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Hi Dru, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Hanging in there. Been a strange year for musicians and artists here in Brooklyn. Ya know? I spent a lot of time in the studio writing and reflecting. Some days I made music that I was very fond of. Other days I made complete garbage that had to be tossed out. But I think ultimately I was searching for a sound that was kinda therapeutic and healing. I guess I needed that.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “So Says The Rain”?
The song has a very nostalgic quality, and I think that’s partly because I recorded it in my hometown with some of my oldest friends. People I’ve been making music with for like twenty years.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
Absolutely. This song came to me when I was traveling through New Orleans. We had spent the day checking all the tourist boxes. We ate beignets by the water, shopped for dusty old vinyl, lost a few bucks at the casino, and ate gumbo all over town. We were running around like mad. Then out of nowhere, the clouds burst open and it rained cats and dogs. We were stuck in a little pub called “Coop’s Place” for hours, and to be honest with you, it was a highlight of the trip. I was in love. I was laughing. There was music on the jukebox. I had a cold Abita lager. I had all the things I needed. It was like Mother Nature was reminding me to slow down and enjoy the moment that was right in front of me.
Any plans to release any sort of video for the track?
Yup. There’s a very dreamy video in the works. I didn’t want to be the star of the show, so this one is much more about the mood and the color of the song.
How was the recording and writing process?
This song was written fairly quickly, but took a few years to track, mix, and master. I was fortunate to work with Steve Connelly, who is kinda like a mentor of mine. He actually produced my very first record when I was in high school. He engineered the track and also played slide guitar.
How did you end up paying tribute to your time in New Orleans? Was that the intention from the beginning?
Sometimes I write from just a title, sometimes it’s a riff or a few chords, and sometimes it’s a feeling. In this case, I knew what emotion I wanted to capture and that was the seed that was planted down south. There’s references to New Orleans, but I wanted it to be vague enough that people could relate it to their own lives.
Does the new single mean we can expect a new album – how’s that coming along?
Yes. Over the lockdown in NYC, I went to the studio for eighty eight days straight. At the end of that long stint, I had a record. I’m hoping to pepper songs out in a timely manner, but we’ll talk more about that soon.
What else is happening next in Dru Cutler’s world?
As y’all know, I co-founded a space in Bushwick called “Unit J” which has been hosting independent shows for almost ten years. Now, I’m trying to buy an old church in New England because I wanna convert the chapel into a music and art space. I know, it’s kinda nuts. I’ve seen a ton of properties just outside of the city, but buying a home is a slow process. If any of y’all out there share my dream, reach out!
