THE DRIVES FIND PARADISE IN "THE COMEDOWN"
Photo: PC IG @its.geff / (@thedrives_) / From Left: Geo, (@_bygeo) / Casey, (@lyingawakeatnight) / Andrew
I begin my Sunday afternoon with a Zoom call with LA's indie rock group, The Drives. Upon logging into Zoom, a tropical oasis pops up on my screen. It's not a virtual background, it's the band’s producer and songwriter Casey Chen. Casey has sun rays beaming across his face and his toes are dug deep in the sands of Hawaii. "My girlfriend and I are here visiting my Mom", he says. I should note, Casey and his surroundings were absolutely COVID friendly, and he's being extremely careful while visiting family. Just as my jealousy of Casey's tropical paradise grows, singer-songwriter and guitarist Andrew Levin, and drummer Geo Botelho join the call. They enter with big smiles on their face, sitting next to one another on a couch in their comfy Highland Park home. Highland Park is known for its bars, artisanal coffee, hipsters, and of course some of the best music venues in the LA area, sans pandemic. The two miss their roommate Casey as they comment on the tropical birds and waves crashing in the background.
Despite their current distance, the band displays an incredible bond. Contrary to first glance, that bond was not easily achieved. Each member had to, in their words, "earn each other’s respect", and in turn, it resulted in a long-lasting friendship. Growing up, Casey and Andrew were high school rivals. "Casey and I went to high school together in Orange County," says Andrew. "We were rival bands in high school, both the frontmen of each band and then we realized after a while we should just combine forces". Soon after high school, the two went their separate ways, with Andrew at NYU and Casey at Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, Casey met bassist, drummer, and producer Geo Botelho, and with no time at all, their friendship began to blossom. In the beginning, Andrew and Geo knew of one another but never met. It wasn't until graduating from Berklee that Geo and Andrew's friendship really began. Geo made the 'one-day' drive across the country, and with an anxiety-driven vigor, he rolled up to Casey and Andrew's apartment. Unlike Geo's relationship with Casey, he and Andrew didn't hit it off right away.
Both become excited as Geo begins the story. "I pulled up, got out of the car, I met Andrew and immediately thought, 'I'm gonna dislike him.'" A cheerful giggle is struck from the group, and they mention how funny it is looking back compared to where they are now. "He was this chill dude and I was this anxiety-driven weirdo," Geo explains. Andrew agreed, "he was all intense and I was like, 'dude, chill bro'.” With each fleeting past time, another moment is remembered. " I remember getting mad at him because he only helped me with one box while I was moving in," recalls Geo. Andrew and Casey burst out in laughter as Geo continues, "I remember judging you because you only took one box. And then like, two days later it was fine". Andrew piggybacks off of Geo's last statement, "I mean, you gotta earn respect".
Geo takes a moment to dive into detail about the person he was when he first got to LA. For him, his motivation and endurance came from life's essential ingredients: "daddy issues fueled with anxiety, fueled with the Berklee mentality of 'you need to be working, not sleeping'", he clarified. Casey agrees, "work is Geo's drug". The group laughs. "Which is why when we first met with me being from SO-CAL and Geo being from Cape Cod, it was like, so different,” says Andrew. "We were such different people. I had never met a human being like him before". Andrew looks at Geo sitting next to him. Geo continues to slurp up the last bit of tea he had left in his cup, and nodded at his friend.
During the first week, Andrew began taking the necessary steps to 'earn Geos respect' and vice e versa. "The first week of living together, Geo and I had a conversation,” Andrew begins. "Geo was cooking, and I was hanging out, and I remember dying laughing. We were talking about some stupid shit and I realized we were gonna be friends". Casey was working at Village Studios at the time. "I wasn't around that much, so they had a lot of time to spend with one another," says Casey. The trio was incredibly driven at the time, with Geo working 24/ 7. "Geo was working nonstop and I was working for K-Rock radio," begins Andrew. "So I was home all day and I'd work nights as a phone operator. Geo would work 24/7 while I literally just played video games and watched TV. I watch him cook and we'd hang out together when he came down for breaks."
Photo: PC IG @its.geff / (@thedrives_) / From Left: Andrew / Casey, (@lyingawakeatnight) / Geo, (@_bygeo)
Over time, a beautiful friendship evolved between Geo and Andrew. Soon after, Andrew decided to move in with his now ex-girlfriend. "I was gone for a long time and Casey and Geo became closer, and I felt like an outsider". Andrew states that in the end, they still remained a strong trio, "It always seemed like it worked with the three of us like, wherever we were in our lives, we worked out. We're all just weird enough to work in all the right ways. Even when I wasn't living there, the friendship was always there. We don't need to live with one another anymore even though we do. The stage has been set". A smile grows on each of their faces, tropical birds are still singing in the background, and Casey says, "We can't go back!", Andrew giggles and agrees, "We really can't go back!"
The genesis of The Drives was not originally a trio. Just like their friendship, it began with Casey and Andrew. "Casey was working a lot. I just wanted to record songs in my bedroom, and Geo was 'just there'," says Andrew. "Whether he liked it or not, he was helping us all the time, like, playing bass or mixing stuff." With a pause, Andrew dances through memories of the past, and with a growing smile, he looks at Geo and says, "I don't think Geo knew he was in the band 'till I was like, 'hey we are releasing songs, and you're in the pictures'". They laugh together and Geo responds, "Yeah it was like, last year or the year before Andrew was like, 'hey are you free this afternoon?' and I was like, '.... uh, for what?', and he said, 'for band photos, you're in the band'. So by virtue of like, being around, I was in the band". Geo laughs and adds sarcastically, "I was bullied into it". Andrew laughs and says, "He didn't have a choice". There's a sudden pause in the conversation, and Casey interrupts the sound of a crashing wave by saying, "Use him and abuse him, ya know?" We all laugh and Andrew recalls, "It's kind of the same way I got Casey in the band too though, in like, a darker way. We love writing together and just produced a song and I was like, 'ok this is our band now'".
As far as settling on the name The Drives, it was a no brainer. Andrew jumps in, "I'd say it's 80 percent The Strokes. It sounds like their backup band name,” the group laughs. "When Casey and I first started, we'd always get in the car and play our music. We'd get in the car and drive around playing our mixes". Casey chimes in on the past time, "We like the music we can drive to".
"It's also a visual thing", begins Andrew. "It's the visual of people listening in their car, not bars. There's just something about driving, it felt like it should be a part of the name. There wasn't really a discussion, I just said 'The Drives' and Casey was like, 'sweet'". Despite the current distance between the three, it's as if Casey was sitting in the same room with them saying, "since we're all friends, we kind of understand each other. We trust each other and we just want the band to be successful. No one is ever fighting, and it's just easy going." Andrew piggybacks, "The Gentlemen's handshake, it works". Casey's camera pans down into a pile of sand and we all grow green with envy as he builds the beginnings of what appears to be a sandcastle.
"The Gentlemen's handshake, it works." -Andrew
The Drives are pure indie rock, but it's a genre obsession mainly held by Casey and Andrew. Geo's love for Boston hardcore and emo music began to influence the duo, and soon after, their sound evolved into what you hear now. "I didn't put you guys in a box before I was in the band", says Geo. "The ethos didn't feel like indie rock, or at least what you are now". Andrew expands on his influences, claiming that The Strokes are his main influence, but chalks it up to the whole indie rock genre of the mid-two-thousands.
"Before we played together it was us showing each other different music," begins Andrew. "Geo was showing me all of this pop-punk and Boston hardcore that I hadn't listened to much before. For example, The Story So Far. They're now one of my favorite bands." At heart, Andrew's initial goal was to purely be an indie rock band. "We are all in a similar punk loud music distortion... basement... sky... wall... dog, we're all in a similar punky- indie poppy world," says Andrew. Casey's audio breaks up, and his phone kicks him off the Zoom call, a sacrifice of being in paradise. Andrew looks over to his friend and says, "whatever Geo writes on bass, whatever he brings, that's all I want". Geo laughs as Andrew continues, "anytime he writes the bass part to our songs, I'm like 'yes'." Casey's audio glitches back in, the tropical oasis returns to our screens as he says, "...I think I'm back".
Before releasing their music on streaming websites, the band released a lot of their music on SoundCloud. Their song "Tell Me" from 2017 was originally released without Geo's bass, mixing, drum mixing, and of course, pictures. The song is upbeat and pure indie. It's the kind of song you want to play at your kid’s soccer game, or at the artisanal beer tent at the farmers market, or when you're out driving with your friends. Does it sound familiar? You may have heard it before. "That one got on a Pizza Hut Commercial!" Casey states. "Well actually, " begins Andrew, "the version that got into the commercial is the version before Geo got involved." Casey also remembered that detail and Andrew sarcastically adds, "so maybe, Geo makes us worse actually". Geo responds, "At least, financially speaking". Casey also works in advertising commercial soundtracks on the side. “So basically this guy needed an indie rock upbeat track for this commercial in Mexico,” Casey explains. “The version you hear on the commercial was originally a demo. We made Casey mix it and we just used program drums", says Andrew. "It was an early demo but it was so well written by Casey".
A few months ago, The Drives released their single "OCD", a song that talks about what's in your head, and replaces your thoughts with the hook of the song for the rest of the day. The extremely catchy tune takes us on that indie rock journey we love from The Drives, but most importantly, covers a ton about mental illness-- a topic the guys care very deeply about. For Andrew, it's OCD. “I kind of thought 'this is a thing I have, and it'll go away', and I never really wrote about it. I was like, 'I've been on this earth 27 years and I've never written anything about OCD, which is a hefty part of my life!’" Andrew admits that writing OCD was the first time he ever wrote about the topic. "It's not really about having OCD, as much as it's about the reluctance I had to talk about it", he continues. "The whole song was really me at 23 not wanting to see a therapist, or tell my friends... just hiding it." A silence dances across our computer screens, but it's soon broken as Andrew states, "So it should really be called 'hiding your OCD'." We all laugh. Despite having OCD, Andrew also takes depression and anxiety to heart. "Mental health is a stigma and a thought of weakness, and I fight with that too". The others hum in agreement. "It's so important. If anyone listens to [OCD] and has a mental health issue, I hope they do what I did and definitely talk about it. It was all the angst I felt about 'no one is gonna know I have it'. The song was good for me because it opened doors to write more about OCD stuff."
"Mental health is a stigma and a thought of weakness, and I fight with that too." -Andrew
Geo relates a lot to Andrew, "for me... I have a bunch of stuff". The group giggles as he continues, "we all have our own things. I have a huge obsession about productivity and an anxiety that goes with that,” he says. "I certainly wouldn't call it OCD but it's definitely a compulsion for me to do certain things or to feel certain ways. It's having anxiety and knowing it's okay to have it." The group hums in agreement once more, and Geo takes a moment to add, "try not to let the ‘saddies’ getcha!" Andrew and Casey both laugh, "and also," Geo adds, "most of the things I worry about are really not that serious". Andrew bursts out laughing and says, "That's so funny 'cause that's so true on a beach in HAWAII!" All eyes are on Casey as his phone shakes with giggling —palm trees, blue sky, and sand in moving chaos across the screen. He admits that he relates a lot with Geo on mental health.
"It's like, probably just being a workaholic", says Casey. "I tend to overthink a lot of things and situations. Just ... everything." The guys say they were super proud of Andrew for not only writing the song but showing it to them. "When Andrew brought it to me, I was always initially riled up in a substantial thing", starts Geo. "We're very aligned in a lot of different things. Especially with mental health, and what we have to deal with". Geo takes a moment to clarify, "again, I certainly don't have OCD but there's a camaraderie in our neuroses I guess. I was stoked that he felt like he could express that in an artistic way. It was really great. I felt not only as a person but as a friend to have that experience-- more of an intimate insight as to how he thinks in our artistic expression". Andrew smiles and expresses his flattery upon Geo's thoughts. Suddenly, Casey disappears from the chat again. Andrew checks his phone and says, "Casey just texted me saying his phone overheated". Geo laughs and says, "it must be so hard!".
"Try not to let the saddies getcha!” -Geo
Their single "All This Boredom" sounds like it's tipping its hat to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Andrew says that wasn't his intent. "Now it makes sense, but it's one of those things where I wrote it three years ago, and then recorded it, and we started producing it as the pandemic hit," he explains. "I almost didn't like it, I didn't want it to be too on the nose. I wrote it with the breakup mentality. I was thinking 'okay the breakup is over', and initially it's a song that came after The Comedown. It's like you're in this funk, or depression, or anxiety... when is it going to end?" Andrew takes a pause, and continues, "'cause I know it's going to end, but when is it going to end?" The three all pause on that statement as it resonates differently with each of us. "You're too tired to pretend that everything is all good", says Andrew.
"We were going to call the song 'Too Tired To Pretend' but we ran into a snag because of The Fast And The Furious franchise". The group bursts out in laughter. The guys continue to riff off one another with Andrew stating, "Fast and The Furious Three Tokyo Drift". Geo follows, "oh, you know this is Tokyo Drift..." After a contemplating moment of silence, Geo says, "Oh I know! The third one is Tokyo Drift. We were calling this song 'Too Tired To Pretend Tokyo Drift!" Andrew laughs. "Then I was like, we can't call it that so we kept calling it 'tired to pretend'. It kind of captures the song. It's just boredom and wanting the boredom to end. Knowing you have to be bored for six hours and in the middle of that six hours wanting it to be over." There is a moment of reflection, until Geo enthusiastically says, "SO! To clear it up: The Fast And The Furious, TOO Fast TOO Furious… that was the second installment, then The Fast And The Furious Tokyo Drift". Casey chimes in, "Tokyo boredom drift", with Andrew immediately after, "Colon, bedroom drift". The group laughs, and you can see the rhythm of the friendship unfold. These guys are thick as thieves.
"SO! To clear it up: The Fast And The Furious, TOO Fast TOO Furious… that was the second installment, then The Fast And The Furious Tokyo Drift." -Geo
When it comes to relationships and breakups, there's a high and a low as you navigate through the flux and the flow of your emotions and your partner’s emotions. Enter The Drives' newest single, "The Comedown". The song opens up with an intro that at first listen, is reminiscent of The 1975's 2013 hit "Sex". But Andrew says that was unintentional. "It's so funny 'cause this happens a lot," he begins. "Sometimes I'll write something that's inspired by a band, and then it'll sound identical to a different band. So I originally wrote this thinking of Tom Petty's ‘American Girl‘. I had all of these ideas and songs in my head, and ‘Sex’ was probably in there."
The specific intro is common in indie music, with The Strokes’ "Last Night" being Andrew's main influence. "There's always an inspiration, and then the feeling where inspirations come in touch," he says. "It's like, yeah you're not stealing the song, you're just taking elements inspired by different things". There's a pause in the zoom chat, and Casey breaks it with, "It's like a hodgepodge." The trio laugh. "I had the name before I finished writing the lyrics," says Andrew. "I don't usually do, but the whole idea was the drug connotations of a comedown. The same kind of heavy drain of a comedown and being the same in the relationship." "It was more of just like... a 'hodgepodge' if you will... of all this stuff I was thinking about when I was directly breaking up", Andrew clarifies. "I was like, 'oh I have all these emotions' and I had the music written, but didn't write the song right then and then. Time went by and I gained perspective and I was like, 'okay now I wanna write about how I felt in that moment".
The lyrics have emotions that show Andrew's complete honesty. "I know it was something that I wanted/ But it's so hard to see that now/ When I'm pushing through the water/ Still feels like I'm coming down". Andrew confesses that he didn't want The Comedown to be a breakup song. "I was like, 'I know this is the right thing to do, it just sucks', the idea was that it was a comedown, and there's nothing you can do. I don't wanna go back to where I was, but I also want this period of time to move along. 'How long is it gonna last?' It was all of those questions that I had at the time."
Happily in their current respected relationships, the guys take a moment to reflect on their own 'comedown'. Andrew thinks back to the relationship that initially inspired him to write The Comedown. "I think that for me was my first real breakup. I was just in chaos mode like, I didn't wanna be alone. I wanted to be out all the time. I definitely did not stay in. I didn't have depression, I was like, in a 'depression world'." Geo jumps in, "I relate with Andrew. We had breakups that were 8 months apart." Andrew swoops in and adds, "Both long term relationships." For Geo, it wasn't a 'depression world' or not wanting to be alone, it was writing things down. "I had to be self-aware of when I had clarity after breakups to the point of writing it down on my phone. Like, I had this realization at the time, on this day, I was trying to open up those bits of clarity to myself within coming down from that breakup." He goes on by saying, "you gotta occupy a new life for yourself and try to figure it out. Therapy was ritualistic in that way".
Andrew cuts in, "We get it, he's healthy". The group laughs. "Yeah for me, I've been single for a while", begins Casey. "I just pretty much got my first girlfriend. I had a girlfriend back in High School and we broke up before college. But I basically cried in my pillow. Crying is good, crying is healthy". There's a hum of agreement and Andrew clarifies, "okay! Booze, introspection, and crying. Combination of all three sounds like the answer". Geo sarcastically adds, "Yeah, I could've definitely used more alcohol". The guys are now in flourishing and nourishing relationships, and the key to their success Andrew says is, "find the right person". Geo nods and adds, "I'm in my healthiest relationship now. I think you're always evolving, your individual needs are always changing, and being self-aware of what you need is a huge key." For Casey it's communication, "Communication is a big one and teamwork. At the end of the day, you guys are a team so as long as you have good communication you can push across how you feel about whatever situation. Empathy also helps," he adds. "Dealing with what your partner is going through and understanding where they're coming from gives clarity and creates a strong bond". Andrew nods and says, "find a good person who's healthy mentally".
“Dealing with what your partner is going through and understanding where they're coming from gives clarity and creates a strong bond." -Casey
Mental health is at the forefront for each member, and they admit, they're still learning. "I'm still figuring it out", says Andrew. "I have a lot of stuff where I'm like, 'where is this reaction coming from', and 'why did I make that decision'. I still struggle with OCD pretty heavily so I'm constantly racing in my head about all of that, so it's hard". Geo isn't the only one who talks to a therapist, "I talk to a therapist, it helps you clarify stuff. Just talking through things is the most introspective thing," says Andrew. He continues, "even recording yourself talking really helps you clarify stuff in your head. It starts stewing up your thoughts about reaction or emotion or jealousy, whatever it is you figure it out, or you just get it out." The guys join each other in a moment of gratitude, and Casey cuts the silence with, "I think going on trips..." The group bursts out in raging laughter. "Did I mention I'm in Hawaii?... If not...", Casey is now wearing a large visor on top of his head to shield his face from the sun. "It doesn't have to be Hawaii," he adds. Geo jumps in, "listen, it can be anywhere". Casey circles back, "even when I was back at our place, I'd go on walks every day and try to get mental clarity that way. Some sort of exercise helps. Geo likes to get his pump on, so I'm sure that's how he releases his. But I think getting away, going in the woods, or like, anything. Go get away from work 'cause I tend to get caught up in it."
Andrew starts to giggle, "'The woods' sounds funny", the group joins him. Geo takes Casey's point a step further, "I think it's also coming to terms and finding peace. Being self-aware, and knowing what you need. I find myself with insecurities bubbling up from different relationships, and in the past, I'd feel like it's just a shitty day. Rather, now, I can just identify it. Even if it's small, just by saying something like, 'I wanna stay at my house tonight', it's simple but it makes sense. Being at peace with feelings that are completely justified but not acting on those to a detriment to you and your partner". Levin takes a moment to agree with Geo, and Geo adds, "also, going into the woods. It doesn't have to be the Hawaiian woods, just go into the woods".
Photo: PC IG @its.geff / (@thedrives_) / From Left: Andrew, / Geo, (@_bygeo) / Casey, (@lyingawakeatnight)
Overall, the guys want their listeners to find solace from a kind friend when hearing "The Comedown". As far as pop songs that proclaim passionately that "tonight is the night and we only have tonight", Andrew strongly disagrees. "I wholeheartedly believe that tonight is... not the only night." The group laughs. "You'll have many days," he continues. "I've always loved songs that have no resolution or don't know what the answer is. I think most of my songs are just questioning things because I don't know the answer! I don't think anyone does. It's hard to be positive. People tell you to be positive but it's okay if you just don't see the positive."
The guys take another moment, really soaking in with what their friend is saying. Andrew breaks the silence by saying, "This song should be called 'Tonight Is Not The Only Night. Beware". Geo follows, "beware..." Andrew giggles and says, "there are more days and it may not go away. Feelings of depression, post-breakup… it was there the next day and the next, you have to figure out what to do." Geo begins to laugh and says, "Just go to the woods!" Andrew takes a moment to revise his previous statement, "you have plenty of nights to do whatever you want to do. So take one night, and go to the woods." The group laughs harder as he continues, "and you have more than one wood!" I didn't think they could laugh harder, but I was wrong. "There's multiple wood!" Andrew continues. He finishes off his thought with, "there's more than just you, and just me and just this night". Just when you think the sentiment was finished, Geo chimes in, "and trees."
"I've always loved songs that have no resolution or don't know what the answer is. I think most of my songs are just questioning things because I don't know the answer! I don't think anyone does.” -Andrew
Overall, The Drives want to let you know that it's okay to not know the answers. "Other people have been in your situation," begins Andrew. "It's not saying it's gonna be better, it's more like 'hey I've felt like this, I've had all these thoughts, and it felt shitty and heavy,' and if you're thinking the same thing you're not alone in that way. All without saying you're alone.” Andrew looks at Geo sitting next to him. "I remember when G and I were talking about our individual breakups. It was kind of hard. You think, 'no. What I went through is different'." Geo looks at him with a caring smile as Andrew continues, "it's more like, 'oh I understand you went through a breakup and you're definitely hurting, but it's different. Mine is different'. I think everyone thinks their journey of a breakup is special."
Both Casey and Geo nod their heads with an agreeable hum. "It's like, 'oh I understand you're telling me that I'm going to love again. But you don't know what I'm going through. I'm not going to'." And just like that, the guys express a place all of us have been through, or have yet to get out of. "I feel like everybody has their own experience with a breakup. I get it, everyone is telling you it's going to be fine, but it feels like it’s really not. But, yeah you may not think you're gonna be fine, but I've also felt a similar way," says Andrew. He looks over at Geo and says, "you know what? Maybe this song is about you!" Geo laughs as Andrew says, "I mean, look at him now!" Casey signs off, the sound of waves and tropical birds cut out in the background. The scenery may be gone, but The Drives have proven that with friendship, paradise isn't too hard to find.