CLT DRP: An Electronic Overhaul
Rushing to open Zoom on time, we do so expecting to see Annie of CLT DRP amongst their two bandmates Daphne and Scott. Unfortunately, Annie is nowhere to be seen due to an emergency. Still it’s release week for the apologetic Scott, and Daphne who’s release week pride and excitement are clearly brimming by the look of her smile. The new record has seen the trio take an early evolution of sonics in their career, debut album Without The Eyes conjured raw energy converted into stunning punk sound with some excess raw product to bolster their DIY sound. Now their second offering Nothing Clever, Just Feelings, is just that; in the moment swaying emotions that find themselves surrounded by all new inspirations of the three piece and electronic pop motifs to freshen up some of that punk.
Daphne and Scott graciously try to talk about the change in lyrical content in Nothing Clever, Just Feelings – heavily written by Annie – as best as they can. Recognising that a lot of this is their bandmates’ story Scott mindfully says, “it’s hard to not speak too much for Annie when she’s not here. Annie’s mentioned seeing the world in a less black and white way now because she’s getting older and stuff. Before it was easier to just scream at everyone but now things are a bit more nuanced and complex.” Daphne assists, “well this is like a break-up, raging lyrical content and the songs mirror that. It’s way more personal I would say, not that our debut wasn’t personal but this one wasn’t so much thought put into it and more of ‘this is how I feel so I’m going to write about it’.” tying it up nicely.
It’s not just how they feel three years after their debut that has changed, sonically CLT DRP has received an electronic overhaul thanks to the two prized members of Daphne and Scott – the ones that can summon glorious noise from their chosen instruments. Scott reveals, “one big adjustment is with Daphne, she’s got a sample pad, we’ve got a song now where Daphne doesn’t use an acoustic drum kit which is quite a big change to be fair. It’s taken some time as a band to learn how to nail that sort of thing live after being used grooving with live drums. We’ve explored different sonics with the production with the drums haven’t we Daphne?”
She gears up to reply, with a look on her face that she’s piecing things together and then it clicks when she remembers how much equipment she had during recording. “So I had a bunch of cymbals with me and a load of snares to try and really create the sounds I had in my head. It was a vision of how I wanted it to sound.” She’s willing to take her craft to the next level, even higher than it already is, by having this meticulous approach to new material. With that, there’s more feelings than pride, the anxiety of change lingers for Daphne. “I was feeling very nervous about the idea of the album being out and it being so big for us, we had it hidden away for so long and to for it now to be accessible for everyone around the world is a bit mental. I think this album is more accessible sound wise as well, obviously all of the songs are a bit more on the pop side and more electronic whereas our first album was just relentless.”
It’s not just Daphne with those feelings, Scott briefly ponders “does it suck?” with a self deprecating laugh, a question that crosses all musicians minds at some point but he reflects with “most of the time I don’t feel like I need much validation but it’s really nice when you get glowing feedback from the immediate people around us, especially when showing it to our new label and management. I think it proved to them the quality of it. It wasn’t like they had the material already and had to put it out, they saw that we had it ready and they wanted to be a part of it instead. It’s cool to see people join forces and make a commitment to that.”
We dive into whether their growth as a band dictates their growth as people, their emotions, day to day, are they driving the band or vice versa? “The main goal is that I want CLT DRP to be my bread and butter, that’s the dream even though it’s quite difficult considering the music that we make,” Scott admits. He continues, “you definitely realise that this success doesn’t happen overnight and it’s a lot of grinding out with releasing music, touring and it can take a good ten years of being in a band before you’re at a point where you can go ‘oh this is a sustainable thing’ fingers crossed it’s sooner than that!”
Daphne follows, “I think I can just echo what Scott said, touring is absolutely amazing but it’s also exhausting. Being in a van cooped up for hours then loading in and out, day after day is tiring because we have to do it all ourselves. Coming back after it and not having the luxury to take a few days off work and relax because we’ve already been away from our jobs for ten days is hard. You don’t earn much in those ten days so the money anxiety is tough.”
At this point they’re juggling making light of tough situations and and making light of it, they deal with the reality and roll with the punches. A part of that reality though is also the glorious evolution of CLT DRP and their music. If they don’t make it, it will be one of the great mistakes of the music industry passing up on the genuine approach of CLT DRP.
Nothing Clever, Just Feelings is out now via Venn Records.
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