One of the best things about interviewing someone is seeing how much they can totally shatter any pre-conceived expectations you might have over the course of forty minutes. Before speaking with The Drums’ Jonny Pierce, about new album Brutalism, we’re not too sure what we expected but it was most definitely not bonding over The Sound of Music, discussing how he might be a power-bottom or being proposed to in the back of an Uber. P.S. We said ‘Yes.’
Jonny, let’s get this out of the way. How do you feel about being the last member of the band?
We were all miserable! I’ve never been happier releasing music than I am now. They’re all happier too! The whole world wanted us to be this certain type of band but that’s not who we were. We were asked to do so many things that you would say ‘Yes’ to, if you wanted to be the next U2, but we said ‘No’ because it just didn’t feel right for us.
Had you been tempted to go solo before?
Yes, I even recorded a solo album but then a month before its release, I got cold feet because of the amount of time promoting it would take. It hasn’t aged very well so I don’t know if I’ll ever release it!
And I think for the first time you are front and centre of the album’s artwork!
Yes! I used to hide as much as I could. Not only on the artwork but I’d also write and record most of the music but then present us as a group. With Brutalism, I actually had a different cover all made up. It was a photo I’d taken of someone I was dating at the time. I just thought it was so beautiful. But my close friends, who were really in touch with me and my insecurities, asked me, ‘Why aren’t you on the cover?’ While I’ve been working on Brutalism, I’ve been working on myself too. There’s this new exotic drive within me to find happiness instead of sinking my teeth into sadness. I’m just feeling joyful. There is hope in my heart for the first time in a decade and I want to sing about it.
Yes! The world needs to hear this! Which songs on Brutalism are your favourites?
‘Body Chemistry’ and ‘Loner’ because they both sum up what I’ve been trying to say my whole life – that I have a really hard time feeling connected with the world. I can be in a room full of people I love and who love me and still feel this invisible glass wall between us. This is an album of vulnerability, about speaking my truth. I think the best way to take the pain out of a situation is by expressing it. I’ve been doubling down on therapy if you can’t tell!
I feel you! I’ve been doing the same. It’s great.
I think the greatest fool is somebody who says they have all the answers. I’d always rather live my life with an openness to something new, than put my head in the sand because that is when you die. That’s the beginning of death.
Right? I’m telling my Mum to go see a therapist too, but she’s reluctant. I think she’s scared.
Yeah! The most beautiful times in my life always happen directly after I’ve done something difficult. I live by this quote ‘Everything we do, say and think comes from one of two places, fear or love.’ So I think with your mother…or we can talk about my mother because it’s the same thing, she doesn’t want to explore, even a little bit. In my mother’s situation she has this fear that if she accepts the gay community, her whole idea of what’s good and what’s not good will fall apart and there would go her identity that she has had for all of her life. She’s just really scared.
My Mum tells me I overthink things.
You learn to overthink when you realise you’re gay. It’s a survival technique. You have to look at everything from every angle. You wonder how you are going to manage this, how you’re going to get through life. If you’re born straight, for a lot of people, there’s just a blueprint, ‘I’ll grow up, get a job, get married, have kids.’ But being gay is a very different experience.
Very true. One burning question I have is….on ‘626 Bedford Avenue’ you say your love interest is laughing at your shoes! How cruel! But what shoes are we talking about?
Oh my God. They were some ACNE studio platform shoes and they’re like the coolest thing ever but nobody gets it. It’s just further evidence that I’m going to die alone!
Well, when you’re putting out songs with the lyrics, ‘Come destroy my fragility,’ I don’t think you’ll be alone too long!
Haha….it does sound like I’m a power-bottom. I’m fine with putting out a message like that because traditionally The Drums were more innocent and this album is about being real. Sex is real. Sex is important. It’s definitely a part of my life and I’ll be damned if I don’t talk about it!
While we’re talking about sex, the artwork for both Abysmal Thoughts and Brutalism are very smell-oriented. Is this a kink by any chance?
Well, that was my ex on Abysmal Thoughts. At the time I was just so in love with him. It was also my first album on my own so I wanted a break from the whimsical world that The Drums had created and do something defiant. So I just had him smell my gym sneaker. Haha…I think my Uber driver just got an earful. I could see his eyes open wide!
As long as they didn’t roll! I’ve seen a few photos on your Instagram with other LGBT artists. Is there a strong network between you all?
I don’t have any networks! I mean there different types of people – those that love to be around others and although yes, it would make sense for me to hang out with other gay artists, we don’t. It’s usually my fault. People reach to me and I’m like, ‘Sure, maybe we’ll get a pizza’ and then disappear.
I’ve stayed in so much recently that the idea of going out has become this big scary idea….
Why does it scare you?
Well, when I first came here there were people I became friends with. But then they gradually stopped answering my messages and then deleted me from social media. So now I project all my insecurities about going out..on to them.
I bet you that it’s all in your head and that when you go out, they’re going to be like, ‘Oh my God!’ They’ll be drunk and happy to see you. But at the same time, I get that vibe. I moved to LA about four years with my husband. We were going through a hard time. Then we got divorced and I felt like every street corner reminded me of him. So I went back to New York and swore I’d never live in LA again. It was too dark for me. I was thinking, ‘Oh God, moving back to LA, all those people are going to be like, “Oh, here he comes again!”’
The last time I was here I had a million friends and didn’t know anyone. Now, even if I’m just getting coffee. I have to think, ‘OK, who is this person? What are their values? Is this someone I want to be attached to?’ I’d rather stay home on my own that start meeting up with people for the sake of ‘having a social life.’
I’m totally the same!
I guess you and I should just get married! We’ll go on a date when I come to Barcelona for the European tour. Haha…
I’m game! Or we could always go on The Sound of Music tour – because I hear that is your favourite film too!
Oh my God, I love that film. It’s so stunning. I didn’t know there was such a tour but you don’t have to twist my arm!
OK, now for my last question, Loverboy is named after the infamous Mariah Carey song…
Is it really?! I love that. I’m seeing this guy right now and his favourite artist, unironically, is Mariah Carey.
What is your favourite Mariah song?
For both her voice and the sample, ‘Fantasy’ totally destroys me!!
The Drums’ new album Brutalism is available to buy or stream now.
See www.TheDrums.com or follow on Instagram or Facebook.
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Interview: Michael Turnbull
Photographer: Roman Udalov
Stylist: Adrian Gilliland
Makeup: Sara Robey
