We handed the keys to brothers Trevor and Connor, better known as the Drake Bros, to unlock how they joined forces, what they're working on and where they're going.
What inspired you both to enter the music space?
T: My best friend from HS and I jokingly started a hip hop group where he’d rap and I’d produce. It was early days so we definitely made nothing worth a listen but we've both stuck with it and he’s doing some great work, check him out “Jamo.” on Spotify. Once we went off to college and split up, that's when I started to move to a more electronic sound and eventually decided to join up with Connor.
C: I played the drums a bit growing up but most of my time was playing sports. I have a vivid memory of seeing a Youtube video in middle school of DJ Craze spinning on the new Traktor Scratch Pro 2 and thought it was the coolest thing ever but knew I could never afford that equipment at that age. Fast forward to college I saw someone DJing a party with a smaller board and ended up getting my own the next day. Once I saw my first electronic show, I was hooked, and then when Covid hit I had a bunch of time to reflect and decided to take it seriously.
How did you guys decide to pursue DJing and producing as a duo?
After producing and DJing both separately for years, we decided to run with the brother duo in late 2021. We were already both very passionate about it, DJing at our respective colleges and producing on our own time but saw our music tastes becoming similar. We were hitting the same shows and already talked every day so it made sense and we thought it would be pretty special to go for it together. Plus, our mom loves it (shoutout Gail).
How did you decide on the name 'The Drake Bros' and the genre you would perform together?
Picking our name was definitely something we went back and forth on for a while. Ultimately we wanted something that was not too suggestive towards any one genre as at that time we were still deciding which direction to go. As for the genre, to be honest we are still working that out. We are such fans of so much music from times past as well as new stuff, it’s difficult for us to choose, and I think for now we are okay with that. The path to finding our true sound is something that we know potentially could never end, but hopefully that journey is as exciting for the listeners as it is for us.
What brought you to San Diego?
T: I went to San Diego State, it’s a hard place to leave. Connor lives up in LA so we do a lot of commuting for shows / producing.
C: My brother went to San Diego State, I hear it’s a hard place to leave.
Talk us through what it's like being a sibling DJ duo? Any challenges or strengths?
It’s pretty epic. We feel very lucky to be close enough for it to work. Of course we have our sibling arguments here and there but I think we respect each other enough to keep an open mind and continue to learn from one another. Also, establishing what each other is best and most passionate about has also been key to our workflow and not stepping on anyone’s toes. As far as strengths go, we pretty much know what each other are thinking at all times which helps with DJ sets as well as production. We are also super honest with each other if we don’t like something - any producer knows how important trusted feedback is.
What is your process for preparing for a set?
It varies quite a lot to be honest but for the most part we agree on a general direction/vibe, make a playlist of 20-40 songs we think will be best, and then can pivot from there. I don’t think its possible to fully plan out a great set as you never really know what is going to land with the crowd. Numerous times we have tried to plan a set and then ended up playing nothing we thought we would but that’s when it's most fun and rewarding.
With so many newly opened venues and recently started events, the San Diego dance scene is growing rapidly. What are your observations on the scene and community here?
We love the scene in San Diego. It feels like a more family vibe and less corporate than LA which is refreshing. It’s great seeing event companies like Love Machine, Music is 4 Lovers and Yoon grow with CRSSD being so dominant.
What's been your favorite venue to play and why?
T: There's been some amazing ones but the two that stand out for me are Sound Nightclub, and Day Trip @ Academy. We’ve seen so many of our favorite artists at those places they hold a special place in our hearts. The crowds, and production are also next level and allowed up to play some tracks that are a little harder to understand on less powerful systems.
C: Sound and Academy were sick but I’m gonna have to go with EOS Lounge in Santa Barbara. I might be biased because I went to college there but I still love everything about it. It’s a bit of a smaller, more intimate vibe but the Funktion-Ones rip, the crowd is always great, the lasers and lights are sick and they always have big names coming through.
When you're going out dancing in San Diego on a night off from DJing and producing, where will we find you?
T: I like to mix it up but Spin / Bang Bang are of course classics, and I also love what they have done with Camino Rivera. Music is 4 Lovers has done a great job getting some amazing talent in there.
C: What Trev said.
If you could play anywhere, at any venue in the world tonight, where would it be?
T: With so many amazing rooms out there it’s so hard to choose. The two that come to mind my first would be the Warehouse Project in Manchester, England and the Brooklyn Mirage. The passion ,energy, and production at both of the venues is unmatched and it’s definitely somewhere I’d like our music heard.
C: Printworks for sure. Not only because it’s closing down soon but I’ve heard so many stories and seen so many videos.
Who are your 'ones to watch' from the San Diego dance music scene?
Man this is a tough one. There are actually so many, gotta give a shout to Tyler Chase, Soraya, Shepard & Seiber. All four are working extremely hard in the studio, have a great taste in music and know how to curate a hell of a DJ set. We’re excited to see what 2023 has in store for them.
In what ways can the San Diego dance music community support you or collaborate with you?
T: At this moment our main focus is just on creating music we like that also moves a crowd. Just streaming our music and any feedback is always welcome.
C: Yeah follow us on Instagram @drakebrosmusic to keep up with our releases and shows. We are planning on releasing a ton of music this year and are always playing shows in San Diego.
What are your future plans, and what should we look out for from you?
T: Like we said, our main focus is on creating the best possible music as well as continuously getting better. We are experimenting with so many sounds we are just excited for that journey. As for shows we are focusing on playing less, higher quality shows, giving us time to work on music as well as showing everyone we are ready for the next step.
C: Yeah Trev pretty much nailed it. Right now our main focus is building our discography and finding our sound. We are in no rush to sacrifice quality and rush things because we love doing it and plan on making music for years and years. Also a potential live set has been something we’ve been thinking about a lot.
Lastly, what’s a track you want to share?
You can keep up with the Drake Bros here.
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