(Photo property of Drew Six)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
It is a pleasure to welcome back country rocker, and singer-songwriter Drew Six to Jake’s Take.
A lot has happened since Drew Six sat down with an interview in 2012. He performs over 200 shows a year and opened for a diverse group of performers such as the Backstreet Boys, Dan + Shay, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, and Maroon 5. Also, Drew Six has released several singles such as 2013’s “What Kind of Fool Am I,” 2015’s “The Bull,” and 2016’s “Boyfriend.” In fact, “Boyfriend” earned Drew industry attention for his songwriting when the demo went number one on NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International)’s Top 40 chart and the music video premiered on CMT (Country Music Television).
Also, Drew Six featured recognition from Kansas City as he was featured in Pitch Magazine’s “Best Of” issue and was named by KC Magazine’s as of one of the “100 people that have changed life in Kansas City forever.” As a longtime advocate of the Kansas City chapter of Variety’s Children Charity, the organization rewarded him the “Quest of Kindness” award and had written the group’s anthem, “We Choose Livin’.”
Currently, Drew is preparing to release his latest single: “She’s Gonna Run” and prepares to celebrate the launch of the track with a concert featuring fellow country artist David Nail at Kansas City’s Voodoo Lounge on Saturday evening.
For this edition of The Five Question Challenge, Drew introduced his new band, The Soul Plains Drifters, teased the new song, and talked about his Voodoo Lounge release party.
Jacob Elyachar: How have you grown as a singer-songwriter since we spoke in 2012?
Drew Six: Songwriting is certainly a process and a natural progression. It is like working out in that you get better by doing it regularly and sometimes you plateau or slide backward. Sometimes you write a bad one to get to the next good one. But you are always growing. You arm yourself with the craft and then find your voice. I am always searching for those moments of inspiration. You do not find those if you’re not out there living a little. That happens with time and experience.
JE: Recently, you added a group of musicians called The Soul Plains Drifters. Could you share the group’s origin story with my readers?
DS: Actually, a couple of the guys have been with me for many years. I am fortunate because we have really rounded out a great consistent lineup in the last couple of years. At times, I ask a lot of them, and they really rise to the occasion. There is a strong sense of pride and brotherhood in our organization. I am essentially the quarterback, but I couldn’t do it without such a talented team of solid musicians around me.
JE: Last year, one of your songs, “Boyfriend” premiered on CMT. What was your reaction when you learned about that decision?
DS: We were working with a PR Firm in Nashville, and the music video was part of my business plan for that song since its conception. You work the relationships, but there are never any guarantees on who is going to pick it up. I was thrilled to have everything I visualized come to fruition. In addition to the song going number one on the Nashville Songwriters Top 40, several networks, blogs, and streaming services picked up the “Boyfriend” video, and it’s still being broadcast nationwide in various markets.
JE: Let’s talk about your new single: “She’s Gonna Run.” What is the story behind the song?
DS: That was a great song for us live and has been a part of my shows for a while. I was approached by an associate who was specifically interested in backing that song in Nashville. The general hook “with legs like that, She’s Gonna Run” was already there — the whole idea of the free-spirited gypsy soul girl that we all know and love. I went back and worked on the lyrics. One of the significant changes during the re-writing process was to bring the lead character into the story and create intimacy with her. He’s falling in love with this girl, and he knows that there’s no chance she will hang around, but he can’t stop himself because she’s so amazing. That tension feels a lot more personal, sexy, and made the characters come to life. I think it is a subject that many relate to from both sides. It is a great song for summer!
JE: This Saturday, you will release your single at Kansas City’s Voodoo Lounge with your fellow country rocker: David Nail. What can your fans expect from your party?
DS: I try to do at least one of these special events each year in Kansas City. This one is a little different in that it will be more of a celebratory concert for “She’s Gonna Run” which launches worldwide this Friday. We are opening with the song, so don’t be late! I am a big fan of David Nail and I approached them about the show. His camp has been super cool in letting us call this a release event for my new single. We are also doing a full 45-minute set of original music (with a couple of surprises of course). Voodoo Lounge is one of my favorite stages in town and I expect this to be a really special night for us and our fans. David is a great fit for us. Even though we’re not completely similar artists, we both crossover into non-traditional genre influences. He’s one of the best voices in country music and I really respect him.
“She’s Gonna Run” will drop worldwide on April 14, 2017.
For more information about Drew Six, visit his website. You can connect with Drew on social media. Visit his Facebook, Google +, Instagram, Twitter, & YouTube channels.
