Remo Drive kick out a rocking set in The Current studio
May 29, 2019
Brothers Erik and Stephen Paulson started playing music together in high school in nearby Bloomington, Minn., in 2013, and in 2018, as Remo Drive, they were signed to major label Epitaph Records. Their debut full-length on that label, entitled Natural, Everyday Degradation, releases Friday, May 31. Two days before the album's release, Remo Drive — the Paulsons together with drummer Sam Becht — stopped at The Current for a session hosted by Eric Malmberg.
Being signed to Epitaph Records pushed Remo Drive beyond their DIY ethic and into a new way of recording the songs that became Natural, Everyday Degradation. "This was our first time really spending more than five days working on recorded music," Erik says, "so that was really fun to dig in and immerse ourselves in a creative space."
After the extra time invested, Remo Drive are pleased with the resulting record. "I would say it's a lot more mature musically and lyrically," Stephen says, "and also way better production because we had a month and a budget to create a record."
Natural, Everyday Degradation also taps into the Paulsons' deeper influences; Erik cites such artists as Pedro the Lion, Interpol, the National, the Killers, Tom Petty and notably, Bruce Springsteen. "I think I took a lot of inspiration from [Springsteen's] vocal cues," Erik says. "His style, the very belted, kind of talk-y, more masculine approach."
Even though they're signed to a major record label, Remo Drive haven't left all their DIY methods behind. For example, they made their own guerrilla street-team efforts, leaving free CDs of their songs in various places around the Twin Cities and then, to help fans find the music, teasing the CD-drop locations on social media. "We had done that with our last record, too, and this time I think it was a little bit cooler because people actually wanted it," Erik jokes.
Remo Drive begin their tour on Thursday, May 30, with a show in Madison, Wis., and they'll make their way back to Minneapolis for an album-release show at the Fine Line on July 6.
Listen to the complete session with Remo Drive using the audio player above.
More Video
Songs Performed
"Two Bux"
"The Grind"
"The Devil"
All songs from Remo Drive's album, Natural, Everyday Degradation, releasing May 31, 2019, on Epitaph Records.
Hosted by Eric Malmberg
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Michael DeMark and Adam Biel
Visuals by Nate Ryan and Mary Mathis
Web feature by Luke Taylor
External Link
Remo Drive - official site
