Get to Know Drift

We headed to a jam at Teel Studios to have a chat with Drift, a young band from Wollongong created by Callum who brought along Nelson, Marley and Ruben. Each of the boys are also in different bands that are a completely separate genre to what Drift bring with their shoegaze inspired tone. They also have a gig coming up this Thursday 15th of October at La La La’s, they may have spilt a little something they got going on for the shows to us. We left the ticket link down the bottom of the chat.

WANDERER: What was the initial inspiration to create drift and the shoegaze style?

Callum: When creating it, I kind of wanted to do something different to what everyone else is playing at the moment. I was just really, really intrigued by bands I've been listening to like DIIV and Slowdive, I just wanted to kind of base my sound off that.

So is the style of music you play a direct reflection of the music you listen to?

Callum: In many ways, yes. It's a direct influence, with tonality, like the guitars and stuff and how they sound, but it's kinda got a bit of a different flavour on it as well. With a little bit more punky stuff as well, and pop hooks and catchy melodies, but definitely, an influence with those bands.

How did you create drift?

Callum: I started writing heaps of songs and then I just asked these boys to play with me. I just feel like everyone just picks it up so well.

Nelson: I think everyone kind of understands music a little bit, I swear it's so hard to find people that give depth to the band, as well as people who listen to the same kind of genre.

Callum: Yeah. If you're all stoked on the music that you listen to and play, it makes it way easier. Our first jam, we had like four or five songs already. We all got it pretty tight, pretty quick, so it was exciting to see that happen.

Marley: It's not always that easy.

Nelson: It's also good having a spot to jam as well. It's always hard to run it in the garage. Luckily we have somewhere to jam, which is good.

Callum: Mum, mum's not yelling.

How do you go about creating your songs?

Callum: So I usually just write a riff and then some lyrics to it and then we just jam it out and see what works best. So that's what we've done so far. But we've had a couple of songs where it's just like, Nelson will have one, for us and we'll jam on that. And then we add some parts to it and then kind of becomes like a big, finished product, I guess.

You guys are all in other bands, what makes playing in Drift different?

Callum: It's exciting playing different music and not playing the same stuff you've been playing for years, I guess.

You guys have a gig coming up?

Callum: Yeah, we've got a gig coming up with two sessions on it at La La Las on the 15th of October. So we're pretty excited for that because we haven't played live music in ages anyways, so yeah, pretty keen.

Nelson: I guess like with the gig coming up on the 15th of October, I think we wanted to bring, kind of like a cinema feel cause everyone's sitting down. So we're going to have an ambient movie behind, kind of overlaying us.

Callum: Yeah. I didn't want just like a normal kind of gig, I wanted to create more of a certain experience. Cause everyone has to sit down. So it kind of makes it a bit more interesting.

Marley: Usually people like to dance and get up and move around, but you're forced to see it. So we are trying to make that experience a bit more enjoyable.

Callum: It's something else to look at other than the band, but links into it, I dunno creates the big product yeah.

Nelson: the Force.

So, you got some more music in the works?

Callum: Yeah. We've got a second song. That just started with Marley kind of going to go through the same creation process. Just started with recording the guitars and getting a bass track to it and then recording drums and then mixing it and mastering with Marley which has been pretty good. Just feels way easier to get the song finished and get it out of the way, rather than worrying about it for months and months. But yeah, got a second tune coming.

Cool, so what's next for you guys right now?

Callum: Zambies. Eating, food and smoking.