Draag - "Demonbird"

Photo by Devonte Johnson

Los Angeles' Draag was formed by trained mariachi singer Adrian Acosta who forme the band from members with backgrounds in underground punk, No Wave, experimental jazz, and classical training. Their new single, "Demonbird," reflects all of those styles in a sound that's being called electro-shoegaze. This new song has more intensity than you would normally associate with shoegaze. It's a synth heavy, relatively fast punk song that's awash in the drone of shoegaze. Draag have made this swirling sonic fury that can be kind of a mess at times, but I mean that as a compliment. It's not completely outrageous, but we haven't heard anything quite like this before. Not everyone is going to love "Demonbird," but if it works for you it's going to lead to a die hard fandom.

Frontwoman Jessica Huang says of the new song and video:

“‘Demonbird’ was a major breakthrough in my personal journey unpacking spiritual abuse in my past. Becoming the Demonbird character in the video was a way for me to find some sort of justice for the women who were silenced and discarded in the purity culture of my particular religious upbringing...It’s a relief that it doesn’t have the same power over me anymore.”  

You can watch the video for "Demonbird" below. Dark Fire Heresy is due out April 28 and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Draag, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

April 8: Joshua Tree, CA @ TBD*

April 9: Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge*

April 12: Fort Collins, CO @ The Coast*

April 15: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle*

April 18: Toronto, ON @ The Drake*

April 19: Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz*

April 22: Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere (Zone One)*

April 23: Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy*

April 24: Washington, D.C. @ Pie Shop*

April 25: Durham, NC @ The Pinhook*

June 17: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (Album Release Show)

*with Cryogeyser