Artist of the Day | DRAE
ARTIST OF THE DAY
07.03.2021
DRAE
LOCATION
Ottawa, ON, Canada
GENRE
Alternative
CURRENT MEMBERS
Andre Thibault
Matt Robillard
With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt?
We were actually preparing for an EP release party, and everything came crashing down less than 24 hours before the show. We had to completely scrap the plan and shift our focus.
How has that affected your plans for the coming year? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?
After the EP release party was cancelled, we re-evaluated our plans for our music moving forward, and actually decided to work towards a full length project instead. We’ve since released two singles, both of which have grown our fanbase substantially; both received commercial radio rotation on stations that we had previously been unable to break into!
What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home? How are you supporting your mental health through all of this?
We’ve managed to keep writing and creating, which is an outlet in and of itself. It’s been a challenging but fulfilling experience maintaining excitement about music when the most exciting part - live performances - has been removed for the time being. So we’re constantly trying new things and finding new ways to present ourselves in this new online-only world. We’re also both avid gamers, so we’ve played our fair share of video games in the last 12 months.
How are dealing with the Covid second wave?
Doubling down on the creative process, promoting our newest single, and staying safe and sane as best as possible.
Favourite Starlite Room Moment?
Unfortunately, we haven’t had the pleasure of playing the Starlite Room yet, but its reputation precedes it. We have friends and family in the Edmonton area, and whenever we’re able to tour again, we’d love to play on that legendary stage!
Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?
The past 12 months have been an absolute rollercoaster, but just think about how INCREDIBLE it will be when we’re through this! That first live music experience after all is said and done will be unforgettable. But for now, double down on the things that make you happy. Be kind to each other, maintain your compassion and empathy, and remember: we’re all in this together, and we’ll all get out of this together!
If you would like to be our next ARTIST OF THE DAY please email us at:
JEN@CONCERTWORKS.CA
