Christofer Drew changed the game. It’s as simple as that. Back in 2007, riding at the forefront of the new breed of self-made internet artists, nevershoutnever! became a genuine sensation. A song that he recorded in his bedroom was certified gold! His fans just couldn’t get enough of his quirky sincerity, catchy grooves, and offbeat poetry. Wearing his freakiness like a badge of honor, Christofer exhibited the fearless honesty that teens had been craving. His lifestyle was as important to his fans as his music.
Now it’s midway through 2015. Chris and his band are on the road with the massive Vans Warped Tour and Never Shout Never has a new record coming out on August 7 called Black Cat (Warner Bros.).
“This will be our seventh record,” he told AXS in a recent backstage interview. Christofer has an effortless, casual cool that makes James Dean look like he’s trying too hard. “Every record has been an experiment with new sounds, just trying to figure ourselves out musically. And now, we’re finally at a point where I feel like we might be in our prime as far as songwriting.”
Black Cat is the first album in four years that the band didn’t produce themselves. Dennis Herring (Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse) produced the record. “We just kind of took all of our tricks that we had learned from producing ourselves over the past four years and we brought them all to the table. I feel like we’ve made our best sounding record, for sure! We were just trying to do something real, recapture our old fan base, but also hit the younger generation, too, so we could spread the positive message of love and peace.”
Christofer’s perpetual, good-natured smirk, offers the impression that he is just lovin’ every blessed second of life. His easygoing vibe and the way he calls everyone “cat” or “brother” just creates a wonderful aura of positivity that embraces everyone in his vicinity.
The track listing for Black Cat includes “Hey! We OK,” “Fone Tag,” “Red Balloon,” “Happy New Year,” “Awkward Conversations (Best Day),” “Black Cat,” “Peace Song,” “WooHoo,” “BOOM!,” and “All Is Love.” It’s clear to see from just the titles alone that Christofer hasn’t lost his magic when it comes to writing fresh, inventive tunes.
“Yeah, it’s still kind of a free game when I’m writing,” he acknowledged. “I’m really into stories, I like writing story songs. I’ve just gotten a lot better with guitar and singing and writing. Black Cat is probably our most contemporary album. I think it’s definitely going to shine.”
Drew expressed that the Vans Warped tour has been great. “We’ve got a lot of energetic new people who are interested in the music. It’s crazy!” Of particular note, Never Shout Never is also drawing attention and praise from other artists. “A lot of the bands on the tour have told us that they enjoy what we are doing, which is really nice.”
So far, the fans have had a peek at two of the tracks from the upcoming album, the peppy, empowering “Hey! We OK,” and the wildly imaginative, mood-enhancing “Boom!” Next, he will be releasing “Red Balloon,” which is a song inspired by a Harry Nielsen song. “It’s a story of a red balloon that actually shoots up into the sky and sees the bigger picture,” the artist informed.
When asked if he had any closing comments, Christofer didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah, I would just say, it’s all about self-love. It’s all about having a good time with this life and doing what you love. That’s the best advice I can give anybody.”
For more information on the Vans Warped Tour, visit their website, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Instagram and Twitter. For more information on Christofer Drew and Never Shout Never, visit his website, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
July 14 - Mansfield, Mass - Xfinity Center
July 15 - Darien Center, N.Y. - Darien Lake PAC
July 16 - Cincinnati, Ohio - Riverbend Music Center
July 17 - Toronto, ON - Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
July 18 - Columbia, Md. - Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 19 - Holmdel, N.J. - PNC Bank Arts Center
July 21 - Scranton, Pa. - The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
July 23 - Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio - Blossom Music Center
July 24 - Detroit, Mich. - The Palace of Auburn Hills Parking Lot
July 25 - Chicago, Ill. - First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
July 26 - Shakopee, Minn. - Canterbury Park
July 27 - Maryland Heights, Mo. - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 28 - Milwaukee, Wis. - Marcus Amphitheatre
July 29 - Noblesville, Ind. - Klipsch Music Center
July 30 - Bonner Springs, Kan. - Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
Aug. 1 - Salt Lake City, Utah - Utah State Fairpark
Aug. 2 - Denver, Colo. - Pepsi Center Parking Lot
Aug. 5 - San Diego, Calif. - Qualcomm Stadium Parking Lot
Aug. 7 - Portland, Ore. - Portland Expo Center
Aug. 8 - Auburn, Wash - White River Amphitheater
