Los Angeles avante-shoegaze quintet Draag share “NSPS,” the second single from their forthcoming EP, Miracle Drug, due out via Smoking Room, the underground tastemaker label from Oakland, CA, on January 23rd. Comprised of Adrian Acosta (songwriter, vocalist, guitarist), Jessica Huang(synth, vocals), Ray Montes (guitar), Nick Kelley (bass), and Nathan Najera(drums), the quintet have earned a reputation as one of the most forward thinking groups in the underground, pairing intricate arrangements with haunting, nostalgic melodies. “NSPS” brims with possibility, interlocking guitar and drums continuously building as new elements are introduced.
On the track, Adrian Costa shares “I wrote NSPS on my 10 year sobriety anniversary. I’ve come very far in my sobriety journey and don’t struggle as much as I used to. Sometimes I miss my drunken days, but without needing to go back. On my 10 year sobrieversary, I spent a lot of time reflecting on past relationships and saw how many were taking advantage of me. I remember the person I was back then, and I wanted approval so bad, even if it meant being abused by so called friends and partners. When I drive through the valley (818), I often drive through specific locations and landmarks in my life where abysmal and ridiculous events occurred during my drinking days. I still love this place and it’s still my place of comfort.”
Lead single “Miracle Drug,” released late last year, was praised by Stereogum,who named it their #1 Song of the Week, FADER, AV Club, Paste Magazine, Remezcla, and more. Watch the eerie video for “NSPS” below, which follows a car navigating a 3D rendering of their local haunts in Los Angeles.
The announcement of the new EP follows their stunning 2024 EP, Actually, the quiet is nice, released on the Philadelphia label Julia’s War, run by rising shoegaze band They Are Gutting A Body Of Water. The band’s critically acclaimed 2023 debut Dark Fire Heresy set things in motion, and the band have tour with Wednesday, MSPAINT, Glitterer, and will just wrapped a run with They Are Gutting A Body of Water celebrating the release of their new album LOTTO.
Watch the video for recent single “Miracle Drug” below, which captures the brutalist aesthetic of a late-night television ad set along to the band’s singular brand of sonic reverie.
