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Drew Tarves’ music as young friend feels classic and immediate all at once, capturing the sun-dyed nostalgia of post-adolescence while diving deep into a pool of self-reflection. The six songs that comprise his latest EP, HOW DID WE GET HERE?, act as a practical mission statement for this talented singer-songwriter, showcasing Tarves’ lovingly slack croon, which adorns this collection of wistful guitar pop that’s as thought-provoking as it is purely transportational. 

HOW DID WE GET HERE? was largely written and recorded over the last year with the help of producers aldn and marinelli (Wallice, Spill Tab). It captures the young friend project in a state of looking back while charting a new path forward. “I love that feeling of nostalgia, and I’m constantly searching for those old feelings throughout my life,” Tarves explains. “There’s something very beautiful about them that I’m attracted to.” The record is packed with sun-kissed melodies and easygoing rhythms practically tailormade for a long, gorgeous drive on a summer afternoon. But beyond the beauty, Tarves uses his voice to express difficult feelings that are both generational and universal. 

Ones To Watch had the opportunity to talk with Tarves about the EP, how his process has evolved, and his current inspirations.

Ones To Watch: What does the title HOW DID WE GET HERE? mean to you, and how does that embody itself throughout the record?

young friend: When I was deciding what to call the project, I was thinking a lot about the songs on the record and how they’ve all been with me over the last couple years. In a way, the title is a perfect reflection of how fast time passes, because it feels like songs like "ARIZONA" and "PINCH ME" came out yesterday, yet here we are two years later finally putting the record out. I think the title is also a bit of a comment on the fact that none of us have any idea what we’re doing.

You started writing music as a teenager. How has your creative process evolved as you've grown as a person and an artist?

I mean my creative process has certainly changed since I began writing music. I started by recording guitar and vocals through a pair of Apple earbuds in GarageBand, because that was all I had at the time. But even today the bones of the process are pretty much the same. It usually starts with chords or a melody, and then once I have something that roughly resembles an instrumental I decide what it is I want to say. I think something that has changed is my patience. When I started, I wanted so badly to have a finished product that I would rush the process and that would result in something half-hearted and messy. I think I’ve gotten much better at taking my time with things, especially songwriting.

Can you share a bit about the early stages of making this record? Did you set out to make another body of work or did it just fall into place?

It completely fell into place. I didn’t set out to write an entire record, I was really just writing songs and they all felt like they belonged to the same world. Looking back, I’m really happy that it turned out this way. It feels like the most honest way I could have done it.

What inspired this record, and what do you feel inspired by right now? 

This record is certainly a product of relationships. Not just romantic but relationships with friends and family as well. I find myself being really inspired by the people around me so I have a habit of only really writing about them. Right now I’m feeling very inspired by summer coming to an end, Jeff Buckley, riding my bicycle, Jeremy Allen White in The Bear, old denim, and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.

Did you run into any creative roadblocks along the way? If so, how did you work through it?

Oh tons. I find that whenever I’m feeling blocked creatively it’s almost always because I’m just overthinking. It's usually a sign that I need to get out more and live my life. 

Cliche question, but what is your favorite song on the record? Right now, my favorite is "WHEN WE WERE KIDS!"

Thank you! I love “WWWK” but I think my favorite is either “ENDLESS” or “SETBACK.”

Is there a specific music moment that resonates with you? 

There’s a lyric on the bonus track that goes “We used to be so sweet, but there’s a wall between these sheets” that might be my favorite I’ve ever written. I also really love the third verse on “HAND ME DOWN.” It feels somewhat confrontational in the delivery and I love how it turned out.

What song are you most excited for people to hear that hasn't been released yet?

Probably “HAND ME DOWN.” There was a point in the making of the record when I really thought it wouldn’t make the cut, but I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out and I’m really thankful that we kept at it.

HOW DID WE GET HERE? was primarily written and recorded over the last year with the help of producers aldn and marinelli. What was it like working with them, and what makes for a good creative collaborator?

Working with aldn and David [marinelli] was better than I could have imagined, and I’m super thankful to have had their help with the record. I think a good collaborator is someone that can make you feel comfortable with the process. I’ve been in rooms before where I haven’t fully felt like I could say what I wanted to say, so open communication is huge for making collaboration work. I think for collaboration to work both parties have to be open to hearing out the other’s ideas, as well as standing their ground when they believe in a decision. 

The visual for "CRASH COURSE" is so fucking cool! How did you develop the concept for this music video and all the visuals that are out right now? What was it like working with Zachary Vague?

Zachary Vague is truly the mastermind behind the operation, and I’m grateful every day to have him as a collaborator. The visuals for "CRASH COURSE" were done by an incredible team of people; Zachary Vague, Ben Dawson, Kenneth Lau, and Dana Bontempo. Zac, Ben, and I put our heads together for a few weeks and landed on something that we really felt captured the energy of the song. The result was so much better than I expected. We shot for two days in Squamish B.C, and all slept in Zac’s parent’s living room. Not only was the shoot a lot of fun but it also was such a positive creative experience. 

What were the most fun and most challenging aspects of shooting the visuals? Do you have a favorite?

The most fun was probably shooting "HAND ME DOWN." Everybody on the shoot had the most positive energy and made the shoot feel so low-stress. The most challenging aspect is probably trying to pull everything together in pre-production to make sure that it all goes smoothly. I know Zac stresses like crazy but somehow always manages to pull it off. The guy is a superstar. I think right now my favorite visual is the one we did for "HAND ME DOWN" or "CRASH COURSE." 

Before becoming a musician, you were (and still are) a classically trained dancer. Does dance still play some role in your art now?

I wouldn’t go as far as still trained, but dance played a massive role in my earlier years. I think it still does to an extent. I feel like being a trained dancer and an un-trained musician makes for an interesting combination of chaos and comfort. I don’t really know what I’m doing, but when something feels right I run with it.

What would you say to anyone who is just now discovering their passion for music and wants to pursue it?

I think the biggest thing is work with what you have. I think a lot of people worry about not having the right equipment but you really don’t need much. Write, write, and keep writing until your hand gets sore, then write some more. Don’t get caught up with numbers and playlists and just focus on making music that feels like you. Also keep in mind that literally none of us have any idea how to “do it right”. The “right” way to do it is your way.

Talking about the future for a second, is there anything you want to experiment with on an upcoming record? Is there anyone you would LOVE to collaborate with?

The songs that come out after this record are much more stripped back and use a lot of live instrumentation, which is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. I’m super excited for everyone to hear it. As for future collaborators I really REALLY want to work with Jesse Rutherford. If anybody has the connect you know where to find me <3