Sign up for our mailing list Real artists creating records on their own terms
Close

Sign up for our mailing list

News

The Drums Release Two New Songs “Plastic Envelope” And “Protect Him Always”
Thursday, May 11th, 2023

The Drums Release Two New Songs “Plastic Envelope” And “Protect Him Always”

Fresh off the release of last month’s comeback single  “I Want It All,” The Drums have debuted a symbiotic duo of brand new songs today: “Plastic Envelope” and the accompanying vignette “Protect Him Always.” Ripe with introspection, the pair of tracks find Jonny Pierce – founder of The Drums – accepting and nurturing each version of his younger self against a backdrop of gently-fluttering guitars. 

“Plastic Envelope is about the pain that comes when your trust has been violated and the dread of not knowing if you could open your heart again the same way,” says Pierce. “The second song, Protect Him Always is an apology to the young boy in me, who I try my best to protect, knowing that when I get hurt, he gets hurt all over again.” 

With The Drums’ forthcoming album and first studio project since 2019’s Brutalism on the horizon, Pierce initially teased the record with “I Want It All” in April. A work of art that’s as exposed as it is triumphant, the song weaves together a tapestry of soul-searching ruminations, confrontations of childhood trauma and epiphanies of self-acceptance. Since its release, “I Want It All” swiftly eclipsed 1 million streams with placements on dozens of playlists and coverage from the likes of Rolling Stone, Stereogum, FLOOD Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan and more.  

Pierce will bring the new trio of songs to life on the stage for the first time ever on The Drums’ forthcoming full-length North American tour. Kicking July 12th in San Diego, CA, the run will stop in various cities nationwide including The Shrine in Los Angeles and Webster Hall in New York. For complete ticketing information, visit HERE.  

Soaring to alt-pop prestige nearly fifteen years ago with a renowned self-titled debut, The Drums continue to thrive, influence and reinvent with every project. Pierce initially conceived of the band back in 2008 and what resulted was worldwide acclaim and a string of five studio albums that deftly walk the line of aching melancholy and irresistible pop sensibilities, presented through a kaleidoscope of pastel guitars, reverb, modular synthesizers and drum machines. It’s a sound that’s wholly unique, and unmistakably The Drums.  

The Drums’ music remains timeless, as evidenced by the recent explosion of their song “Money,” which first appeared on their breakout sophomore album Portamento. Transforming into a viral sensation earlier this year – over a decade since it was first released – the song has since bloomed with a second life, eclipsing over 230 million streams on Spotify alone, achieving RIAA Gold-certification, and reaching #1 on the Alternative Global Shazam chart and the #2 TikTok Global Hashtag. 

Browse by Artist

2071All Artists 99Tom Waits 73Mavis Staples 59Neko Case 51Lost In The Trees 50Sean Rowe 48Dr. Dog 45The Milk Carton Kids
41Jolie Holland 40Bettye LaVette 37Man Man 36Son Little 35Tinariwen 33Tim Fite 33DeVotchKa 31Grinderman 31Islands 29Glen Hansard 28Saintseneca 27Galactic 27Wilco 26Andy Shauf 24The Drums 24Xenia Rubinos 24Delicate Steve 24Michael Franti and Spe... 22Doe Paoro 22William Elliott Whitmo... 22Bob Mould 21The Frames 21Nick Cave & The Bad Se... 20Joe Henry 20Christopher Paul Stell... 19Sage Francis 19Cass McCombs 19Yves Jarvis 19Booker T. Jones 18Gary V 18Calexico 18Deafheaven 17John K. Samson 17Yann Tiersen 16Danny Elfman 16Jason Lytle 16The Antlers 16Ramblin Jack Elliott 14Jeremy Ivey 14Daniel Lanois 13Billy Bragg 13The Dream Syndicate 13Madi Diaz 12Peter Silberman 12Girlpool 12Combo Chimbita 12Xavier Rudd 11Ryan Pollie 11Jade Jackson 11Mose Allison 11Leyla McCalla 11Glitterer 11Roky Erickson 11The Weakerthans 11Purr 11Lyrics Born 11Rain Machine 10So Much Light 10The Swell Season 10Alfa Mist 10The Melodic 10High Pulp 10Darrin Bradbury 10Boy Scouts 9Moor Mother 9Josiah Johnson 9Cameron Avery 9Marianne Faithfull 9Hey, King! 9M. Ward 9Curtis Harding 9Wynonna 9N.A.S.A. 9Half Waif 8Solillaquists of Sound 8Cadence Weapon 8Christian Lee Hutson 8Lido Pimienta 8Greg Graffin 8The Coup 7Ben Harper 7Beth Orton 7Kelly Hogan 7Slow Pulp 7Title Fight 7Dead Man's Bones 7Katy Kirby 7Alec Ounsworth 7Elliott Smith 7Eddie Izzard 7Kate Davis 7Japandroids 7Richard Reed Parry 7Ben Harper and Charlie... 6Os Mutantes 6A Girl Called Eddy 6Rafiq Bhatia 6Broken Twin 6Deradoorian 6Busdriver 6Kate Bush 5Kristine Leschper 5Jasmyn 5Foxwarren 5Scott McMicken and THE... 5Art Moore 5James Brandon Lewis 5The Tallest Man On Ear... 5Ezra Furman 5Bonny Doon 5Keaton Henson 5Beat Connection 5One Day As A Lion 5The Field 4Pops Staples 4Sparklehorse 4Ersi Arvizu 4The Good Ones 4Jackson+Sellers 4Marketa Irglova 4sunking 3Walter Wolfman Washing... 3Sierra Leones Refugee... 3Mavis Staples & Levon... 3Danny Cohen 3Marc Ribot 3Petra Haden 3Waxahatchee 3Plains 3MJ Lenderman 3Mothers 2Fleet Foxes 2Various Artists: RANGO 2Sam Akpro 2Jeff Tweedy 1Tricky 1Porter Wagoner 1The Locust 1ANTI- Records 1Blackalicious 1Kronos Quartet with Br... 1Various Artists: ROGUE... 1Solomon Burke 1Youth Group 1Merle Haggard 1Antibalas 1case/lang/veirs 1Joe Strummer And The M... 1Lightman Jarvis Ecstat... 1Rogue's Gallery 1Simian Mobile Disco
See Full List+