2010 Alternative Press Tour headlining artist Never Shout Never, (real name Christofer Drew) 19, believes that the bands on the current AP tour, despite their differences, should unite and live in harmony with each other.
“With this tour, we’re trying to make a community. Since we’re on the same bill, it’d be great to have it be a communal thing. Just have everybody bond.”
Drew added, “The first couple days of the tour, we went out and got everybody gifts, like a bottle of liquor and said, ‘Hey, what’s up, let’s drink tonight, let’s hang out.’ It’s about breaking the ice with everybody on the tour, otherwise there’s going to be awkward tension.”
Drew went into detail on bands in the current music industry.
“What I would love to see, aside from our differences musically, I’d love to see everyone come together as a family. None of the bands today are coming together – it’s all about them. It’s not about them, it’s not about him or her, and it’s about ‘we.’ It’s about everyone together – if that’s the type of movement that we can make, it can be a beautiful thing.”
Acoustic pop singer-songwriter Drew, along with his backing band named the Shout, are co-headlining the AP tour (the other is Las Vegas pop-rockers The Cab), playing the Warped Tour this summer and runs his label Loveway Records, through Warner Bros. Records who signed him last summer.
Drew, who began writing and making his own music at 14 years old in Joplin, Missouri, described how he felt about the amount of work he has done at just 19 years old.
“It’s beautiful. It’s a blessing. I thought that I was just going to be a high school dropout working at Sonic [Drive-Thru]. I started out in my car, almost hopeless. We had no idea what we were doing. It was just me and my merch guy – I had my acoustic and 100 shirts. We barely made enough money to get to the next town. Just to see things grow now that we’re in a bus and we’re on a record label, I can’t take any moment for granted, it’d be in vain.”
While Drew does not have a high school diploma, he did not let that hold him back in pursuing his music.
“I dropped out [of high school] when I was 16 and started touring in my car. Music seemed like the only thing that really mattered.”
Drew was an avid tennis player before discovering music, as he said, “I was on my way to play upper college level tennis and get scholarships but I remember when I was 14, I picked up a guitar . and my dad let me play his guitar and taught me Bob Dylan songs.”
Drew also said that he began to play more seriously after a tennis injury.
“Just directly after that, I started writing all my own material. I didn’t like covers because I felt like I couldn’t express myself that well. I find it really difficult to express myself with words or any other form except music through songs. I’ve never been a smooth-talker with girls so I was just the dude who wrote a song for a girl and that’s how I’m dating them. I had to keep a constant flow of songs or else they’re going to break up with me kind of guy. Music just always seemed right with me.”
Influences for drew include “Pre-70s kind of stuff – the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly.”
Drew added, “I love pop music, but pop music today is so poor. I love the ’50s and ’60s pop. I wish it would be more real like that – true emotion and true lyrics.”
One of Drew’s influences that still holds true is an iconic artist.
“Bob Dylan . he started out with just acoustic jams. Just like he did, [I want to] grow into something more than that. I’m trying to really figure out music and what I vibe best with.”
Drew’s idea of what music should be became clear when he said, “The Beatles because what they did was so beautiful. They made music that made people want to fall in love. I think that’s the most beautiful thing that music could bring to people, that and people coming together in general to do something great.”
Drew said that while he does not listen to many current artists, there is one that stands out to him.
“Ryan Adams is a great songwriter. There’s not too much stuff that I listen to that could be considered modern day. Adams’ music really popped out to me – kind of like a modern day Bob Dylan.”
Drew added, “I feel like not enough musicians these days really take a stand and standing up for what they believe in musically. They’re just trying to do what sells and I think it’s time for bands to take that stand, otherwise we’re going down a very terrible place with music.”
Drew’s frustration with the current music scene having artists that focus on image rather than the music was expressed.
“I don’t like to name bands . just the vanity, there’s no true poets anymore. It’s all just so vain and materialistic. It’s not about things that will last – it’s all about the now. It seems like bands are just recycling out every couple months because there’s a new sound available with new technology.”
Drew added, “If more bands played their music in a true form or a skillful form and less imaged-based, the music scene and music industry would be at a better place than it is right now. There’s a huge falling out with labels because they’re trying to jump on the bandwagon on whatever is popular right now.”
In worrisome financial times in the music industry, Drew described his band’s situation.
“It’s not too bad; we’re still in a growing phase with the band. It’s great and it’s a blessing. We’re not having too many financial troubles.”
Drew felt sympathy for the younger generation.
“I just feel bad for the kids. Since record sales are going down, everything else is getting jumped up with merchandise and ticket sales. It’s terrible that kids have to pay that much money, especially out of their parents’ pockets who are working their asses off.”
Drew’s ambition is to deliver his music to as many people as possible, but is currently limited to the fans that will pay to hear his music.
“My dream is to play parks and do it for free. [When you] sign to a label, you’ve got to pay the bills. In the long run, I’d love to do free shows and free music in general. I think that music as an art form should be something that should be free.”
Drew’s views on current social politics are clearly stated and Drew feels music can help change ideas.
“I feel like we’re almost going through a time like the ’60s. It’s like a revolution, there’s a war going on, people don’t know what’s going on, the economy’s terrible and people are just ready for change. I feel music can serve a huge part in that but it’s going to take a team.”
Drew talked about bands he has seen in his time in the music industry.
“I see half of the bands that are doing this these days are very unhappy with the music they play because they have to get it written for them because they don’t know how to write for teenagers because they’re 25.”
When asked what bands he was referring to, Drew stated, “I never name names. It’s not what I do but I’ve seen it a lot. It’s very sad.”
While Drew was against certain movements in music, he also said, “I don’t like to call out genres of music. That’s just the vibe I’m getting. It’s not a very honest vibe anymore. People aren’t straightforward with things that they do.”
Drew’s plans for Warped Tour this summer is to “Just wear short-shorts and tank tops. I’ll probably sit out and try to get tan so I don’t get burnt everyday. Just drink a lot of water.”
Drew added about how Never Shout Never’s normal set would change on Warped.
“We’re going to try to get a little bit more rock n’ roll kind of set. Beef it up and get the crowd participation more. It’s more difficult to stand out at Warped Tour if you don’t have a really energetic set.”
Never Shout Never’s plans for recording, according to Drew, are to record a small amount of music before Warped in May “And then we’re going to record after Warped Tour. I have so many songs to get out right now. I haven’t recorded since last summer. I have about 40 songs in the works.”
Drew said that he writes on the road and that with the help of modern technology can record a song on his iPhone.
“I record on my phone with applications. Thank God for technology. It’s like my memory bank is on my phone.”
Being a young artist and headliner, Drew knows how to enjoy himself.
“You can’t try to keep up, you just have to live in the moment and enjoy every second of it.”