O
Can you introduce Drain and its band members to the readers of our zine? Who’s in Drain, when and where did you form?
ne of the most significant hardcore records that was released in the middle of the pandemic crisis & the quarantine that followed was Drain’s ‘California cursed’ by Revelation Records. One of the best records released in the past years, in my humble opinion, bringing a fresh air to the hardcore scene of double twenties. Sam Ciaramitaro, Drain’s singer, was kind enough to reply to our questions from his home in Southern California.
Drain is Tim Flegal on drums, Cody Chavez on guitar, and I’m Sam and I front Drain! Drain started in 2014 in Santa Cruz, California. ‘California cursed’ is the title of your debut album. What’s hidden behind the lines of the title? What influenced to write a record like this both musically and lyrically?
Interview conducted in early April 2020. Artist photo by Malachi Green Live photo by Sam Jameson
Most Drain songs are just written by me about things that I personally feel, but the title track for the record was based off of a recurring conversation we would have with each other when we were on tour. It is difficult to juggle finances when playing in a touring band, and a lot of that has to do with how expensive it is to live in California, conjoined with how saturated the state is. The thought of being able to live in a place with really cheap rent always sounds great until we get there and realize how good we have it at home. Santa Cruz is one of the most beautiful places in the world in my opinion, and it can be a real love / hate relationship at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
drain831.bandcamp.com www.facebook.com/drain831 www.instagram.com/drain831 Hey hey! Welcome to Soulcraft fanzine 2! Do you follow hardcore / punk / whatever fanzines? Hello! Thank you so much for reaching out and having us! Truthfully, I really don’t follow any fanzines. I have always enjoyed ones that I’ve been apart of, but with regrets, I do not follow any.
36
