Cole Schwartz and Liv Miner make up the core of the Dallas, Texas-based Drayter. The newest album, NINE, is causing quite the buzz. We managed to steal a few minutes of Liv’s time to talk to her about the band, the album, and what awesome football team she’s a fan of living in the great state of Texas. Your guess isn’t even close, brother...
[LINK TO STORY: http://www.nationalrockreview.com/interviews/liv-miner-of-drayter-interview]
'Drayter truly delivers on 'Nine' with heartfelt songwriting and flawless vocals laid over superbly produced rock instrumentation, all smoothed out to a perfectly polished finish.' - The Akademia Awards
[LINK TO STORY: http://www.theakademia.com/january2016_bestalbum_poprock2.html]
Back in 2008, Cole Schwartz was doing what many music-obsessed teens his age were doing: starting a rock band. Drayter was formed in Dallas, TX, and in its 8-year existence developed a sound that draws equally from heavy metal and hard rock as it does pop and emo – a combination that the band has found appeals to a very wide audience of music fans.
It doesn’t hurt that Drayter brings a high-level of energy to their performances, sharing large venue and festival stages with the likes of Stone Sour, Chevelle, Flyleaf and Three Days Grace.
In early 2015, Liv Miner joined Schwartz and the band as a guitarist/vocalist, and they just released their first full length, Nine, in December (distributed via TuneCore). Liz and Cole weighed in on their experiences together so far, what kind of roles brands can play for independent artists, and what is was like to work with a couple of major producers on their latest album:
You both come from musically inclined families. How old were you each when you began playing and writing music?
LIV: My Mom and Dad have been professional musicians for longer than I’ve been alive, and consequently all of my siblings and I are very musically inclined. I started banging around on the piano as soon as I could reach it, I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, and I picked up the guitar and started writing songs at age 9.
COLE: My grandpa played music consistently all the way into his late 80’s, and my uncle is a working musician that plays guitar and sings. I started playing guitar when I was six, and recorded my first studio EP at 13 (and it was distributed on TuneCore).
Who were some of your earliest influences when it comes to making music, and what are you digging more recently?
LIV: Instrumentally I turned to Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and ZZ Top as virtual mentors that helped shape my ability to create a full sound without a lot of extra musicians. Lately I am really into Adam Jones. Tool is one of my all-time favorite bands because each member is so gifted and the music they create leaves me feeling very emotional.
As a lyricist, Maynard is certainly someone special. I’m also really digging down-tempo music right now because the ambient and spacey grooves put me in such a mellow and relaxed place.
COLE: My first concert was Green Day, and that experience was indelible. The fast licks, the bright lights, and all the fun they were having on stage made me want to be a performing musician. As I got a little older I really gravitated towards Randy Rhoads, Jim Root, and Dimebag Darrell as the influences. All of them helped shape my style.
Currently I am into Deafheaven and Power Trip primarily because of their super washy guitar riffs intertwined with extremely precise blast beats. Lyrically I have always been a fan of Corey Taylor (both Slipknot and Stone Sour) because you can feel what he is feeling in every word he sings or speaks. Sharing a stage with him in 2014, I got to see it up close and it was very powerful to me.
You started Drayter awhile back. How has the band’s sound evolved over the years?
Cole: We were only 13 and we were very much into bands like Metallica, Marilyn Manson, and Van Halen. When we wrote our first songs they were simple and straight to the point hard rock with minimal studio refinement. Over the past five years we have matured as musicians, as human beings with life experiences, and have been afforded the opportunity to work with some Grammy-winning producers. So obviously our sound has evolved as well to a more refined and modern pop-rock vibe.
How did you and Cole link up? What was it about Drayter that appealed to you?
LIV: I met Cole a handful of times because Drayter opened for my last band on occasion. People always joked that we should get together and merge the bands. We were always friendly, but never really talked about working on a project together. In early 2015 I found out that Drayter was looking for a new lead singer and I reached out to Cole for an audition.
He was all for it, so I auditioned and here I am. As far as what appealed to me, I think it was several things. First and foremost, they were serious. They were very professional about everything, put on an awesome live show (seemed well rehearsed), had management, and their songs were really good. The music business is hard and you need to be 100% committed to have a chance. I liked my chances better with Drayter, and everything is going great.
How would each of you, in 5 words or less, describe your collaboration process?
LIV: Lyrically, emotionally, and instrumentally connected.
COLE: A comfortable but organized and systematic process.
With your latest release, Nine, what can fans (new and old) expect in terms of songwriting and genre intersection?
To help intersect two very different genres (pop and rock) for this album, we worked with two very different producers — Matt Squire, who has produced pop stars like Ariana Grande, Ke$ha and One Direction, and on the rock side we worked with Dave Fortman, who has won Grammy Awards producing hard rock bands like Godsmack, Evanescence, Slipknot.
It was a great process and we feel combining two different producers, two different genres and two different emotional melodies we achieved a sound that is pretty modern and will appeal to a broad audience of people that enjoy both pop and rock bands. As far as songwriting, the themes are about life; what we’ve experienced and how we see the world.
We feel that the good and bad experiences are universal for everyone, and we hope that others connect and take away something from our music.
The production of Nine is pretty on-point! What was it like to work with Matt Squire and Dave Fortman?
Working with these two producers has been one of the high points for Drayter. For an independent band to be able to work with work with Grammy winning and nominated producers is a dream come true.
Dave Fortman has been one of our idols. He is the producer who helped shape and push one of the most successful female fronted bands, Evanescence. He also produced Slipknot’s most successful album, All Hope Is Gone, among other projects with bands like Godsmack. We were nervous before we met and began working, but he was the most down to earth, laid back Louisiana guy you’ll ever meet. Working with Dave was just a good time.
We primarily recorded at a small studio down in southern Louisiana, and only went to a bigger studio to track drums. The atmosphere with Dave is totally chill and all about music without time constraints. It truly feels like we are all just hanging out as friends, doing what we love. There are lots of laughs and no stress. That’s what makes the musical process with him so good that we can’t wait to work with him again.
But don’t let the relaxed vibe fool you. Dave is a perfectionist and will spend hours working with you to get exactly what the song needs. Also, he is a master mixer, which also helps the project stay well rounded.
Working with Matt Squire was a huge step for us. He is known for helping artists/bands find that special sound which is what we were wanting since merging with pop. Matt is on fire in the studio. He is open to every idea. In fact, I don’t think he turned down a single one. He seemed to see it all as part of the process and understood our need to draw in all the different elements. There was always a “happy” atmosphere while we were working with him. The entire experience was like something out of a Hollywood movie. It’s basically how you would picture the recording process to be for a multi-platinum selling artist/band. Obviously we are not that, so working with him was such an amazing and unforgettable experience.
We flew into L.A. and tracked drums at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood. Some of the greatest albums have been recorded there so we were honored to be able to walk down the halls and see all the plaques, not to mention the insane mountain of vintage gear lying around. The rest of the time we worked at Matt’s home studio in Calabasas. The musical process was exactly what we needed. Sometimes it was serious and other times it was a riot. We laughed our asses off! It was roller coaster ride from start to finish and we are ready to go again.
What advice do you have for duos when it comes to reaching out to additional musicians to record and tour?
Make sure that you work with people that are professional in everysince of the word. They should have the following attributes – music ability, a great attitude, and accessibility where and when you need them. If you waiver on any of these qualities, you might set yourself up for problems.
How does it feel to remain an indie group that is capable of acquiring brand sponsors and endorsements? What kind of role do you feel brands play in indie music in 2015?
Since the music business has changed so much, successful bands are not really independent anymore per se, they are entrepreneurial. Everything they do – from sound to image, branding to networking – has to be done like a start-up business. We felt that we could make high quality music, grow a fan base, and make an income if we had backing from sponsors.
We knew from our Facebook, Reverbnation, and website statistics that our fans were 14-24, and figured that advertisers/sponsors might want to have access to this age group. We made a grid of what companies might want to market to these groups and picked up the phone and started making calls. We got a lot of no’s, but we did get several yesses. For a small fee an advertiser can market to our fans (through us). It feels good having financial resources to do some things, but there’s always the hard work of convincing big companies (music and non-music related) that our band is worth their support. Yet we are passionate and authentic about what we deliver, so we stand by our brand.
The role brands play with indie groups is still developing. Many brands don’t know how to attach a value to a band, especially if it’s an up-and-coming band. Plus, bands aren’t really a safe investment because of the typical ‘creative personalities’ that are involved. But if the brand is willing to take a risk and do their homework on the band, they can significantly benefit from loyal consumers (fans) that have an affinity for that band. It can be an easy win/win.
The band wins because they generate income; the brand wins because they reach targeted consumers at a low price.
Similarly, how important is remaining independent to you? How has TuneCore played a role in that?
We want our music to reach as many people as possible and have a positive impact that resonates for a long time. Obviously having the support, distribution, resources of a major label would expedite that, but that’s not our reality right now. In the meantime we will continue to try to gain sponsors and grow our reach with what we can afford.
TuneCore has helped this process of being independent and entrepreneurial by giving us a platform to distribute our music, to report on sales and other metrics, and to collect royalties. Also, TuneCore has assisted with making connections to other industry resources they offer like website development, mastering, and publishing administration.
With over 30K followers on social media, how do you use different channels to engage and communicate with your fans in creative ways?
That really depends on what information we are putting out there. Some of our channels like Instagram respond better to short videos, while others like Facebook and Twitter respond better to pictures and random musings. We reach out to fans via social media whenever we have a show in their area and try to support other artists and venues through social channels.
Since we started so young, we came of age with social media and understand the power of it. We realized that a band can market to thousands if not millions of potential fans virtually for free through social media. If you use different channels, and post regularly, you can really develop a super engaged fan base.
[LINK TO STORY: http://www.tunecore.com/blog/2016/01/interview-drayter-marries-pop-rock-band-brand.html]
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
* Liv Miner – lead vocals, guitar
* Cole Schwartz – lead guitar
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Drayter?
Cole – when I was 13 when I founded Drayter, so it was and still is my first band.
Liv – I was in a band for 5 years with my brother called Liv and the Drummer.
How long has the band been around?
Since 2009.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
We were 13 when we started the band; it was originally named Broken Spine. Since Broken Spine was pretty lame, we came up with our current name – but with a different spelling. As we got a little older we decided to change the spelling but keep the name.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
We write our songs and we’ve also worked with a very talented writer. The entire process depends on what the goals are. Sometimes we play around with lots of ideas and we let things grow naturally. Other times, if there is a specific goal, we like to hone in on it and the process becomes more systematic and organized. We feel that our themes are universal life problems or situations. As artists, we like to deal with our own experiences by creating music that represents the way we see things. The world is not a perfect place and we feel you have to take it as it comes. However, you can choose to be what you believe. A very important lesson for us has been learning how to deal with the negatives by finding the positive. Anyone can bash someone on a song but it takes more to channel it in a positive way. Again, we want to accept the world and all of its elements on its terms, but we can define how we deal with it and move on. For example, “Not Alone” deals with the negatives of bullying, not being accepted, neglect, yet we do not focus on those words. Instead we focus on the statement, “You are not alone.” We talk about support, reaching out to others, and understanding that even the people who seem to have it all might be feeling the exact same way you do. It’s about finding the solution instead of focusing on the problem. We think that artists grow over time, so topics will as well. Evolving is a good thing and as long as there are current events and we are growing as humans, so will our music.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Well, we like to channel ourselves through our art. That being said, there are bands/artists that inspire us to jam, write, move. Here are a few:
Liv:
Tool – Specifically, Maynard. He is lyrically inspiring for me because he gets so real, deep, and sometimes, dark. As a whole, this band inspires me.
Yelawolf – He is inspiring to me because he does what he wants and his talent is undeniable.
Avenged Sevenfold – They make me want to jam! Every single one of them is extremely talented and the best at what they do. I’ve been hooked since I was 15.
Cole:
Deafheaven – The overall atmosphere and songwriting, especially on their 2013 album, Sunbather.
The Devil Wears Prada – As a guitarist, I really like the guitar tone and almost percussive sound and style.
Maroon 5 – I really like their songwriting. They seem to be getting better and better with every album. I like the funk and groove they’re blending in.
Kendrick Lamar – He has a unique sound, a blend of hip-hop, rock, and jazz.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Liv – My parents were my inspiration – they are musicians and were always touring with a band. I always knew it was exactly what I wanted to do and I’m so thankful that they exposed me to what would become my dream. And then when I saw Switchfoot in 2004 and I knew I wanted to be a professional musician.
Cole – A defining moment for me was at the age of 8, at a Green Day concert. I knew it’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. After the fuse was lit, I started to get into a lot of other bands that inspired me to start my own band, like Metallica and Pantera.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc.?
Liv - My absolute musts are rest, tons of water, and vocal warm ups. After I warm up my voice, I coat it with “Musician’s Friend” throat spray and mix some honey with hot tea. Backstage I like to listen to music that gets me in the mood. Steve Aoki, Yelawolf, and Eminem or whatever else I’m feeling in the moment. Right before the show starts I connect with my band in a huddle and we say weird, funny stuff to laugh and remind ourselves to have a good time! Finally, I say a prayer and steady my breathing.
Cole - I like to get in a good workout because it gets me in the mindset to perform and keeps me pumped. After sound check, I start drinking tons of water and I eat a protein bar or shake – nothing too heavy. About an hour before our set I start warming up my hands by playing to Slipknot, Slayer, The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying, and Chelsea Grin. This gets my hands and fingers super warmed-up, and gets my mind and body ready to put on a high-energy show
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
We started at a young age, and we have been extremely fortunate on so many levels. But probably some of the biggest highlights are playing with Stone Sour throughout Texas and getting to know Corey Taylor, playing big (but very select) festivals, working with our producer, Dave Fortman, who has produced bands we look up to like Slipknot, Godsmack, and Evanescence, and lastly recording our new album at NRG Studios where legends like Jimi Hendrix (Electric Ladyland), Linkin Park, Tom Petty, NAS, and Stone Temple Pilots have recorded.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
That’s a tough one, there are so many! For starters, we have to say that touring with the classic rock/metal/80’s bands during those eras, like Zeppelin, Metallica, The Eagles, Guns N’ Roses, would be an honor! They were pioneers and many bands grew from their styles. Also, it would be killer to tour with incredible blues musicians like SRV, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters. The older blues musicians paved the way for the British rock bands that we love. For our current ‘wish list’ tour, we would jump at the chance to tour with Avenged Sevenfold, Maroon 5, Tool, Green Day, or the Foo Fighters…just to name a few:)
[LINK TO STORY: http://killthemusic.net/blog/unsigned-spotlight-drayter]
by Jordan Mohler
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
* Liv Miner – lead vocals, guitar
* Cole Schwartz – lead guitar
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Drayter?
Cole – when I was 13 when I founded Drayter, so it was and still is my first band.
Liv – I was in a band for 5 years with my brother called Liv and the Drummer.
How long has the band been around?
Since 2009.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
We were 13 when we started the band; it was originally named Broken Spine. Since Broken Spine was pretty lame, we came up with our current name – but with a different spelling. As we got a little older we decided to change the spelling but keep the name.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
We write our songs and we’ve also worked with a very talented writer. The entire process depends on what the goals are. Sometimes we play around with lots of ideas and we let things grow naturally. Other times, if there is a specific goal, we like to hone in on it and the process becomes more systematic and organized. We feel that our themes are universal life problems or situations. As artists, we like to deal with our own experiences by creating music that represents the way we see things. The world is not a perfect place and we feel you have to take it as it comes. However, you can choose to be what you believe. A very important lesson for us has been learning how to deal with the negatives by finding the positive. Anyone can bash someone on a song but it takes more to channel it in a positive way. Again, we want to accept the world and all of its elements on its terms, but we can define how we deal with it and move on. For example, “Not Alone” deals with the negatives of bullying, not being accepted, neglect, yet we do not focus on those words. Instead we focus on the statement, “You are not alone.” We talk about support, reaching out to others, and understanding that even the people who seem to have it all might be feeling the exact same way you do. It’s about finding the solution instead of focusing on the problem. We think that artists grow over time, so topics will as well. Evolving is a good thing and as long as there are current events and we are growing as humans, so will our music.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Well, we like to channel ourselves through our art. That being said, there are bands/artists that inspire us to jam, write, move. Here are a few:
Liv:
Tool – Specifically, Maynard. He is lyrically inspiring for me because he gets so real, deep, and sometimes, dark. As a whole, this band inspires me.
Yelawolf – He is inspiring to me because he does what he wants and his talent is undeniable.
Avenged Sevenfold – They make me want to jam! Every single one of them is extremely talented and the best at what they do. I’ve been hooked since I was 15.
Cole:
Deafheaven – The overall atmosphere and songwriting, especially on their 2013 album, Sunbather.
The Devil Wears Prada – As a guitarist, I really like the guitar tone and almost percussive sound and style.
Maroon 5 – I really like their songwriting. They seem to be getting better and better with every album. I like the funk and groove they’re blending in.
Kendrick Lamar – He has a unique sound, a blend of hip-hop, rock, and jazz.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Liv – My parents were my inspiration – they are musicians and were always touring with a band. I always knew it was exactly what I wanted to do and I’m so thankful that they exposed me to what would become my dream. And then when I saw Switchfoot in 2004 and I knew I wanted to be a professional musician.
Cole – A defining moment for me was at the age of 8, at a Green Day concert. I knew it’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. After the fuse was lit, I started to get into a lot of other bands that inspired me to start my own band, like Metallica and Pantera.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc.?
Liv - My absolute musts are rest, tons of water, and vocal warm ups. After I warm up my voice, I coat it with “Musician’s Friend” throat spray and mix some honey with hot tea. Backstage I like to listen to music that gets me in the mood. Steve Aoki, Yelawolf, and Eminem or whatever else I’m feeling in the moment. Right before the show starts I connect with my band in a huddle and we say weird, funny stuff to laugh and remind ourselves to have a good time! Finally, I say a prayer and steady my breathing.
Cole - I like to get in a good workout because it gets me in the mindset to perform and keeps me pumped. After sound check, I start drinking tons of water and I eat a protein bar or shake – nothing too heavy. About an hour before our set I start warming up my hands by playing to Slipknot, Slayer, The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying, and Chelsea Grin. This gets my hands and fingers super warmed-up, and gets my mind and body ready to put on a high-energy show
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
We started at a young age, and we have been extremely fortunate on so many levels. But probably some of the biggest highlights are playing with Stone Sour throughout Texas and getting to know Corey Taylor, playing big (but very select) festivals, working with our producer, Dave Fortman, who has produced bands we look up to like Slipknot, Godsmack, and Evanescence, and lastly recording our new album at NRG Studios where legends like Jimi Hendrix (Electric Ladyland), Linkin Park, Tom Petty, NAS, and Stone Temple Pilots have recorded.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
That’s a tough one, there are so many! For starters, we have to say that touring with the classic rock/metal/80’s bands during those eras, like Zeppelin, Metallica, The Eagles, Guns N’ Roses, would be an honor! They were pioneers and many bands grew from their styles. Also, it would be killer to tour with incredible blues musicians like SRV, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters. The older blues musicians paved the way for the British rock bands that we love. For our current ‘wish list’ tour, we would jump at the chance to tour with Avenged Sevenfold, Maroon 5, Tool, Green Day, or the Foo Fighters…just to name a few:)
[LINK TO STORY: http://killthemusic.net/blog/unsigned-spotlight-drayter]
“Drayter is one of the most popular and recognizable bands in Texas. Renowned for their high energy live shows and super catchy rock songs, the band has shared the stage with Stone Sour, Chevelle, Three Days Grace, The Pretty Reckless and others, while gaining a growing fanbase throughout the US.
From Dallas Texas, Drayter was formed in 2008 by then teenager Cole Schwartz. Over the past seven years the band has grown to a powerful rock band that has recorded with Grammy-winning producers, played sold out shows to thousands, and continues to meld a commercial combination powerful rock, and ‘stick in your head’ pop. In 2014 Drayter was nominated for an IMEA Award for “Best Rock Album”.
December 18th, 2015 will see the release of Drayter’s first full length album entitled “Nine”. The album showcases the band’s hybrid rock/pop sound and features production by heavy weight producers Matt Squire (Kei$ha, Panic! at the Disco, Arianna Grande) and Dave Fortman (Evanescence, Godsmack andSlipknot).
Different music genre’s usually don’t intersect, but Drayter is bringing a fresh style and a powerful sound to generation Y and Z.” – Official Drayter overview
1. Give a history of how Drayter arrived at it’s current lineup.
Liv: “Cole has been playing with Drayter since he was thirteen years old. While he was doing that, I had been playing in the Dallas music scene with my brother for about four or five years. Actually, Draytereven opened up for my band a few times.”
“So, things came to a natural end with mine and my brother’s band. I kind of just had my eye out for a new project and I knew that Drayter needed a new singer. I was very persistent. I just wanted to get a face-to-face audition because I really liked their material and I really liked the direction they were going in. So, I pursued that and I got an audition and I got the gig.”
2. Liv, what was the spark that caused you to like Drayter’s music? How did you know you wanted to be a voice for this band?
Liv: “Well, what I was most attracted to was really their management and the kind of gigs they were playing. That wasn’t something that I was able to achieve on my own. It was just me trying to manage the band with my brother. So, I was really attracted to the structure and the business side of Drayter. The genre they played in was a major factor for me too. In my old band I played a lot of straight up, dirty, rock n’ roll, which is not very commercial. It’s very fun to play and that’s where my roots are. However, I was kind of looking for something more commercial, so their genre definitely attracted me as well.”
3. How did Drayter discover it’s hybrid Pop-Rock sound?
Liv: “We are musicians rooted in rock music. Cole’s influences are on the rock and metal side and mine are on the rock-blues side, so we came together with that sound. Even before I was in the band, they had been writing with the hard rock sound. It was really only with this new album we decided we wanted to really go more in a pop direction. So, that’s really how it all came together.”
4. How much work and dedication does it take to have your music heard on a larger scale?
Liv: “More than a lot of people could ever imagine.”
Cole: “Yes, I would agree with Liv. I don’t think we’re in any position where we can speak on a global scale. However, we’re working really, really hard with a bunch of great people who are also working very, very hard. It definitely requires lots and lots of time to get your music heard. It’s not that it happens fast. No longer are the days where you can just go post up a flyer on a street corner and have people check out your album. People are pretty reluctant these days to check out new music. It’s really cool when they give it a chance and they end up really liking it. We’ve only heard positive feed back so far from people who hear the album. We also hear positive feedback on the two singles too. So, it’s really cool.”
5. How did you decide to work with producers Matt Squire and Dave Fortman on your first full length album, “Nine”?
Cole: “So, basically, when we were talking about where we wanted to take the album there was a lot of back and forth between definitive style and genre for it. We just said, “You know, why not do both pop and rock.” There’s no reason we can’t since we’re fully independent. So, we decided to use both our rock roots and our new found pop material to our advantage.”
“We had already previously recorded the instrumentals for the more rock tracks, which is the second half of the album, with Dave Fortman out in Louisiana. Then, after talking to multiple people, and advisors to the band, about who would be the best for pop, we discovered Matt Squire. We became in contact with him and everything just kind of fell together and worked really nicely. Matt has worked with a lot of highly recognized pop-rock bands from Panic! At The Disco, 303, and many more, so it just kind of seemed like a perfect fit.”
6. Why do you feel different music genres don’t usually intersect, as stated in Drayter’s overview?
Cole: “I don’t know. I think, maybe, labels are usually just kind of scared that people aren’t going to like one side of it so they stick to one genre and target a certain audience. However, since we are independent and have the flexibility to do whatever we want, music wise, we just said, “Why not?” There’s still fans out there that really like our more “rocky” stuff, but at the same time the more mainstream music appeals to a larger audience. This is something we are trying to tackle. So, lets just throw both genres out there. Certain people will like certain stuff, that way we can have all the fans instead of only a sub-genre of our fan base.”
7. Describe the writing process of the band.
Liv: “It’s a really collaborative process. It definitely starts with an idea. It’s an idea for a song and when it’s presented to us at band practice, or when I bring it to Cole, or whatever, that’s when it really starts to come alive and we add our own personal touches that are Drayter. It may be my vocal style or Cole’s guitar playing, he’s a very atmospheric guitar player. He’s always good with putting the proper mood in his guitar tone that really translates well through the whole song. So, it’s a really collaborative process and Cole and I are really comfortable with each other. As a result, we don’t have to tiptoe around each other’s ideas. If it’s a bad idea, we’ll say it’s a bad idea. If it’s a good idea, we run with it. So, it’s a pretty laid back process.”
Cole: “Oh yeah, honesty is definitely key. When your working in a band, obviously, we all have the same goal of really just making the best music possible. So, sometimes it’s hard to hear, but when we go into writing sessions, everyone has to keep an open mind rather than thinking that no ones feelings can get hurt. No one needs to have a big ego. We’re just all there to make great music. So, I thing that’s what’s really cool about working together is that everyone has a super positive, open minded, mind about them.”
8. What are your favorite ideas to touch upon in both your lyrics and music?
Liv: “For sure, on a personal level, love and relationships. That’s something that’s very relevant in my life. People relate to that all the time. I also like to write about kicking back and having a good time. When I turn to music that’s what it’s about. I’m looking to have a good time and get hyped. Or, maybe I’m trying to find a song to cry to. So, I definitely write about love, relationships, and just having a good time. Those are three main topics for me.”
Cole: “For me, it’s probably topics that get me hyped and have a lot of energy to them. I really like faster songs. If I’m with a bunch of friends, or on my way to hang out, I’ll put on and it gets everyone hyped up for the night.”
“Really, what I think is cool, is that our songs can be interpreted in any way you want. Obviously there’s an underlying meaning to each song but we try to keep it very open that way each listener has their own experience with the music and enjoys it in their own way.”
9. How did Drayter earn a nomination for the IMEA (International Music and Entertainment Association) Award for “Best Rock Album” in 2014? What do you feel was recognized in regard toDrayter’s music that led to this nomination?
Cole: “I think what they really noticed about us, and obviously I can’t say for sure, was that we created a rock sound and added a polished, finish to it. This polished quality definitely made it more commercial and acceptable to a mass audience.”
“Especially with this album, “Nine”, we took it one step further and made it even more “listenable” to the average listener. It’s something that people of all different age groups can listen to, whether they be young, old, or fans of pop or fans of metal. I think it’s something that everyone can enjoy.”
10. How did Drayter decide on the title, “Nine,” for the first full length album?
Liv: “Well, it’s actually based on the Nine Dot Test, which if you buy a hard copy of our album you’ll see it a lot. You may also see it on our Facebook or social media out there. There are nine dots in the shape of a square, so three across and three high. It’s the Nine Dot Test and what you’re supposed to do is, without lifting your pencil, connect all of the dots. A lot of people try to do that by containing themselves in the box. However, actually, the only way that you can achieve that is by going outside the box. So, the whole theme is thinking outside the box, which is really reflective of what we did with this album. As we talked about earlier, it really is the hybrid of two genres. So, we’re just thinking outside the box and doing our own thing. Like Cole mentioned, we don’t have a label breathing down our necks and we can do what we’d like. So, that’s where the title “Nine” came from.”
Cole: “We were just trying to think of something creative to symbolize what the album stands for and what all the songs mean to us and what we would think they’d mean to other people. It’s about being individual and really getting outside of the norm.”
11. What are some of your favorite lyrics from this new album?
Liv: “That’s a good question. There’s a slower song, it’s kind of a ballad but not really. It’s really ballsy and I love it. It’s called, “Mother Says.” They lyrics are really emotional. Even to this day sometimes I cry when I sing that song because they are just so emotional. The chorus is as follows, “If mother says you’re a good boy, I will sell you all of my love. Do as I say, not as I do. Drown out the noise.” That whole song is talking about being in a not so great home situation and just drawing out the noise in whatever way you can. I’m an emotional person, so I like the ones that really evoke a lot of deep emotion and “Mother Says” is definitely full of lyrics that do just that.”
Cole: “Probably one of my favorite lyrics is also the title of the song, “Still Here.” I just think it’s a super cool message. It’s the last track on the album and it summarizes the entire album up in a way. Basically, all the people who messed us over or treated us unfairly, the normal stuff that comes along with being in a band, we can prove that, even after all the hard times, we can still create good music and overcome negativity. We’re not going anywhere.”
12. What do you love about creating music? What frustrates you the most about creating music?
Cole: “I believe the thing that I love most about creating music is the endless possibilities. I think there’s no really right or wrong way to play music, it’s very subjective. So it’s super cool to be able to have a small idea that can turn into a song, even if it never gets heard by anyone. I make countless of songs on my computer that are random, obscure things. It’s just cool to have the freedom and the luxury to be able to do that.”
“I also think the thing that frustrates me most about creating music is when I have ideas in my head I just don’t know how to properly translate on guitar, programing them in, or playing another instrument I don’t know how to play. If I could play every instrument, then I’d be set. However, I can’t.”
Liv: “There’s three parts of the creating process that are extremely gratifying for me as an artist. The first is when an idea clicks and it becomes a song. That’s when the lightbulb goes off in your head and it’s so gratifying. Then, to hear that idea fully mixed and mastered on an album is just mind blowing. Even further still, when you get to perform that idea on stage it’s great. All of those things, the creative process, the recording process, and the performing aspect of being a musician, also come with their frustrating things. It’s hard work to be really polished. It’s one thing to be a musician and an artist, but to be able to mold that into something that is marketable, to be able to take direction, and to take the constructive criticism is really hard. That’swhere being in the music business is hard for a lot of people. However, it’s very gratifying just to have a song and to see a song blocked, to get it recorded, and to see it performed on stage.”
13. Why is music important?
Liv: “I think it’s like a form of escaping that’s not super unhealthy. For me, that’s definitely what music is. I got into music as a result of my whole family being very musical. I just have these musical talents. I was born with them, there is nothing I can do about it. However, I use them to get away from the everyday stuff I guess I didn’t want to deal with. A lot of things that people use to escape are maybe not so healthy. However, you can’t deny just kicking back and listening to an album or sitting down and playing guitar. There’s nothing unhealthy about that. So, that’s why I love music and I think it’s so important for everybody.”
Cole: “I have heard may times that music is the universal language. It brings people together under any circumstances. When there’s celebration to be had, people listen to music. When there’s national and international tragedy, music seems to bring people together for closure and comfort. So, I just think it’s really cool that under any circumstance, music can be there for people. Whether in a positive or negative context. Music can really touch people’s hearts and make people feel emotion that, most times, a lot of other things can’t. Music a very good way of translating what people are thinking through sound. A lot of times people don’t have the right words to communicate how they feel, so they might write a song about it, which can translate what they want to say. I think it’s amazing that there are so many different uses for music.”
Interview by: Laura DeSantis-Olsson
[LINK TO STORY: http://brokenrecordsonline.com/interviews/drayters-nine]
Hailing from the Lone Star State, hard rockin' duo Drayter has been around for a bit, but only now unleashed their debut to the masses. The album, along with their kickass video for "Not Alone" will keep them on many listeners' radars in 2016.
[LINK TO STORY: http://www.purevolume.com/news/PureVolume-Top-10-Unsigned-Artists-2015]
Review Fix Exclusive: Drayter Talks Nine and More
Review Fix chats with Cole Schwartz (guitar) of Drayter, who discusses the band’s new album, “Nine,” as well as the group’s goals for the future. One of Texas’ biggest bands, Miner shares the band’s influences and origin story.
About Drayter:
Drayter is a high-energy American pop/rock band from Dallas, Texas. Combining an infectious mash-up of pop swagger and rock angst, Drayter takes modern pop/rock to stylish new heights. For more information about Drayter, please visit Drayter.com.
Review Fix: How did the band get together?
Cole Schwartz: The band was formed in 2009 when we were 13. We quickly became a hot novelty kid cover band playing Led Zeppelin, Metallica, The Beatles and Kiss around the Dallas, Texas area. Several hundred backyard barbecues, parties, festivals, and local bars later, we started writing and recording original music. As time went on we started opening for much bigger bands and have shared the stage or toured with Stone Sour, Chevelle, Three Days Grace and more.
Liv had been playing rock and blues around town as well and was extremely well known as a guitarist and had a great fan base. Drayter even opened for Liv and her band several times. Liv found out we were looking for a new lead singer and she auditioned, got the gig and joined the band in early 2014. It has been a perfect match ever since.
Review Fix: What’s the band’s creative process like?
Schwartz: The creative process varies. As artists, we are always coming up with ideas and themes, or bits and pieces of songs. Sometimes one of us will come into practice with an idea or even a full sketch of a song. A sketch might include guitar and vocals, pre-chorus, and a main verse. An idea might be a theme that we want to talk about or an emotion that can be expressed instrumentally. From there we’ll all just jump in and go with it. Other times we’ll get together and start on a new idea from scratch. We might just start jamming and improvising and a song will emerge. We typically start with a theme, vocal melody, and guitar chords. Then we fill in the lyrics during and after. Sometimes we come up with instrumental ideas and then build lyrics around them. If we have chord progressions and a vocal outline done first, we later add bass and drums. However, we’ve done guitar and drums first, then bass and vocals. Again, it varies. Usually any synths, strings, or piano will be added in the studio. It probably sounds a little crazy, but there’s actually a method to the madness! Understanding the balance between creative expression and goals is key. We all want to be creative and work on music, so we give each other space. We appreciate what it means to have goals and meet them.
Review Fix: What do you think makes you guys special?
Schwartz:We don’t think of ourselves as “special.” We are just driven musicians/artists who get together and do what we love. We are very different but alike in many ways, so it’s a nice balance that we hope adds uniqueness to our sound. We are inspired by music of all kinds and from all eras, and want to find our own originality in the music scene where everything seems so recycled. We also love to put on a kick-ass live show! So we put a lot of heart and soul into the stage performance. We started playing live at the age of 13, and we still play with an unfiltered, high energy spirit. We want to keep ourselves from being boxed into a specific genre and labeled this or that, but we understand that it will naturally happen. So we hope that we make enough noise (sonically and visually) to get everyone’s attention! What would be truly special is having people set aside their differences and celebrate life together. As they say, music is the universal language and we all know how connected we feel to strangers when we jam out together at a concert. Now that is special.
Review Fix: What causes are important to you?
Schwartz:Bullying awareness and prevention, ASPCA, Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation.
Review Fix: What are your goals for this album?
Schwartz:There are many goals that went into the making of our album, “NINE.” Now that it’s finally released, we are ready to move on to the next goals. Whether our music reaches one person or millions, we hope to have an impact on them. So the main goal is to get it out there for people to hear. Music is such a powerful force; it can evoke every emotion. Being an artist is about expressing yourself. We hope that through our art, through our music, others can relate. We hope that through music someone is able to endure a difficult time at home, or another person chooses to reach out for help, or maybe someone just leaves work smiling and ready to have a good weekend. We have experienced music on every emotional level, so much so that we have chosen it for our life’s work. It is a powerful thing, and it would be humbling and gratifying to have someone experience this through our music. We are currently working on touring dates to support the album, along with filming videos for a few of the songs so that people can visually connect to the music as well.
Review Fix: What’s the standout song on the album? How was it written?
Schwartz: A standout song on the album depends on the listener. If you’re into upbeat, funky-fun songs, then “Run” will stand out. The song “Mother Says” is a beautifully written ballad with emotionally driving music and vocals. “Best I Had” is a fast, love-punk tune about the confessions of an ex who is still in love, and it is sure to stand out. Also, “Not Alone” is a big anthem with contrasting verses and main choruses. It’s sure to strike a nerve in anyone who has ever felt depression, loneliness, and been on the receiving end of bullying and mistreatment.
Review Fix: How do you want this album to be remembered?
Schwartz: There are many rewarding aspects of creating music. Once your music begins to reach people and you get lucky enough for it to be heard far and wide, it’s so important that it resonates with people for life. We want our music to be on people’s playlists in 20, 30, 40 years. We all have songs that have been speaking to us our whole lives, and it would be deeply gratifying to have music that lives with people that way. That’s one of the reasons why we stay outside the box and make songs that range from light and fun to deep and intense. We want fans to enjoy our albums forever, so we have to continually put out material that they will relate to on a deeper level. In the writing process we try to dig deep and expose our own joyful and painful memories so our music will connect and resonate.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Schwartz: Currently our management is working on the spring touring season and summer festivals to promote the album. Over the past couple of years we have had some great opportunities with bands like Stone Sour, Chevelle, Three Days Grace, and Flyleaf, to name a few. We look forward to shows like that and branching out to the pop/rock arena as well.
- Patrick Hickey, Jr.
[LINK TO TO STORY: http://reviewfix.com/2015/12/review-fix-exclusive-drayter-talks-nine-and-more/]