Q&A: Rowan Drake Unveils ‘Still As The Night’, A Deep Dive into Music and Emotion
ROWAN DRAKE’S LATEST RELEASE “STILL AS THE NIGHT” IS A POIGNANT EXPLORATION OF SELF LOSS AND INTROSPECTION. The tracks stems from some of Rowan Drake's lowest moments, where he grappled with a profound sense of disconnection from his identity. It emerged from a hauntingly beautiful guitar chord progression during a night of deep introspection. This track reflects Rowan's talent for merging personal, emotionally charged themes with innovative sonic experimentation, often through collaboration, as seen with Jonny Shorr's pivotal role in shaping the song.
Rowan’s presence on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, has amplified his music's impact, connecting with a broad audience. Recent live performances have reinforced his belief in the power of music to forge deep connections with listeners. As he looks ahead, Rowan remains committed to crafting boundary-breaking music that resonates universally.
In a candid conversation with The Luna Collective, Rowan offers insights into the song's creation, emphasizing his ability to translate personal turmoil into art.
LUNA: Congrats on the release of “Still As The Night”! Can you share some insight into the narrative of this one?
ROWAN DRAKE: “Still as the Night” touches upon the feeling of losing oneself. It's those moments when you avoid looking in the mirror as you are afraid you won’t recognize the face looking back. It's the feeling of taking the wrong path and not realizing until you are very far away from the decision that led you there.
LUNA: You've been recognized for your ability to transform personal experiences and emotions into music. Could you share a bit about the creative process behind this track and how it reflects your personal journey?
ROWAN DRAKE: Once the initial inspiration for the song was experienced. This being some very low moments of my life, where, for the first time, I felt dissociated from who I was. After these moments I was playing the guitar one night in a new tuning inspired by Coldplay when I found this beautiful chord progression. Instantly after the verse melody and first two lyrics of the song presented themselves and a song existed in its earliest form. About a week later I took the song to my friend and collaborator Jonny Shorr, and we finished the lyrics and began adding the sounds that would become what “Still as the Night” is today.
LUNA: How has your sound evolved since the release of ‘Dear Ella’, and how does "Still As The Night" fit into this progression?
ROWAN DRAKE: Dear Ella was the first time I really started to scratch the surface of the ambient, cinematic universe I want to build into most of my songs. The bridge on “Heartbeat” had a distorted sample of a subway station train. “Haunt Me” experimented with layering my voice as well as Ella's voice into production. When I created “Still as the Night,” I knew I wanted to take this a step further. Whether it be the chaotic voices that are meant to mimic inner thoughts or the harmony stacks, I wanted to engulf the listener in a world that communicated overwhelm and panic.
LUNA: You're known for merging introspection with a forward-thinking sonic aesthetic. How do you strike a balance between creating music that's deeply personal and emotionally resonant while also being innovative?
ROWAN DRAKE: Well, when you say it that way it makes me sound much cooler than I actually am. I honestly am just trying to communicate with people in my life or myself when I write songs. So, to be anything other than honest feels like a disservice to them. Thankfully at a fundamental level I believe people are very similar. So, when I write about a feeling or situation in my life, it tends to bleed over into other people's lives and can be understood by many.
LUNA: Collaboration seems to be an integral part of your creative process. Could you tell us about your collaboration with Jonny Shorr on "Still As The Night" and how that dynamic influenced the song's direction?
ROWAN DRAKE: Jonny is the second half of this song. I brought to him the first verse, the guitar chords, and a story about a day where I, for a time, lost myself and wanted nothing more than to give up control of my life. He has this ability to latch onto ideas like this and instantly understand the world I want to create. He helped finish writing the rest of the song and then together we made a bunch of strange sounds and layered it all together.
LUNA: With millions of streams and a strong presence on TikTok, your music has reached a wide and diverse audience. How does social media and platforms like TikTok play a role in your music’s impact?
ROWAN DRAKE: Well currently TikTok and platforms like it are the primary way to reach people. So for this reason, I am very thankful for the access it has given me. It is a beautiful thing to be able to see millions of people from all walks of life unite in the shared love or understanding of a feeling/song.
LUNA: You embarked on a series of US dates with Alex Warren this month. What excites you the most about performing live and connecting with your audience in a concert setting?
ROWAN DRAKE: These were the first shows I ever played, so I had no idea what to expect. On the first night, I got out of my car to unload gear and there were maybe 12 fans lined up hours before doors. In my mind no one would recognize me.. but the craziest thing took place and when I stepped out of the car, they all took out their phones and knew exactly who I was. They were so kind. And for the rest of the tour, while it had many challenges, I could always count on feeling loved by a solid group of fans. These were some of the best nights of my life.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the upcoming months?
ROWAN DRAKE: I’d love to create a few of the songs that will be on the next project. Many of them are in my head. Many are not but will exist nonetheless. I also want to tour more. I’d love to have an opening slot on a longer tour and really feel life on the road.
