An Interview With The Texas Modern Synth-Pop Duo, NIGHT DRIVE!

Night Drive is an Austin/Houston based modern synth-pop duo whose self-titled record references cinematic science fiction landscapes in the vein of Tron or The Neon Demon. With infectious melodies layered over pulsing dance beats, the group create an ethereal electronic world drenched in noir aesthetics.

Night Drive’s stylistic touch resembles that of Interpol or The Knife.  The band has supported acts such as CHVRCHES, Austra, Yacht, Robert DeLong, Miami Horror and The Psychedelic on stage.

“Trapeze Artist Regrets.” It’s a dancy song filled with dark 80’s vibes, which bring bands like Depeche Mode to mind. Like their previous music, their latest material is dark, with a fetching melody.” – Earmilk

Night Drive Online

Website | Soundcloud | Spotify | Facebook |  Twitter | Instagram

Tour Dates

12/8: Houston, TX @ Secret Group (TONIGHT)

12/13: San Diego, CA @ Space Bar*

12/14: Los Angeles, CA @ Resident*

12/15: Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar*

12/16: Tucson, AZ @ Flycatcher*

12/17: El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace*

Learn more about Night Drive in the following All Access interview:

How did this group first come to be? Can you recall the moment when you all thought you could be in a band together? Was it hard to come up with a name that you could all agree on? How did you come up with your band name?

– We initially met through a mutual friend. Both our previous bands broke up literally on the same day, and we took it as a sign that we should try to do a project together. The band name is related to how we first came together, and the feeling that we are trying to evoke with the music.

How do you think this band has been influenced by the city you are from? How did that particular music scene affect you all?

– Our respective cities (Houston & Austin) have been a little bit of an influence, but really the reason we initially started making this kind of music is because there weren’t many bands making it in our cities. So it was really more of a lack of that type of music in our scene that was an influence.

How does 2017 compare to last year? What all are you most excited about for 2018? Will any of you make New Year’s Resolutions?

– 2017 has been a great, we had a few brief tours w/ Crystal Castles and Ghostland Observatory earlier in the year that were fantastic. Our new years resolution is to learn to breakdance.

Let’s talk about your latest self-titled record. What was it like creating this collection? Did anything surprise you about the overall process? Were there any unexpected challenges?

– It was a long process and a great satisfaction to finally see it on vinyl. The unexpected challenges came mostly from pressing the album on vinyl, the master print often has little skips and errors so you have to listen to the test pressing very closely to make sure it has no flaws. We had to send it back a few times.

What was the inspiration for your newest single “Trapeze Artist Regrets”? How did it go from being just an idea in your heads to a full-blown song?

– It started as an instrumental, we wanted to make a slower tempo track since most of our music is very up-tempo. The inspiration for the lyrics came from seeing a friend of ours making the same mistakes over and over again, and we knew she wouldn’t listen to advice until it was too late – after she had already fallen off the trapeze and there was no turning back.

Why did you decide to create music for the thriller, “Beyond the Black Rainbow”? What was it like shooting the music video? How creatively involved were you all with the making of it?

– The track Arboria is inspired by that movie, but it is not actually on the soundtrack. Unfortunately we discovered that movie after it had already been released. However, we have spoken with the cinematographer since then and we may be working with him in the future. That music video was made by a friend of ours, Robert Maccready, we basically wanted a montage of the coolest scenes in the movie and we think he did an amazing job.

Who would you love to work with in the future? Who are some of your favorite artists right now? What would be a dream collaboration for this group?

A dream collaboration would be with Cut Copy or LCD Soundsystem or someone huge like that. We have quite a few bands on that list, to be honest. Some artists we’re really into at the moment are Black Marble, John Maus and Small Black. It seems if you have “black” in your band name, there’s a good chance we’ll like your music.

How do you think you all have grown through the years? How have you remained the same?

– We’ve grown as producers and songwriters, but we’ve remained the same with regard to our love for pop music and keeping the emotional core of our songs intact.

While this may be difficult to answer, where do you think you are all happiest- on stage performing, in the studio recording or elsewhere?

– The happiest places are on stage performing, and during the initial writing process. The recording process can get a bit tedious because you have to get it just right, but during the initial writing you can be a little more free and unfettered.

Do you have any other touring plans to end the year with? Where can people see you perform live next?

– Yes we’re having one last short tour on the west coast in December. Check our website or Facebook for the specific dates.

What has been a favorite show of yours in the past? What do you think makes for an idea performance for this band?

– Some of our favorite shows have been recent shows. One of them was with playing with Austra at Mohawk in Austin, and the other was in Dallas at an amazing venue called Granada Theater.

We are living in a crazy and at times rough world right now so I am curious how you think being in this band gives you the most joy in life today? Do you think that new music being created today is going to reflect this difficult time?

– It’s difficult not to be affected by the turmoil and changes in the culture around you. But we strive to create something universal that isn’t just confined to events taking place in our city or even country. One of the best feelings we get is when we hear from fans outside of the country who have really resonated with our music.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

– There are many messages, but since you bring up the chaos in our society, the theme that comes to mind at this moment is that there is beauty in what is dark so there’s no need to fear it. If people can find some sort of beauty in what they think is dark or frightening or bad, then we might begin to see beauty in our “enemies” and that can only bring people together.