By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Preston-based indie-pop trio Dr!ftwood have returned with the official music video for “4:45,” their newest single via Right Track records, produced and mixed by Michael Smith at RYP Recordings and mastered by “Hippy” Baldwin at Metropolis Studios.
An emphatic stamp on the fresh start 2021 has brought about compared to the hellish 2020, the group is eager to regain the momentum they had before the COVID-19 pandemic pulled the plug on the live music industry worldwide.
The Music Bugle had the chance to talk with members Hugh and Marcus about “4:45” and more.
Music Bugle – How did you guys decide the band name?
Hugh – Honestly, we can’t exactly remember. We were extremely intoxicated when we came up with it. We woke up eventually the next day and we had it scrawled over six pieces of paper, so we went with it.
Music Bugle – What directly inspired the idea of your new single “4:45”?
Marcus – The lyrics behind this track are derived from a few shared experiences between all of us in the band, where we were in relationships or surrounded by toxic people and we noticed a severe detriment to our mental health. We felt like expressing and sharing this might hit home with others.
Music Bugle – Does social media help or hurt musicians?
Marcus – It can be a blessing and a curse. For example, algorithms can change and have a detrimental impact to the amount of your followers who can see your new posts, meaning you have to post more to reach all of them and expand. This means you end up spending a lot of time trying to create content for social media. Being active on social media is crucial for most up-and-coming bands, as being “picked up” by an A&R exec after a gig is becoming less and less frequent.
Music Bugle – How would you say 2021 has been treating you so far?
Hugh – 2021 has been ooo-kay. This lockdown has felt like a year in itself, but we’ve been back in the studio, working on new demos and we’re even booking shows in for later this year!
Music Bugle – How would you describe Preston to someone who has never been there before?
Hugh – It’s like a mini-Manchester. There’s so much character and history to the city. It’s a great place to be from and we now split our time between there and Manchester, so we’re never far from home.
Music Bugle – What are some challenges that come with being a musical trio?
Marcus – We all have pretty short attention spans, so getting things done can be challenging in itself, but we keep each other motivated.
Music Bugle – What excites you the most about your style of music?
Marcus – We do what we feel. All three of us bring something different to the sound, which makes it unique and hard to pin down.
Music Bugle – What do you miss the most about live shows?
Hugh – We miss connecting with fans and introducing new people to our sound and what we do. We can’t wait to be back jumping around with you all.
Music Bugle – How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Marcus – It’s really affected us not being able to play live. We lost a lot of momentum we were building pre-pandemic, but now, it feels like we have a bit of a clean slate and we can’t wait to show off our new set.
Music Bugle – Who are you listening to right now, music-wise?
Hugh – The Band CAMINO, Kosmonauts, Kid Kipichi and Lottery Winners.
