It’s time for another instalment of Quickfire Questions
Meet Drax Project. They’re a four-piece from New Zealand, and they write the kind of infectious saxophone-led pop music that almost certainly makes Stevie Wonder tap his feet and shake his tail feather. Or, to put it somewhat more succinctly, they sound rather a lot like this:
We happen to think that they’re pretty flippin’ good
That, dear reader, is precisely why we couldn’t turn down the opportunity to have a chat with Drax Project for our ever-excellent Quick-Fire Questions feature. We only had ten minutes with the guys, so we didn’t want to waste a moment – so, please sit back, relax, and enjoy a somewhat frantic, often funny, and omni-endearing interview with one of New Zealand’s next big things:
How would you describe your sound for people who don’t know you?
All: Musical Pop!
Sam (Thomson, bass): I think it’s a combination of different things that we enjoy listening to but presented in a pop context. You know, we listen to jazz stuff to pop music to hip-hop to rock and even metal.
Sam: Even classical music as well. So yeah, I’d describe our sound as taking our favourite elements from each of those different genres…
Ben (O’Leary, guitarist): We try to make it accessible for people who don’t really know anything about music but also for other musicians who play music and make it exciting for them.
You’re in the middle of a tour with Camila Cabello – how’s it going?
Shaan (Singh, saxophone and vocals): Standout show was definitely London for us. We’ve done Glasgow, Birmingham and London so far. The London crowd was insane, the place was so packed out and everyone was so enthusiastic for us, which was great.
Matt (Beachen, drums): They have all been great, it’s amazing being on the other side of the world and touring. Personally, I’ve actually never been to Europe, so it’s just so cool being away from home and actually travelling with all these new songs and stuff.
Shaan: Ooh, another standout moment – she gave us cupcakes on our first night!
Sam: It’s really crazy as well, there’s been a couple of times where we’ve looked out into the audience and the crowd are actually singing back our songs. And we’re like “we’re on the other side of the world now, how is this happening?!”
It’s fair to say that your debut single ‘Woke Up Late’ has done pretty well on Spotify: is it a good indicator of the sound of your forthcoming tracks?
Shaan: Yeah, it’s doing really well in New Zealand so hopefully it goes well in other places now. We’re not sure…
Ben: It’s definitely a good representation of our “sound” now, I think we’ve carried on from Woke Up Late and realised we actually really like this sound and people seem to like it, so…
Matt: We’re just trying to make really catchy music at the end of the day and we hope our sound is that.
Sam: It’s definitely a good centre around the rest of the EP – NOON. There’s a pattern and something similar to each of the songs on there.
Out of every song ever recorded, which do you wish you’d written and why?
Sam: I can tell you one right now! For me, it would be The Middle. Beyond the fact that it is really big at the moment, I just love that song. It’s by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey.
Matt: Mine would be Perfect by Ed Sheeran because then I’d be filthy rich.
Shaan: If I could have one song, it would be Into You by Ariana Grande. Max Martin wrote that tune with her and some other songwriters. It’s the perfect example of like pop, but also it’s a bit dirty – the production is insane.
Ben: Ooh, I wish that I wrote Electric Feel by MGMT. That song is sick. A ridiculously great song.
If you could each be in any other band, which would it be and which instrument would you want to play?
Shaan: I would be a drummer…
Ben: Aw man, I was gonna say that!!
Shaan: Yeah, I’d definitely be a drummer. Being a drummer would be so fun and you don’t have to like stand up, or even like have to sing in tune all the time. I’d probably want to play for like a middle band. Or even Jamiroquai – that would be so fun.
Ben: I’d wanna play drums for D’Angelo, cos if I was that good, then man…!
Shaan: ..Sam, Matt?? Are you guys just happy doing what you’re doing?
Sam: Yeah man, I’m just happy playing bass! To be honest, I’d want to be in Radiohead because they’re my favourite band, but I probably wouldn’t actually really mind if I didn’t play.. Maybe if I was just like their sound tech so I got to watch them play everyday because they’re amazing. So yeah, soundman for Radiohead – that would be sick.
Matt: I’d love to maybe be a drummer for a rapper. Someone like Jay Z or Kanye… Something like that would be awesome.
Shaan: There you go – three drummers and a soundman!
Ben: That’s a sick band..
Describe yourself in three words?
All: Energetic.. and relaxed.. and unique!