Drew Danburry’s new single “1996, For Luke Graham, Ryan Hibler and Aaron Mickelson” from his new album Pallid Boy & Spindling Girl encapsulates what’s always been appealing about the songwriter. There’s a raw earnestness to Danburry’s vocal delivery that bursts forth occasionally in moments of peak emotional intensity in the song. But he is so often able to channel that passion into offbeat vocal melodies. On this single he sings about the importance of holding on to your dreams and ideals especially at a time when those sorts of DIY touring and releasing music seem to be increasingly an artifact of the past when in fact it is essential now when corporate culture is trying to streamline every aspect of our lives into monetizable units of time, of interest even of attention and to use our very humanity as a marketing too and as product. This is indie pop in the classic mold—rough around the edges but all the more appealing because of that. It’s not challenging to the very concept of a good pop song itself but rather to the purely market driven rather than imagination and artistically driven concept of what music can be and the inherent power it has if it isn’t completely compromised and its promise of personal liberation if we can embrace a similar ethos. It doesn’t sound like punk but fifteen years into living the DIY life, Danburry sure seems like a rebel and this song reflects that and his frustration with a society that seems to be working hard to produce a bland conformity.
drewdanburry.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/album/6SDwpLnbVu1gAMO2Cx4aY8
https://www.youtube.com/user/drewdanburry
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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