff comes into play and it honestly does suck a lot of the time, but that’s how the industry is today so we kinda just accept it. So no challenges making the EP but many challenges once it’s done.
Looking beyond this single, what future directions are you considering for The Drives, both musically and thematically?
Well I’m constantly going through and experiencing life stuff so thematically there’s no shortage of stuff to write about. I did go through another intense breakup last year so I’ve got another bag of breakup songs I’m working on. In terms of sound we’ve been listening to a lot of 90s and 2000s rock lately so we might incorporate that a little into some of the new music. But we definitely have the indie/cinematic sound still cooking on the next batch of songs.
For more information on The Drives, please visit:
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For all The Drives press materials and inquiries, please contact:
Madi Florence |madi@bighassle.com