1. What was the initial spark or experience that led to the creation of “Where You Are”?
* We were looking to expand our sound as a band, to incorporate more electronic textures. Trying to reach into something unfamiliar while also staying true to who we are and what comes naturally. In uncertain times on an uncertain path, it’s imperative to keep track of “where you are.” It’s definitely a mile marker for us.
2. How did the collaboration between Julian Altbuch and Russell de Moose influence the songwriting and production of this track?
* Being a two piece group, we are always looking to one another for assurances that what we are bringing to the table is both interesting and workable. One of us may get off track, so to speak, and the other helps to reign it in; or conversely, one of us might encourage the other to explore an idea or a feel into deeper waters.
3. How does “Where You Are” reflect the band’s growth and evolution compared to your earlier works?
* As a piano and drum duo, often we attempt to create music in a more simplistic sense. Piano, drums, guitar in a much more roots, rock, country sound. But we wanted to bring more synth and more production value into this track. We typically stay within the realm of writing music that easily translates to a live performance, avoiding some pitfalls of over production, whereas we really let go of that on Where You Are.
4. Can you share the central message or theme of the song and what you hope listeners take away from it?
* The central message of “Where you are” is a bit of coming back to yourself from being lost. Taking stock of where we are now is the only way to get to where we need to go. We hope people will feel a sense of excitement and positivity, and power in the prospect and process of moving forward in life.
5. Were there any memorable moments or challenges during the recording sessions for this track?
* There were plenty of challenges while recording the track from disagreements on textures/presets and whether or not the track was even going to make it onto our upcoming album “iii”. But a milestone was us realizing what the song had grown into, and then choosing it as a single and the first track on the album.
6. How has the audience responded to “Where You Are” during live performances or through streaming platforms?
* We haven’t had the pleasure of bringing this song to a live stage yet, but so far the response has been pretty positive, and we think people are recognizing pretty early on that this is different from our previous works
7. Is there a music video in the works for this song? If so, what can fans expect in terms of concept and visuals?
* We have released a couple of TikToks for this song, and there could very well be something longer that gets put together and thrown out there.
8. If you could perform “Where You Are” with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
* It’d have to be John Williams as we’re seriously influenced by movie soundtracks. And he’s one of the greats as far as we’re concerned. If we’re going big, let’s get the violins to handle the synth lead and some pizzicato double basses holding it down in the low end too. The remix we all need.
9. On a personal level, what does this song mean to each of you, and how does it resonate with your own experiences?
* Sometimes in any process you can come to a stop, or find yourself kind of directionless. We knew we wanted to get moving creatively and the song kind of grew from how we were both feeling as artists. Like “hey man, where are we at?”
10. How do you plan to connect with your audience to share the story behind “Where You Are” and its significance to the band? Has any fan shared a particularly touching or memorable story about how “Where You Are” impacted them? Are you planning any interactive events, like live Q&A sessions or acoustic performances, to celebrate this release? What’s the best way fans can support you right now—streaming, sharing, or coming to your shows?
* We’re mainly working to get more and more people to hear it, and the hope is always that the music will touch or move someone in a positive way. We’re planning on bringing the live version to listeners as well, so keep your eyes open for some dates in the near future.
Where You Are – song and lyrics by Drum and a Tantrum | Spotify
