POLYDRIVE

Did you always feel as though there was something not right with the “DRIVE-IN era”?

When we first decided on the name “DRIVE-IN” we hoped to create a name that sounded like our music. I kinda feel like we missed the mark just slightly. When people hear the word “drive-in” they instantly associated us with 50s or 60s retro, and that’s not something we wanted. It was becoming difficult to connect our music and aesthetic with the name.

What possessed you to want to change your name from DRIVE-IN to POLY- DRIVE?

Besides wanting a name to match our sound better, we also had to think about search engine optimization. We hated the idea of changing our name just for PR, but at the same time if you searched “DRIVE-IN” on any social media site, I guarantee you we’d be the last thing to show up. It’s hard telling people about our music knowing that they probably won’t find it.

What was the process?

We’d been contemplating releasing our songs under one album for awhile. We started planning everything sometime during the beginning of the summer, and sort of laid out a schedule of how it would all unfold. We actually had most of the new album done before we were even decided on a new name. It was probably like mid September when we officially decided to go with POLYDRIVE. I remember typing the name out in like fifty different fonts on my laptop, all of us loved it so much. For the first time in a while we really started to envision our whole image coming together.

When constructing PRELUDE how did you choose the songs that would be a part of it?

It came down to the songs that we personally loved the most. It was definitely difficult saying no to some songs, because we love them all. Ultimately, we made the album and the order as if it was going to be the setlist of a live show. The songs you see on this record are the ones we’ve been playing live all year, so it just made sense that way. Once we laid out the setlist and orchestrated how the album would flow, we fell in love with it and felt that it was perfect.

Does every song on the album have a reason for why it’s there?

Yes, definitely. We wanted people to be able to listen from beginning to end without any sort of discrepancy. So really all the songs are intentionally next to each other based on the flow and feeling of each one.

How does it feel to have a different “identity” now?

We’re still the same band, just a bit more polished, and a lot more accessible. We learned a lot over this past year, and we feel like this new album and name is a great chance for us to really establish our image and the overall aesthetic that we’ve been dreaming up since the beginning.

What has been your process for making music?

This summer we were all three able to sit down and really work on the songs together. In the past, with some of us being away at school, we had to just send files back and forth and communicate over Facetime. This summer was a healthy change for us; [it meant] being able to work together in the same room again.

I know some of you are in school. How do you make that separation work?

While we got the majority of the album finished in the summer, we still had some work to do when school started back up. In October we made a trip to New York where Lars goes to college to finished the album. It was a really fun experience for us. We set up our speakers in a small vacant piano hall and spent a whole day finishing the record.

How long have you been working on PRELUDE?

The idea for a re-release first came up during the making of our third EP. We had already grown a lot as producers since the first two releases and wanted to do our songs justice by making them sound better and easier to listen to.

How does it feel to have PRELUDE out for everyone to hear?

It’s very exciting. We’re so proud of this record. It’s the kind of music we’ve always wanted to make, and so far the feedback has been so encouraging for us.

Were there some songs that almost made it on the album that you had to cut?

We also made a completely new rendition of “You Are to Me” that we’re probably going to release as a demo at some point because we love it so much. We just didn’t think that the album needed another slow song.

Do you guys have anything else in the works that you’re planning to put out?

If we’re being honest, we have enough new music to put out two more albums. But as for the near future, we have some singles that are on the schedule to be released along with music videos. And it’s probably some of the best stuff we’ve ever made.