Originally hailing from North York’s Moors, artist Drew Davies is now bringing to life his unique sonic vision based out of Glasgow. His journey has been marked by performances all over the UK from London to the stages of Download Festival.
First unveiling his solo endeavour in 2019 with the debut single “Man on the Run,” he’s since shared multiple well-received releases including 2019’s EP We Need to Talk and his eponymous debut full-length record in 2020.
Going from strength to strength with each move, he’s won over fans and tastemakers alike with his music securing extensive radio support. With spins from BBC DJ’s including Gary Crowley on BBC London, Bruce Dickinson on BBC 6 and Jericho Keys, he’s racked up over a hundred thousand streams of his music on Spotify alone.
Now with an upcoming sophomore album titled Holloway Nights, he brings us the third single lifted from the release with the new self-produced track “The Bitter End.” The song serves up a cinematic soundscape, blending modern influences like Queens of the Stone Age with nostalgic synths reminiscent of John Carpenter, Kavinsky and Carpenter Brut, all filtered through the artist’s unique sonic lens and delivered via a powerful performance that ushers in a new chapter of his musical output.
Opened by the twang of of bright guitar chords as the percussion filters in, the song erupts with layers of driving guitars, fuzzy bass and punchy drums. Drew’s rich voice enters to cap a rock sound brimming with high-octane energy and emphatic melodic leads.
Maintaining a relentless tempo and raucous wall of sound throughout, Drew’s voice rises to soar in the choruses, crafting a truly anthemic alternative indie sound that reaches a storming crescendo with a scorching pitched guitar solo before launching into the last chorus for a rousing finale that sees screeching lead guitar work collide with his commanding vocal leads.
Behind the scenes, the track benefits from the expertise of Danny Woodward in mixing and Graeme Lynch in mastering, associated with notable acts like Circa Waves and Ladytron. Accompanying the single is a live performance video, shot by Callum Edward, capturing the band’s dynamic rendition of “The Bitter End” at Headhunter Studios in Glasgow. Joining Drew for the performance are James Castell and Robert Jones on lead and rhythm guitars, Matthew McGhee on bass, synth player Jack Wakeman and Stewart Robison on drums, each contributing to the song’s impact with exquisite musicianship and performance panache.
Commenting on the single, he shares, “The creation of The Bitter End marked the death knell of a tumultuous affair. During my recovery I binged on a diet of early 80’s horror movies, this inspired me to combine a wall of synthesisers with a wall of distortion as a unique form of self-help. Whilst The Bitter End doesn’t mark my permanent return to the Headbangers Ball it shows I kept the tuxedo in my closet.”
Listen to The Bitter End below
Watch the live version of The Bitter End below
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