Five-piece Floridian rock band Rain City Drive are taking the contemporary music scene by storm. With their upcoming album, Things Are Different Now, just weeks away from release, frontman and vocalist Matt McAndrew Zoomed in to talk inspiration and production on the release, upcoming tours, and dream artist collaboration.
Seamlessly turning upbeat and pop centered motifs into rock anthems with poignant lyrics, heavy vocals, and infectious melodies, the bands’ upcoming record has been greeted with nothing but sheer anticipation and expectancy from fans. Teasing their full-length album, Things Are Different Now, dropping September 27, with single releases leading up to the focal date, Rain City Drive show listeners new and old that their sound is more locked-in than ever. Their strong roots in post-hardcore in addition to their vibrant take on dynamic alternative rock n’ roll, are effectively showcased as bridging the musical gaps between heavy riffs and soaring, intimate, and impassioned pop.
Differing in content and in style from preceding records like To Better Days, these releases leave long-term fans wondering if the rest of the record will follow a similar suit as with “Medicate Me” and “Neverbloom,” both being slightly punchier than older tracks like “Prayers” (circa 2020). With efforts to push musical bounds and make strides to experiment on this record, Matt delved into details behind the track “Over Me,” as featured on the album.
McAndrew says, “‘Over Me’ was the track (on which) I thought it’d be cool to do something that had a hydraulic type of tempo … Then lyrically, it’s the only song on the record that’s about a past relationship I was in, and just kind of the closing of that chapter. It was the first song that I started writing for this whole album.”
Subsequently, “Concrete Closure,” as the last single release before their upcoming record drops, was released on September 6. With its catchy guitar riffs and dance-y/electronic beat, this track is one of the more upbeat and alluring recordings. According to McAndrew, “Concrete Closure aims to capture the frustration of ending a relationship with someone who, under the pretense of seeking closure, is merely trying to prolong the breakup and find a way back into your life. Even when it’s clear that the chapter needs to be closed for good.”
Rain City Drive’s ability to effortlessly blend heavier aspects of hardcore with digestible lyrics powerfully resonating with their pop-based audience, while also remaining sonically progressive, is another testament to their cohesion as a band and modern day status as “a band you need to hear.”
Working tirelessly to perfect the upcoming album, McAndrew conveyed the production went rather seamlessly. The band had writing trips to the studio before they recorded the tracks, giving them creative freedom to make changes. They were then able to enter the studio with confidence, to get the best takes/performance possible. This highly opposed previous releases where the band was pretty “under the gun” with their production. With Things Are Different Now, McAndrew says, “Every time you create something, you get to reference yourself, as well as move forward … I think you hope that each album finds a little bit of new success or reaches a different audience than the last one had.”
Things Are Different Now is shaping up to be a testament to the bands’ unapologetic ambition. Merging two worlds, mainstream pop with heavy rock, is not often accomplished, yet RCD has continuously proven to be brilliant at finding their perfect balance, straying relatively far from blurring the lines. The dedication to their craft is in part what makes this new record so well-rounded and clean in production and execution.
Feeding off the momentum gained since the name and member change from Slaves to Rain City Drive in 2020, RCD have continued that committed trajectory by breaking through to the Top 5 SiriusXM radio’s Octane. RCD’s persistent spirit in sound and style resonates heavily with all fans, creating a loyal fanbase for all who find community between the lines of their lyrics, and the push-through drive that propels their platform forward.
With obvious influences like early Bring Me The Horizon, A Day To Remember, Fallout Boy, and other variations of 2000s emo-rock, RCD aim to never be a carbon copy, but rather forge their own musical path, becoming a new reference in rock music. Acknowledging general influences individually and for the band, Matt shares, “I would absolutely like to work with Dayseeker again. I feel like the track we did was just great and just super easy. I would definitely say Bring Me The Horizon as well.”
With this upcoming record shaping up to be another successful drop for the band, RCD is hitting the road for their first headlining tour this fall. The band are set to close out multiple sold out dates in North America with Belmont and Until I Wake, followed by an EU/U.K. run with Dayseeker this November and December. Anticipating the upcoming dates, Matt says, “I just hope that it sells well and everybody is happy. It’ll be fun to do a longer set of a lot of newer materials.”
Definitely stay alert for ticket updates, as they are predicted to sell out. Remember to stream Things Are Different Now, on all platforms beginning September 27.
Things Are Different Now is out Friday, and you can preorder it from Thriller Records. Follow Rain City Drive on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for future updates.
Photo courtesy of Rain City Drive
