Night Drive

Texan electronic pop duo Night Drive tackle the werewolf phenomenon in the video for their track “After Dark.” Almost as hypnotizing as a full moon, the song’s subtle vocals and vacillating beat take the night. - MTV Iggy

Radiohead'sHail To The Thief has to be one of my favorite albums of all time, so naturally the track "Where I End And You Begin" would also be one of my favorite sons.

While the album came out more than 10 years ago,it seems to still have the ability to inspire musicians to do new things. In this case, it compelled Austin-based duo Night Drive to release their own interpretation of one of the album's strongest tracks.

The cover is dark and synth-heavy, with an 80s sound that I struggle to put my finger on. Whatever it is, I haven't gotten bored of the track yet -- I think I'm on the 5th listen already.

You can grab a free download of the track here. - Indie Shuffle

It’s Friday, November 1st and usually this would be the time I talk about Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, but instead I thought I’d share an entirely NEW jam as part of our infamous #FreeFriday series. Our Austin homies Night Drive take our LA homie Goldroom’s latest single “Embrace” out for a spin, chopping up singer Ariela Jacobs‘ vocals and adding layers of melodic synths to create a house influenced and super danceable soundscape. This #FreeFriday treat is just a taste of our next installment of Dim Mak Tuesdays on November 5th with the dudes of Night Drive along with Jupiter and Bones. Be sure to grab your tickets here: http://dimmakevents.com/show.cfm?id=106776

Twitter: @wearenightdrive | Facebook: nightdrivemusic

You have a chance to win Night Drive a shirt on Facebook here & a bracelet full of Night Drive tunes on Instagram here.

Be sure to subscribe to the Dim Mak Records official Soundcloud page for more downloads and updates! - Dim Mak Records

Exclusive: Night Drive streams ‘Disco Alphabet B’ compilation

Night Drive is really busy these days for a totally independent act; you’re on the road more of the year than not, correct?
Yeah, a lot of that has to do with Chuck [Costello, band manager] making connections with Bond Music, which is a great booking agent for us. Things just snowballed quickly, which is what we wanted to have happen anyway. You know, by no means is everything going great, but it’s going great for us in terms of having opportunities present themselves. That’s all we want, just the opportunity to play in front of people and let them make up their minds about whether they’re into it or not.

I was trying to do my homework on Night Drive, and there’s not a lot out there right now. The band is a bit of a mystery. Where does Night Drive come from?

So Brandon and I used to play in two separate bands in Texas. He was the frontman for a band called Glasnost, and I was the frontman for a band called MoTel Aviv. My band was out of Austin, his band was out of Houston; and our bands ended up playing together for a number of shows, regionally, in Texas. We really became friendly and we were always trying to get each other on the same bill because it was a good fit. And then Brandon and I got closer, and eventually the conversation became, “Well, what would it sound like if you and I tried writing something together?” And both of our bands fell apart at the exact same time, and it was a perfect transition for the two of us. It was a little bit of a gamble though, because we both put a lot of work into our previous bands. It’s always a tragedy when you put all this work into something that you know inevitably is not going to work out. And then with him and I being in separate cities, that was an obstacle that we needed to make sure was going to be worth overcoming, worth putting the extra effort into. But it was the first time I did anything that was sort of instantaneous. We got together the first time with no material, and we wrote the song “No Plans,” which ended up on our EP. It was very encouraging.



So, maybe there was some blessing in the curse of your breakups.
Right, exactly! It’s kind of like relationships. When you finally let go of something, it allows for something else to come in and it ends up being the right thing. It’s just hard to know that in the moment.

One of the things that makes Night Drive unique is how you guys blend optimistic dance sounds with a subtly gothwave bent. Was this on purpose, or did it just come out that way?

It’s really all just taste. Brandon and I like a lot of the same stuff, and we both have a melodic bent to our writing. We like dark music, and we like dance-y stuff; and ultimately it ends up being a fairly well-crafted pop song within certain textures and colors. It kind of allows us to ‘play’ a little more, in that sense. No matter what, it never gets too avant-garde. Honestly, this is just the first batch, I think there will be a shift between the EP and our next release.

What is the next release?
You know, that’s actually something we’re discussing with Chuck later today. It’s not going to be until early 2014, but I can’t divulge details yet.

Below is the second part in a series of mixes, which Night Drive’s Brandon Duhon started, called “Disco Alphabet.” The mix set features only artists who’s names start with the letter he is featuring. Being the second in the series, naturally this one is called “Disco Alphabet B.” - Death + Taxes

Night Drive – “Position I”

Posted by: Jeck October 9, 2013

Although people seem to have known about them longer than I have, Night Drive appears to have blown up overnight, or at least in an impressively short amount of time. Sporting a polished-sounding debut EP and a very professional Internet presence, Night Drive can teach other Houston bands a lot of things. Their low-key media strategy leaves people like myself saying, “Where the hell did they come from?! And why do they sound so tight?!” instead of the usual, “Cool, I like them now, after they fucked around, very publicly and visibly for [pick a number] years.” The latter isn’t really a Houston phenomenon as much as it is a local-tier phenomenon in general.

It may sound shallow to focus so much on marketing/presentation, but the slickness of this debut and their presence, makes the whole project feel very big and possibly a breakthrough for the Houston (and Austin) musicscape. This is surely because both members have been part of established Texas bands and have gotten those bugs out their respective systems.

The sound is both and infectious and marketable at the same time. The post-punk revival beats are reminiscent of young upstarts Two Door Cinema Club, but the electronic elements and dramatic vocals conjure images of Kraftwerk and Australian dance duo The Presets. It passes the truest test of likeability in that it is ridiculously easy to dance to. It’s really an ingenious strategy. Even before more detailed questions like lyrical content or originality come into play, an impulse to dance grabs hold and does not let go.

“Drones,” which was the duo’s first choice as single, is obviously the best track. However, “Sea of Light” comes in a close second, with it’s happy-go-lucky beat and no-brainer sing-along chorus. Band influences New Order and The Drums are easy to hear in the high-treble post-punk basslines of whimsical closing track “After Dark.” Now just produce a decent full-length and you two will go down permanently in the annals of Texas music, no doubt whatsoever. - Free Press Houston

Night Drive – “Position I”

Posted by: Jeck October 9, 2013

Although people seem to have known about them longer than I have, Night Drive appears to have blown up overnight, or at least in an impressively short amount of time. Sporting a polished-sounding debut EP and a very professional Internet presence, Night Drive can teach other Houston bands a lot of things. Their low-key media strategy leaves people like myself saying, “Where the hell did they come from?! And why do they sound so tight?!” instead of the usual, “Cool, I like them now, after they fucked around, very publicly and visibly for [pick a number] years.” The latter isn’t really a Houston phenomenon as much as it is a local-tier phenomenon in general.

It may sound shallow to focus so much on marketing/presentation, but the slickness of this debut and their presence, makes the whole project feel very big and possibly a breakthrough for the Houston (and Austin) musicscape. This is surely because both members have been part of established Texas bands and have gotten those bugs out their respective systems.

The sound is both and infectious and marketable at the same time. The post-punk revival beats are reminiscent of young upstarts Two Door Cinema Club, but the electronic elements and dramatic vocals conjure images of Kraftwerk and Australian dance duo The Presets. It passes the truest test of likeability in that it is ridiculously easy to dance to. It’s really an ingenious strategy. Even before more detailed questions like lyrical content or originality come into play, an impulse to dance grabs hold and does not let go.

“Drones,” which was the duo’s first choice as single, is obviously the best track. However, “Sea of Light” comes in a close second, with it’s happy-go-lucky beat and no-brainer sing-along chorus. Band influences New Order and The Drums are easy to hear in the high-treble post-punk basslines of whimsical closing track “After Dark.” Now just produce a decent full-length and you two will go down permanently in the annals of Texas music, no doubt whatsoever. - Free Press Houston

MUSIC September 3, 2013

Premiere: Night Drive’s Dark, Danceable Electro EP ‘Position I’
by Luke O Neil

Danceable electro-pop has been around forever, but there was a time when we weren’t supposed to seem like we were enjoying the whole thing as much as we do now. Early 2000s LES-wave set a darker tone, and the soundtrack was one of late nights and bleary-eyed indifference. Night Drive, an Austin-based duo comprised of Rodney Connell and Brandon Duhon reach back to that sound, and a little further, for the mix of disco, post-punk, and electro that drives their new Position I EP, which we’re premiering here today.

“These songs are some of the very first we wrote together,” the duo explained in an email. “Our initial connection was based on mutual interests. We are both fans of the movie Gattaca and there’s a scene where one of the characters is listening to something on headphones, so we thought it would be fun to write songs we thought he could be listening to.”

Gattaca was futuristic, full of momentum, and ultimately frightening. That sounds about right.

Stream the EP below, and pay what you will on their BandCamp page to download it. - BULLETT

MUSIC September 3, 2013

Premiere: Night Drive’s Dark, Danceable Electro EP ‘Position I’
by Luke O Neil

Danceable electro-pop has been around forever, but there was a time when we weren’t supposed to seem like we were enjoying the whole thing as much as we do now. Early 2000s LES-wave set a darker tone, and the soundtrack was one of late nights and bleary-eyed indifference. Night Drive, an Austin-based duo comprised of Rodney Connell and Brandon Duhon reach back to that sound, and a little further, for the mix of disco, post-punk, and electro that drives their new Position I EP, which we’re premiering here today.

“These songs are some of the very first we wrote together,” the duo explained in an email. “Our initial connection was based on mutual interests. We are both fans of the movie Gattaca and there’s a scene where one of the characters is listening to something on headphones, so we thought it would be fun to write songs we thought he could be listening to.”

Gattaca was futuristic, full of momentum, and ultimately frightening. That sounds about right.

Stream the EP below, and pay what you will on their BandCamp page to download it. - BULLETT

Thank God there’s something to get me through this most depressing post Labor Day Tuesday. And nothing could be more perfect than a new EP from our favorite time traveling synth playing secret agents, Night Drive. We’ve heard two of the five tracks in ‘Drones’ & ‘Sea of Light’. But my new favorite is definitely ‘After Dark’. I just can’t get enough of the driving bass line and the beat. It’s the perfect cure for this post summer blues I’ve got right now. But really, each track off this EP is a 10. With each release, the Austin duo is building more and more street cred and more and more followers. Can’t wait to catch them when they come through NYC in a couple weeks. Be sure to check them in a city near you. Listen to ‘After Dark’ and stream the whole EP below. - The Most Definitely

This weekend we had the distinct pleasure of speaking with two secret agents who were sent from the past to recalibrate the future of electro pop music. Night Drive, as the time traveling duo is known, have just released their first track “Drones” (via Robot Dance Records). The track is energetic, rich in sound and engenders an ambience fitting for a sci-fi dystopian society. If Blade Runner and Drive had a baby, common sense would necessitate that Night Drive score the film.

Night Drive also has a forthcoming 5 track EP, and if “Drones” is any indication, the album will be a perfectly synthy summer soundtrack whether you are road tripping or hunting replicants.

Stream “Drones,” along with its own Bit Funk remix, below and see what Night Drive had to say about time travel, sci-fi and working with a real drone for their music video after the jump.

Given that you were both front men for different bands, how did Night Drive come into existence? ?
We met when our previous bands played a show together a little over a year ago, we both really liked one another’s band but we were also both trying to gain the affections of the same girl. So the whole thing started as sort of a rivalry. Only later did we find out that this girl actually DIED in a car accident – which is terrible, but the silver lining is that we kinda came to our senses and realized we should be working together.


What is your song writing process like generally? Who brings what to the table? How long did it take you to write/record “Drones?”?

Our songwriting is a very collaborative process, which is a unique experience for both of us since we were both songwriters in our previous bands. It’s a great experience to be working in this kind of situation. We have slightly different backgrounds, with R coming from a more post-punk background and B having more of an electronic dance background, but the two blend very nicely.


What is the concept behind the music video for “Drones”? How big of a part did you play in the creative process for the video?

The concept was a little bit of an anti-concept. The topic of drones is itself already kinda political and we definitely didn’t want the video to go in that direction. We’re not a ‘social commentary’ band – though we still wanted to have a vague reference to the theme of the song. But it’s filtered through a few layers of weirdness. Like pink and white paper triangles in place of falling debris, for example.


Talk to me about the robo-copter from the “Drones” video shoot. Did you get to fly it? Any crashes?

The operator was WAY protective about his baby, so we didn’t get to fly it unfortunately (but that’s probably why there weren’t any crashes during the shoot). It was a really cool little machine, the remote control that operated it had a video screen on the front so you could get an idea of what the camera was filming. And it could fly quite far from the remote, from 100 feet up in the air it looked pretty menacing like a huge mosquito.


Which do you enjoy more: the creative process or performing? ??

No question, the creative process is what fuels everything. But the performance is a growing thing, it involves a lot of creativity in itself and we’re coming to love it more and more as time goes on – so who knows maybe one day it’ll become the main driving force.


Visual effects are a large part of your live performances, following the release of “Drones” what can we expect from your shows? ??

We’re fortunate to know some really great video effects people who are gonna help us turn our performances into basically that final scene in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” – that’s what we’re shooting for, by 2014 you can reasonably expect to get abducted during one of our shows.


If you could time travel to any year which year would it be?

We’d go back a few million years, catch a pterodactyl and tether him to our tour bus.


Blade Runner – a great movie or the greatest movie??

Ooh that’s a tough one – it’s a really great movie but I don’t know if we could call it the greatest… but then again Philip K Dick and Ray Bradbury are the two greatest Sci Fi writers so I guess that movie is indirectly the greatest.


What is next for Night Drive? What are your goals for 2013?

There are a LOT of things in the works – some of the most exciting things we’re not able to talk about yet, unfortunately. But we’re really excited to be working with Vitalic Noise who is getting the ball rolling in every conceivable direction. I think we’ll be happy if at the end of this year we’re able to acquire a Segway with a Night Drive logo on it, so our manager can cruise into his meetings in style.


What are your favorite sandwiches?

Jelly combat – that’s a sandwich with two kinds of jelly on each slice, just skip the peanut butter altogether. - All Things Go

Young Galaxy: Free Download of the Week

Three dark pop gems await you this time round, coming from Young Galaxy, Glass Candy and Night Drive

Although you might expect light-hearted sounds throughout the summer, we have thought we’d mix it up and have instead selected three moody pop songs. Not only do all three artists hail from North America, they also share a common love for the desperate romanticism of new wave. This is especially true of our free download “New Summer” by Young Galaxy. But before we come to that, there's also a new edition of our monthly podcast. - Mercedes-Benz

Young Galaxy: Free Download of the Week

Three dark pop gems await you this time round, coming from Young Galaxy, Glass Candy and Night Drive

Although you might expect light-hearted sounds throughout the summer, we have thought we’d mix it up and have instead selected three moody pop songs. Not only do all three artists hail from North America, they also share a common love for the desperate romanticism of new wave. This is especially true of our free download “New Summer” by Young Galaxy. But before we come to that, there's also a new edition of our monthly podcast. - Mercedes-Benz

Night Drive are a duo whose name perfectly encapsulates not only their sound but also their mission. Their sound is a non-stop expedition into the future of electro pop. And if recalibrating the future of electro pop is their mission, then the future looks bright (neon bright). On their new track, “Sea of Light”, Night Drive fuse together all the right elements of disco, electro + new wave to create another plush piece of future electro pop. To help lend a hand to the mission, Night Drive have also enlisted another agent, Treasure Fingers, whose remix expedition takes us on a dreamy, retro-futuristic synth pop ride.
Additional “Sea of Light” remixes by Justin Faust, Kulkid and Elektromekanik will be out August 27th followed by the release of their self titled debut EP on September 3rd via Robot Dance Records. And don’t miss out on their U.S. tour with Tesla Boy, Gold Fields and Rush Midnight (dates listed below).
In the meantime, catch a glimpse of the future… - Gotta Dance Dirty

HYPETRAK Premiere: Night Drive – Sea of Light (Remix EP)
By Jonathan Sawyer / Alternative, Music / 3 weeks ago / 1382 Views
Today we are proud to bring you a premiere of the new remix EP of Night Drive's "Sea of Light" tune. Reworks come in from the likes of Treasure Fingers, Justin Faust, Kulkid and Elektromekanik. The infectious original is also showcased first below, with each re-up then following respectively. If you're dragging on this Tuesday, we think this string of upbeat and energetic entries might just turn things around for you. The delivery comes as the Texas duo will be dropping off their debut Position I EP next week on September 3. So while you wait for that, we suggest you enjoy the "Sea of Light" remixes underneath. Which one is your favorite?
- HYPETRAK

Night Drive - born out the collective disbandment of MoTel Aviv and Glasnost - is a two part band on a mission to change electro-pop as we know it. Position I is the group's first EP and includes five original tracks packed with shimmering retro synths and vocals laden with love and fantasy. Stream the full EP below.

The tracks - 'Nocturnal' especially - have a sound reminiscent of The Faint with the same contradictory upbeat tempos that belie the lyrics' darker tendencies. They are ready-made for either a night drive or evening of twisted dance floor debauchery. 'After Dark' opens with a thick bass guitar intro that fit perfectly alongside crooning lyrics of desire and submission. All in all, a stunning EP that should not be overlooked by anyone who considers themselves a true electro-pop audiophile.

Head to the Night Drive Bandcamp to grab a copy of the EP at a pay-what-you-can price and be sure to catch the group performing alongside Tesla Boy this Saturday at Los Globos in Los Angeles.

9/7/13 - Tesla Boy & Night Drive @ Los Globos - TILT LA

Rising, electro-pop duo, Night Drive, release their debut EP, ‘Position I,’ today, via Robot Dance Records. This new output has been a pure labor of love for the futuristic, secret agents and their mission has only begun. With the new release(s) under their belt, they’ve already embarked on a US tour supporting the likes of Telsa Boy, Gold Fields and Rush Midnight. Check the dates and catch em in your area. This new release is available on the group’s Bandcamp on a ‘name your price’ basis. SUPPORT! - Discobelle

Rising, electro-pop duo, Night Drive, release their debut EP, ‘Position I,’ today, via Robot Dance Records. This new output has been a pure labor of love for the futuristic, secret agents and their mission has only begun. With the new release(s) under their belt, they’ve already embarked on a US tour supporting the likes of Telsa Boy, Gold Fields and Rush Midnight. Check the dates and catch em in your area. This new release is available on the group’s Bandcamp on a ‘name your price’ basis. SUPPORT! - Discobelle

After hitting up our favorite music blog, The Most Definitely we discovered our latest obsession – Night Drive. The Texas duo, composed of Brandon Duhon and Rodney Connell just released their debut EP Position 1 and we are loving it.

Our favorite track from the record, “Sea of Light,” is a love song that rides a nu-wave of fast-tempoed, synth-based electronic sounds driven by rich guitar melodies and arresting vocal hooks. Position 1‘s dark and brooding synths with equally ominous vocals create a perfect soundtrack for fall.

Stream Position 1 on Soundcloud

Buy Position 1 on Night Drive’s Bandcamp or iTunes - DETAILS Magazine