We Chat to Multi-Platinum Artists DRAX PROJECT about Latest Release ‘OVER IT’, Reaching 350 Million Streams, Working with Hailee Steinfeld / Fetty Wap, Opening for Christina Aguilera & More...
Beginning as music students busking on the streets, Drax Project has grown into one of the most-watched groups ever to come out of New Zealand. Through their own headline tours + international festival performances and opening for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Christina Aguilera, Lorde, Brian McKnight & Camila Cabello, the band have emerged as one of the world’s ‘must see’ young live acts. Singles off the self-titled debut (300/Universal) album has collected over 350 million streams worldwide and 15 Platinum certifications to date.
As one of the most-watched groups to have ever come out of New Zealand, 4-piece busker band turned stadium-filling pop group Drax Project are leading the charge in the surging wave of talent emerging from the country. Their new summer soaked single ‘Over It’ is set for release on March 19. The band’s previous release ‘Firefly’, a collaboration with Fetty Wap, saw the band experiment crossing genres.
Centred around a luscious Spanish-influenced guitar line, ‘Over It’ continues the introduction of R&B elements to their huge stadium-pop sensibilities. Add a pumping beat fused with the track’s soaring vocal hook, the anthemic pop song will be beckoning the long-awaited arrival of summer.
The band wrote ‘Over It’ with Jordan Palmer and Brandon Colbein, during a session in LA on Halloween last year. The band collaborated with the pair previously on their song ‘Relax’.
How did you all meet and form the group?
Shaan, Sam, and Matt went to Jazz School at the New Zealand School of Music and studied in the same year group (Saxophone, Bass, and Drums). After moving into a dingy flat together, we started busking on the main party street in Wellington, playing popular covers and almost being a 'live DJ'! At this point, we started getting approached by bar managers who wanted us to play in their pubs/clubs which is around the time Ben joined on guitar to complete the ultimate four-piece. The very beginning was Matt + Shaan (Drums and Sax = Drax) busking!
Could you tell us about your time as street performers, and how you transitioned to professional artists supporting the likes of Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, and Lorde?
We were just having fun with it at the beginning, we didn't have a name until people wanted to post videos of us and didn't know what to call us! The 'transition' to opening for those amazing acts was slow and a steady progression. Over time our gigs started getting bigger and as we released more music, more opportunities came up until Woke Up Late came out (after playing hundreds of shows) and we were invited to open for some big names! Doesn't matter where we play or who we play to, we always want to provide people with a good time and entertain! This is probably a mindset that has stuck since street performing.
Having worked with Fetty Wap crossing your two genres, how did you find that experience and are there any other genres you are interested in exploring?
Working with Fetty was awesome! We've been fans for ages and had the opportunity to show him the song because he's also on our Label (300 Ent). To be honest we all love different types of music but RnB/Hip Hop is something the four of us have always gravitated towards, so it wasn't uncomfortable writing Firefly in the slightest. In terms of other genres, the boundaries around them are slowly fading so nothing is off-limits these days.
Do you find it surreal to perform with artists like Christina Aguilera or have you become used to it at this point?
Absolutely! It's a buzz especially because we've grown up listening/watching these people. We love playing to people who might not know us because we strive to always play a memorable show for everyone. It's also amazing to watch the artists at the peak of their powers and see their processes.
As New Zealanders, you have been fortunate enough to already play large shows again, due to New Zealand’s 0% Covid19 Status, did you miss performing?
Performing is probably our favourite thing to do to be honest. It's how everything started so of course it was tough in 2020, but it was tough for everyone! The first show back had a different kind of energy and we're so grateful to live in New Zealand where it's been possible to perform again in front of people.
Where would you love to travel to once international travel is permitted again?
Literally anywhere. I think we'll have a whole new appreciation for seeing the world once things settle down a bit.
Tell us about one of your most funny or memorable experiences that have happened while being an artist.
During the Amsterdam show of the Camila Cabello 'Never Be the Same' Tour, we were playing our version of 'Pony' by Ginuwine where Ben plays a rip-snorting guitar solo. After a massive build-up, we hit the section for the guitar solo and everything was slamming except Ben's guitar. Right at the beginning of the section, Ben had kicked the power cable out of his pedals and there was literally no sound coming from his guitar. "GIVE IT UP FOR BEN O'LEARY" ... silence.
What was your experience of working with Hailee Steinfeld?
Getting Hailee on Woke Up Late was a 'pinch-me' moment. She sent her vocals to our little Wellington studio and we freaked out hearing it for the first time cause the original had been played quite a bit over here beforehand. That's what's crazy these days, artists can collaborate completely over the internet! She really helped get the song out to the world, so we're grateful.
You’re currently working on an album could you tell us a bit about that and what to expect from it?
It's quite nice having a bunch of music finished up. Our best music is on the way - we can say that much.
The band’s style seems to be quite laid back and 90’s inspired, how would you describe your styles?
Being from New Zealand, we're naturally laid back and I guess we have our own things going on in terms of style. Ben has a vintage, beachy-spice thing going on, Matt is sporty spice, Sam loves unique stuff and Shaan is a mix of all of that!
With over 200 million streams* to date. What do you think sets your band apart?
That's a hard one, I guess we enjoy writing music that we would listen to? Maybe the jazz background + love of pop music helps to create a unique sound? Either way, we love being hands-on with everything about the writing process and whatever comes out, comes out. Having four unique musical perspectives helps to keep things interesting/fresh.
How did you find your time in London? While performing at venues such as the O2 Academy.
LOVED London. There's something similar about it to NZ so we didn't feel uncomfortable, plus we have a bunch of friends from home who live there. Playing at the O2 was amazing because of how iconic it is and we'd love to get back there ASAP. Great breakfasts are available too - and at a great price.
Do you have any pets?
Matt has miniature horses, sheep, chickens, and a dog where he lives, which probably trumps Shaan's cat.
What’s each of your favourite lyrics you’ve ever written?
It's hard to pick one set of lyrics but there's something special for all of us about our song 'Holiday'. We wrote that in LA in 2019 after being there for so long and we all were in relationships, going through the same stuff so we decided to write a song about it. Seems weird now feeling a bit sad about having to be away from home and missing family etc but it's a bit of a true story! Don't get us wrong though, being in LA and travelling the world was insane.
