While many hardcore bands focus their fury outward, Drought turn inward — channeling personal struggle to chart a different path.
Formed in 2022, the Bay Area band —guitarists Eric Nakano and RJ Rabe, drummer Ray Avila, and vocalist Viggy Ram — found common ground in shared influences like Pianos Become the Teeth, mewithoutYou, and Title Fight to overcome personal hardships and isolation. After recording a three-song EP in 2022, Drought brought their emotionally charged live shows to stages alongside Jeromes Dream and vs self before catching the attention of Iodine Recordings.
Now, Drought return with Souvenir, recorded to tape by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Gouge Away) at Atomic Garden Studios.
The result? Souvenir sounds less like a debut and more like an established act.
It arrives July 18. Pre-order it here.
They share "We're the Flora," featuring Pat Flynn of Fiddlehead and Have Heart. Listen below.
It boasts the powerful lyric sentiment — "They say all flowers in time bend toward the sun, so when I find the light, what will I become?"
"These lyrics were inspired by a visit to a bouquet art exhibit," says Viggy Ram. "All of these flowers and plants had been clipped and fashioned into these beautiful structures — giving them a second life as something new. And I think of our relationships with our parents and families. Generational trauma sometimes cuts us off from our histories and identities, but this can also be an opportunity to grow and blossom."
Regarding the guest vocal from Flynn, he says, "It was especially fitting to have Pat from Fiddlehead and Have Heart graciously guest, since he's often written about similar experiences. It felt like a comforting sentiment from a mentor or teacher, especially considering his influence on our band."
These 13 songs on Souvenir channel moods and emotion with conviction, shaped by years of perspective. Additional guest vocals from Eric Butler (Mom Jeans) and Alex Rudenshiold (Infant Island) lend further weight to Souvenir, weaving with the band's dynamic arrangements and situating the record firmly in the evolving world of post-hardcore and emo. Against a background of balanced melody and dissonance, Viggy Ram's lyricism is as introspective as it is existential.
Drought will play shows this summer and fall, including New Friends Fest, Your Renaissance Fest, and Fest 23 in Gainesville. Dates to be announced soon, so stay tuned.
DROUGHT LIVE:
5/2 — San Francisco, CA — Thee Parkside w/ Cancer Bats, Strawberry Girls
5/24 — Los Angeles, CA — Your Renaissance Fest w/ Portraits of Past, the Spirit of Versailles
8/2 — Toronto, ON Canada — New Friends Fest w/ Beau Navire, Rolo Tomassi, the Saddest Landscape
10/23 — Tampa, FL— Brass Mug w/ Signals Midwest, Audio Karate
10/24 — Gainesville, FL — FEST
DROUGHT ARE:
Viggy Ram — Vocals
Ray Avila — Drums
RJ Rabe — Guitar
Eric Nakano — Guitar
