Drinks On Me opens up about his personal and artistic struggles in the last EP of his self-released trilogy.
Drinks On Me, a prominent UK garage producer, has unveiled his third and final EP, Freedom, concluding a trilogy of self-released works that encapsulate his artistic journey in the music industry. With collaborations featuring Hans Glader, Katie Bosworth, and CloudNone, this latest release marks over two years of dedicated production, showcasing Drinks On Me’s evolution and artistic depth.
Drinks On Me’s rapid ascent in the music scene commenced in 2020 when he secured a signing with the renowned Night Bass label. This pivotal moment shaped his distinctive sound, leading to his Monstercat debut in 2020 with the track “Hit List,” a collaboration with Bleu Clair that showcased his genre-bending style.
Drawing inspiration from ’90s UK garage, ’00s Grime, and 2010’s house music, Drinks On Me gained recognition from influential figures like Skream and AC Slater. Releases on Monstercat, Night Bass, and Conducta‘s Kiwi Rekords played no small role in his soaring trajectory. Now, with the release of his final EP in the trilogy, he takes a vulnerable step into 2024, driven by a genuine yearning for artistic freedom.
Stream Freedom now on Spotify, and read on for more about the album!
Stream Drinks On Me – Freedom on Spotify:
Drinks On Me’s Freedom EP is a masterful fusion of authentic UK garage and cinematic allure.
While staying true to his garage-based roots, Drinks On Me skillfully incorporates the genre’s signature elements while maintaining a captivating cinematic sound, resulting in an exceptional EP.
I opened the floodgates and made music that was incredibly personal, which is what you’ll hear in the Freedom EP.
Drinks On Me
The title track serves as a cinematic overture, enveloping listeners in ambient textures and nature sounds that make for an ideal sunrise soundtrack. Drinks On Me invites the audience on his liberating musical journey with the evocative phrase, “Come with me, where you can be free.”
Drinks elaborated on this theme of freedom and authenticity, indicating, “Freedom is just an album where I’m being entirely candid and authentic.” He continued, “I made it for myself. I just want people to individually take whatever meaning and emotion out of it that they like.”
“Never Enough” with Hans Glader unfolds as a percussion-heavy, garage-inspired concept. Starting with a jazzy flair, it gradually delves into darker and wubbier territories, allowing listeners to embark on an immersive and entirely unpredictable musical journey. When asked about the collaborative process for an EP as personal as Freedom, Drinks On Me stated, “I consider these people to be an extension of myself because their outlooks and friendships have contributed to who I am today.”
“Grateful” emerges as the emotional epicenter of the EP, exploring the sensitive topic of sexual assault through Drinks On Me’s poignant spoken word. The track unfolds a personal narrative of overcoming denial and the associated feelings of guilt and shame. Drinks On Me shares this intimate experience in the hope of providing solace and understanding to others facing similar challenges. “In a track as personal as ‘Grateful,’ I wanted to deliver the story like it’s just me and the listener having a conversation,” he said.
I always find that writing lyrics means you can’t waste a word — you have to get across what you mean in the most concise way possible. So, writing for ‘Grateful’ also really helped me to process things and understand how I felt.
Drinks On Me
Featuring CloudNone, “Too Late” is a standout, melodic-inspired track that leads driving synth work into an airy breakdown. Building on Drinks On Me’s cinematic theme, the track becomes a cathartic set closer capable of stirring emotions and leaving a crowd in tears.
“Holding On” is a track that feels like the best parts of childhood, creating an immediate positive feeling and invoking chills. The symphony-like piece beautifully comes full circle. It returns to the ambient sounds that initiated the EP, providing a nostalgic and uplifting conclusion. Closing the record out, the VIP version of “Free Together” featuring Katie Bosworth adds an extra layer of exploration to the cinematic collaboration, leaving the listener with a unique perspective on the initial hypnotizing track.
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