or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes Mamalarky « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Fat Dog – “Running” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
SPIN | Fat Dog’s Chaos Mode « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Byline | Chanel Beads Forages A Dream « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | Chanel Beads: Your Day Will Come Album Review « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Welcome Back to The Babies! « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes Winged Wheel « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Northern Transmissions | Review: Chanel Beads - Your Day Will Come « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
GCT @ Coachella | Weekend One: April 12-14 « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Our Culture | Sour Widows Announce Debut Album, Share Video for New Song ‘Cherish’ « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Sour Widows – “Cherish” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Brooklyn Vegan | Sour Widows announce debut album ‘Revival of a Friend,’ share “Cherish” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and More: This Week’s Pitchfork Selects Playlist « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Our Culture | Finom Unveil Video for New Song ‘As You Are’ « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | MILLY – “Drip From The Fountain” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Draag – “Orb Weaver” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
FADER | Songs You Need In Your Life: April 2024 « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
kutx 98.9 | Font - Artist of the Month « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | Listen to Melkbelly’s New Songs “KMS Express” and “Precious Cargo” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Highsnobiety | Ghettotech, Bootytech, Sextech, Meet the Detroit Trio HiTech « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
DIY | Get to know… Meg Elsier « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
NME | Ugly – ‘Twice Around The Sun’ EP review: ambitious six-piece enter a brave new world « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | youbet Share New Song “Nurture” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Bodysync & Dazy Share New Song “Back Of My Mind”: Listen « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Rolling Stone | Ani DiFranco Contemplates ‘Global Landscape’ in New ‘Unprecedented Sh!t’ Album « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
The Fader | Songs You Need In Your Life: March 2024 « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | Jessica Pratt Expands Tour, Shares Video for New Song “World on a String”: Watch « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Jessica Pratt – “World On A String” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
The Cut | Jessica Pratt Is an Old Hollywood Girl « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Revolver | 5 BADASS RISING ARTISTS YOU NEED TO KNOW: MARCH 2024 « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
The Fader | Live News: Metro Boomin x Future album, new Peso Pluma music, and more « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Alternative Press | 6 Rising Artists to Know this Month « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
DORK | Meg Elsier Is Everything « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Rolling Stone | Waxahatchee: She’s an Artist, She Don’t Look Back « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | Waxahatchee: Tigers Blood « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Welcomes Meg Elsier « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
GCT @ Big Ears Festival | March 21-24 « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Shannon And The Clams Share New Song “Real Or Magic”: Listen « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes untitled (halo) « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Washington Post | Ani DiFranco on Broadway? She’s still wrapping her head around it. « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Metz – “Light Your Way Home” (Feat. Black Mountain’s Amber Webber) « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes Taraneh « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Rolling Stone | Best of SXSW Day Five: Friko, Chanel Beads, YHWH Nailgun, Greg Freeman, and more « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Fat Dog’s Chaotic Live Show Lived Up To The Hype At SXSW « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
SPIN | Liquid Mike Plays Pitch-Perfect Power Pop on “Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes @ « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Chanel Beads Shares New Song “Embarrassed Dog” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Album Of The Week: The Messthetics And James Brandon Lewis « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes Corridor « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Horse Jumper Of Love – “Gates Of Heaven” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Dehd Share New Song “Light On”: Listen « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | Finom Announce New Album Not God, Share Video for New Song “Haircut”: Watch « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
5 Non-Musical Influences on Discovery Zone’s New Digital-Realm Exploring LP Quantum Web « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
UPROXX | All Hail Liquid Mike, The Next Great Midwestern Rock Band « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Wand – “Help Desk” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Dork | O. Are Making Music ‘Weirdos’ With Their Just Announced Debut Album « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes daine « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Rolling Stone | Kim Gordon Isn’t Done Making Noise « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Atwood Magazine | “Cuddle Rock”: Loving’s ‘Any Light’ is Existentially Uncertain, Yet Optimistic « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
When The Horn Blows | UGLY - ‘SHEPHERD’S CAROL’ « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
The New York Times | Kim Gordon’s Coolest Act Yet « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
DIY Magazine | THE NEU BULLETIN (KING ISIS, BEEN STELLAR, KAETO AND MORE!) « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | youbet Announce New Album ‘Way to Be,’ Share “Seeds of Evil” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
NPR | Power Trip Returns, Reshaped By Loss « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes Dutch Interior « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Rolling Stone | Madrid Rockers Hinds Return With ‘Coffee’ « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes Cap’n Jazz « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Flaunt Magazine | Chanel Beads - Succumbing to Interpretation « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes Liquid Mike « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | “Any Light” Album Review « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes Pastel Ghost « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
MXDWN | Album Review: Loving – Any Light « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
The Face | HiTech are on a mission to save club culture « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | The 5 Best Songs of the Week « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Glide Magazine | “Brown Paper Bag” Track Post included in “CAUSTIC COMMENTARY” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | DIIV Announce New Album Frog in Boiling Water, Share New Song “Brown Paper Bag” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Paste Magazine | Album Announcement + “Brown Paper Bag” Track Post « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Brooklyn Vegan | DIIV announce new album ‘Frog in Boiling Water,” share “Brown Paper Bag” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Streogum | Kim Gordon Shares New Song “I’m A Man”: Listen « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | METZ – “99” & “Entwined (Street Light Buzz)” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Yard Act Blast Through “We Make Hits” On Fallon, Announce North American Tour « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | Yard Act Are Seriously Kidding « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Pitchfork | Jessica Pratt: “Life Is” (Best New Track) « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Jessica Pratt Announces New Album ‘Here In The Pitch’: Hear “Life Is” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Teen Vogue | Chanel Beads on New Song ‘Idea June’ & Making Indefinable Pop Music « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Brooklyn Vegan | Mali Velasquez tells us about music she’s been listening to & tour w/ A. Savage « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring welcomes Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
New Noise | Album Review: Loving - Any Light « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Amazing Radio | Album of the Week: “Any Light” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring Welcomes Bodysync « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Stereogum | Bodysync Share New Single “Birds”: Listen « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
The Washington Post | Mali Velasquez’s lush, raw debut album is a portrait of grief « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
GQ | The Next Global Hip-Hop Star Could Be This Rapper From Japan « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Ground Control Touring welcomes Awich « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
NME | Dry Cleaning’s ‘Stumpwork’ artwork wins Grammy award « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
The Face | Our New Noise show with HiTech and Chy Cartier was wild « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
Brooklyn Vegan | Dehd announce new album & fall tour, share “Mood Ring” « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
The FADER | Yaya Bey shares details of new album Ten Fold « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story:

 
National Geographic | Meet our 2024 Travelers of the Year « News & Press | Ground Control Touring
or
Artist Inquiry Form

News & Press

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Ground Control Touring Welcomes Draag

Posted 04/24/2024

Draag began when Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist) revived songs he recorded on his karaoke tape deck when he was 10 years old. Growing up in the northeast San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, there was nothing for kids to do. Adrian ran the DIY punk scene movement there as a preteen. Backyard shows happened every weekend by word of mouth and flyers at school, with some shows ending in drive by shootings from rival gangs. As a kid, Adrian purposely used warped tapes and dissonant sounds without understanding what he loved about it, but upon discovering artists such as My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, and Throbbing Gristle, he realized he wasn’t the only one. Adrian started Draag in 2013 as the full realization of what he’s always wanted to hear. Adrian met Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), Eric Fabbro (drums), through many years in the music community in LA, who also took the craft of music seriously, running their own labels and going on tours at a young age. He met Jessica Huang (synth, vocals) through an ad on Craigslist looking for a female vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. She had a different musical upbringing, classically trained in piano and played the alto sax in marching band, and was on tumblr instead of at backyard shows.

Five-piece Draag gained a reputation for their sonically immersive live shows, mostly by word of mouth. They became known for being able to transform any type of space, from a garage with one outlet to a high production venue into a lush wall of sound, described as a storm in slow motion. Equally blissful and painful, Draag interweaves shoegaze, electro-industrial, and punk elements into a bittersweet ballad. For many years they would find themselves in all different scenes, playing metal nights, dark wave shows, shoegaze shows, etc. and still belong, while never quite fitting in. There was a long period of being misunderstood and overlooked. Close friends in the LA music community, such as Marina (The Witching Hours), Kenny in the band Goon, and Shawn in Cryogeyser, saw the vision, and provided Draag with a platform to play with like-minded bands such as Wednesday and They Are Gutting a Body of Water who subvert the shoegaze genre into something far more interesting.

Draag’s songs are often heavily melancholic and intense. It naturally became an outlet for emotional purging and catharsis from life experiences as highly sensitive people, making some wonder if they’re actually having any fun. Following two EPs “Nontoxic Process” and “Clara Luz,” their first full length self-produced LP “Dark Fire Heresy” immerses itself in stacked layers of guitar, nintendo era synths, and warped reversed tape samples, and directly faces personal experiences recovering from addiction and religious trauma/spiritual abuse. The visual world building became more prominent with the LP, collaborating with queer graphic design artists and photographers in Guatemala and legendary LA graffiti artist Sickid for the album art, and shooting ambitious one-take music videos with videographer and photographer Devonte Johnson.

Their upcoming EP “Actually, the quiet is nice,” releasing under the Philadelphia record label Julia’s War, is the liminal space between LP1 and LP2 that further explores the depths of nostalgia (a Draag specialty). Inspired by TikTok slides of anonymous Flickr uploads of someone’s friends, neighborhood on a summer day, their bedroom, etc. it struck an obsession with that particular feeling in childhood, while knowing you could go back, but no one would be home. Growing up with immigrant parents in the suburbs during the 90s is the landscape of the EP. Following the release, Draag is supporting Wednesday’s West Coast tour in May.

Related Artists: Draag

Share this story: