D_DRIVE
Unveil Second Single ‘Wings’
Taken From Upcoming Album ‘Dynamotive
Listen HERE
After revealing their brand new album ‘Dynamotive’, today D_DRIVE give us a second taster of what’s to come in the form of ‘Wings’. The single is directly inspired by Yuki’s very treasured budgies. Sonically ‘Wings’ leans more into the world of progressive rock with a tricksier, yet no less catchy, melody. ‘Dynamotive’, set to be released via Marshall Records on August 26th, is the culmination of many years work for these fantastic players.
Prior to this, the band released first single ‘I Remember The Town’, a look into the world of nostalgia and understanding one’s own heritage and culture. Today however the band focus on a song that is deeply personal to guitarist Yuki.
Yuki mentions:
“I keep two budgies that are named ‘Lemon’ and ‘Rum’. This song is for them.” She continues “When we were writing / recording the song we tried to personify the budgies in a musical form. Toshi, our bassist studied videos of budgies and tried to emulate their cries in his playing style. While Chiiko, our drummer tried to represent the flapping of their wings using unusual playing styles.
I contributed in the fact that I wanted a 16th note guitar strumming initially before we moved into our trademark Driving Rock style. I think that we nailed it and I hope that I made ‘Lemon’ and ‘Rum’ proud!”
The record as a whole moves from sounds that fans of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and John Petrucci would be right at home with, yet retains an anchored metallic groove that keeps the Metal gauge topped up. This groove is signature to the band’s style of ‘Driving Rock’ as coined in the name of D_DRIVE.
The level of inspiration varies throughout out ‘Dynamotive’. Opening track ‘Red Light, Green Light’ for example is a musical interpretation of ‘Grandmother’s Footsteps’ inspired by the hit TV series ‘Squid Game’.
Throughout ‘Dynamotive’, the duality of life is explored with songs being dedicated to the World Trade Center tragedy of 2001, the pandemic and it’s strangulating pull on the population, to the beautiful blossoming of the seldom known Ume tree (meaning Plum in Japanese), D_DRIVE have a relatability that often surpasses the need for lyrics. Other inspiration came from the members own experiences or even a simple ‘Thumbs Up’ that would be given to the band from Marshall Managing Director Jon Ellery; their humble way of honouring Jon.
Sonically the band also wanted to pay homage to their Japanese roots on ‘Ume’ which begins with a Japanese pop sensibility in its melody. Staying true to their own ‘driving rock’, ‘Breakout’ ends the album on a powerful note with the seven string battering and riffs that would rival even the spiderlike fingers of Dave Mustaine.
D_DRIVE ‘Dynamotive’ – Album Artwork by Shoji Umemura
DYNAMOTIVE TRACK LISTING:
01 – Red Light, Green Light
02 – Begin Again
03 – I Remember The Town
04 – Get Away
05 – Be Yourself
06 – Runaway Boy
07 – Thumbs Up
08 – Wings
09 – U_Me
10 – Breakout ABOUT D_DRIVE:
D_DRIVE bring their unique blend of instrumental rock with elements of metal, jazz and progressive music to create their own brand of ‘Driving Rock’. With Seiji and Yuki on guitar, Toshi on bass and Chiiko on drums, the combination of jaw-dropping guitar and fireball rhythm section has entertained audiences all across Japan and around the world, including performances in the UK, USA and China.
The bands international debut album, ‘Maximum Impact’ was released by Marshall Records in 2019, coinciding with a trip to the UK which included performances at Marshall Live Festival and Camden Rocks Festival. Follow up singles ‘Thumbs Up’ and ‘Begin Again’ in 2020 continued D_DRIVE’s success, including Yuki being featured in Alternative Press’ “Women in metal who don’t need a microphone to take center stage”.
D_DRIVE are:
Yuki – Guitar
Seiji – Guitar
Toshi – Bass Guitar
Chiiko – Drums
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