Work Drugs is verslavend

Gooi je ramen open, laat de zon naar binnen en zet je speakers op de max. Met de sounds van Work Drugs maak je niet alleen jezelf, maar ook de buren blij. 

Vanaf een verlaten pier aan de oever van de Delaware rivier in Philadelphia (USA) maken twee vrienden - Benjamin Louisiana en Thomas Crystal - muziek ‘specifically for boating, sexting, dancing, yachting and living’. Maar of het nu thuis op de bank is, in de auto, op het strand of op het werk, deze feel-good ‘smooth-fi’ sound laat je zweven en verlangen naar een lange hete zinderende zomer.

Bij het luisteren van ‘Summer Blood’ besloten we contact te zoeken en vroegen we de mannen wat hun drijft. Letterlijk en figuurlijk.

You’re both big fans of boating/yachting. How about surfing? Ever surfed in Surf City? If so, what’s your favorite surf spot?
We love the surfing and surfing culture.  Having grown up on the water, we always did a bit of surfing ... although I must admit that Ben is a little better than I am.  I've never tried Surf City, but I think some of my favorite surfing spots are in California.  From La Jolla to Leo Carrillo ... and up to Pismo.  All great spots.

Can you tell us something about the very beginning of your musical career? When and how did it develop into this ‘smooth-fi’ sound?
We started playing music together at a very young age.  Ben always gravitated towards the piano while I lean towards the guitar. Luckily our parents always had an old beat up guitar and toy piano lying around. We started learning our instruments by covering our favorite smooth hits by Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Michael McDonald and the like.  From there we started writing our own tunes inspired by these legends ... and thus Work Drugs was formed.

Who/What inspires you? What do you care about?
Aside from the cliche inspirations relating to lost loves and past girlfriends, I think our experiences at sea play a huge role in our songwriting process.  I think many of our fondest childhood memories can be linked to our time in and around water ... and I think it's pretty present in the musical and lyrical themes. We really like to incorporate some of the musical elements we picked up on our travels ... especially the steel drums. 

On your website you mention there are no upcoming shows planned for 2012. So, what are your plans for 2012 and beyond? Are you busy recording another album?
We are hard at work on the new album, but we tend to pick up a show here or there when great opportunities present themselves.  I think the goal right now is to finish up 2 albums before the end of the year and just see where the tide takes us. 

When are you coming to Europe???
We'd love to come to Europe as it seems like a lot of our biggest fans are from Europe.  I think we are just waiting for the right trade winds to carry us over there ... or waiting for Richard Branson to fly us over!

Work Drugs

(BRON: mijn eigen interview op Xookazine)