The second Raurfest hosted by LoveRenaissance and Creative Loafing featured over fifteen artists including its heading act, Raury, and some surprise guests. One of those artists to grace the stage was D.R.A.M., a rapper/singer from Virginia. D.R.A.M., who is known for his #1EPICSUMMER EP performed his hit, “Cha Cha”, and his contribution to Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment’s Surf project, “Caretaker”. We were able to catch the growing artist briefly after the show to talk about the festival and his plans for the future.
D.R.A.M., this is GAFollowers, my name is Isaiah Smart, and we just left Raurfest, where you put on a very nice, although short performance. The next time we see you, when and where will that be?
Well, starting July 10, I’m running on tour with Waka. It’ll start in Nashville on July 10 and there are other dates throughout the midwest and northeast.
Now, going in to that, are you going to drop some more music before the tour? Are we going to get some stuff in the midst of it, or do we have to wait until everything is said and done to get some new music from you?
New music is coming soon.
Ok, coming soon, we’ll take “coming soon”. D.R.A.M., tell us more about you. We’ve talked to some other artist and we want to know who you are. We want to know background.
I’m the guy that’s like, “man, who the f*ck is him?” That was always me. I didn’t really associate with one thing. It’s always been a mixture. I stayed out of people’s way.
How would you define your music in that same mindset?
Kind of like unexpected — sh*t what you wouldn’t expect from me
What kind of high school student were you?
I was that misfit. I was the oddball.
Now everyone is watching on stage, huh?
Well, I mean I would always sing at the assemblies and sh*t. They knew I sang but I didn’t play sports. I still can’t dribble between my legs. My closest friends were from a whole ‘nother area. They didn’t even go to the school, so I was always in the cut for real; but, everyone kind of f*cked with me so whatever.
What was your favorite part about tonight? Whose performance did you enjoy the most? Was it the vibe or the crowd? What was it about tonight that really did it for you that will keep you coming back?
Just the overall energy, man. I still don’t know the name of the venue but I’ll know it if I ever get the chance to go back there. It was dope.
Alright, if you could make a “super-track”, so to speak, with guests from tonight, only five, who would you put on a song?
Alright. I’d pick, the big homie, K.R.I.T….my homegirl, SZA, (laughs). I’m so basic right? I’m just saying names that are like, “of course”. Raury! Everybody! Raury, Curtis Williams, that’s my n*gga. Uhhhh, is that five? That’s four . . .
We had Trinidad, Elhae —
OH YEAH! TRINI! Hell yeah, I’ll throw Trini on that. I forgot, my fault, shout out to him.
So, who would produce it? Any producer you can choose.
Gabe Niles, straight up.
Alright, for our final question, D.R.AM., what do you want people to take away from your music?
Take away authenticity. Take away real feelings, because if I put it on wax I really felt that way. It’s never no flexing, it’s never no wailing. And hopefully it can relate to people’s lives too. I’m just a dude, just living. I got to see people come around and call themselves sh*tting on me. Then, a year later they come with porridge in a bowl and I’m like, “damn man, it could’ve been love all the way”. But, I love everybody.
For those unfamiliar with D.R.A.M., check out the video for “Cha Cha” and the audio for “Caretaker”. If you like what you hear, check out #1EPICSUMMER.
