Q&A: Drive-In Talks ‘This Is Not A Rom-Com,’ Mental Health & Skeleton Symbolism

 

☆ By PEGGY CHEN ☆

 
 

A SOOTHING DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE ON A CRISP, FALL MORNING — is the perfect place to listen to This Is Not A Rom-Com, Drive-In’s latest album. The Brooklyn-based alt-rock duo, composed of Louisiana-born Ally Rincon and Chicago native Mitch Meyer, released their first EP on Nov. 4, after the release of their second single, “Narcissus,” in September. 

This Is Not A Rom-Com explores the highs and lows of life through an unabashedly authentic perspective. From reflecting on heartbreak in “The One Before” to breaking off one-sided relationships in “Narcissus,” the EP pairs a soothing, Americana-esque track with raw, emotive lyrics, creating a sonic experience for listeners. 

For Rincon, music-making isn’t just cathartic, it’s important. “There is still so much stigma around having mental health issues,” Rincon said. “The conversation must continue until it's normalized because no one should feel alone.”

Rincon draws upon personal experiences to craft relatable lyrics and works with Meyer to develop cohesive, nearly nostalgic melodies. “I love having an inkling of an idea and bringing it to life,” Meyer shared. “It's what drives me.”

Read below to delve into the duo’s inspirations, why they make music, and their upcoming projects.

LUNA: Happy fall! How have you two been doing?

RINCON: I've been doing okay! I just moved to Brooklyn and had a lovely Halloween weekend with friends.

MEYER: Good! Been enjoying these 70-degree November days!

LUNA: What's something that has been making you happy recently?

RINCON: Other than the fact that this EP is coming out, I've been enjoying spending time with my friends, going to concerts, reading, and catching up on my favorite shows. I've been trying to do better at making time for myself. 

MEYER: Been doing more bike rides with the squad recently. I did a 25-mile up from Brooklyn around Central Park and back yesterday, which is a good ride! Also been doing more music writing in my room with no goal in mind recently, which is something I got away from for a bit, but it’s something that is really meditative for me.

LUNA: Why does mental health play such a large theme in your music? What compels you to share your thoughts and feelings through music?

RINCON: It's important to talk about because even in 2022 there is still so much stigma around having mental health issues. The conversation must continue until it's normalized because no one should feel alone and like they can't go to someone with their feelings or experiences. Growing up, the conversation about mental health was vastly different than it is today. I felt alone in my mind, and as all of my intrusive thoughts got louder and louder that loneliness also grew, and my anxiety and depression became less manageable. [The] trauma I'd dealt with couldn't be bottled up and repressed anymore, which led to some dark places. I don't want anyone to feel the loneliness I felt, and if [our] music can help do that, then that's what we're gonna do.

LUNA: Drive-In’s music really reaches out to the listener and connects with them. How are you able to connect with the listener, even if they haven't necessarily gone through those experiences themselves?

RINCON: Even though you may not have gone through the exact same situation, most people have gone through something similar. I'm sure most people have experienced feelings of heartbreak that's on “The One Before” or the confusion and frustration you feel on “Impact,” the anxiety all over “Overwhelmed,” and the “fuck you” energy that rages through “Narcissus.” And if they haven't, I hope listeners can at least empathize with those feelings and the people who have felt them.

LUNA: Loving the cover art of the EP! Is there a meaning behind the skeleton? 

RINCON: All the art is based on photos I took, except for “Narcissus.” The cover of Ovid's Metamorphoses actually inspired that one. Anyway, I was walking around Jersey City and saw this skeleton fallen apart and lying on the stairs and, for some reason, thought it was hella relatable. It more or less embodied how I felt/feel in the song “Overwhelmed.” We wanted to tie all the artwork for the singles and the EP together, so we thought this skeleton character — whose name is Skelly, in case anyone was curious — would be a cool character to put into all of these scenes we'd created. I want to shout out the fantastic artist who did all the artwork S.A. Hadi. He's fucking amazing!

LUNA: What part of music-making excites you the most? Is it playing live? Songwriting or testing out melodies? Or something else?

MEYER: For me, it’s all about songwriting and recording.  I love creating a piece of art out of thin air. I love having an inkling of an idea and bringing it to life. It's what drives me.

RINCON: I mean, honestly, all of it is exciting! Obviously, writer's block can be frustrating and sometimes I get a bit emotional or nervous when I perform, but when it all comes together, the highs outshine the lows. However, if I had to pick one thing, I'd say that when a song finally clicks and comes together during the writing process, that's when I'm most excited, although performing is also great too!

LUNA: What's in store for the future? Any cool projects or overall goals?

MEYER: Tons — Brooklyn is a booming music scene. Planning to do some more Drive-In recordings in 2023, and I'm working on some other projects with pals as well. Lots of creative people connecting and making beautiful things over here.

RINCON: We have so many new songs that we're excited to finish writing and eventually record! I'd love to record and release another EP in 2023 and keep doing cool shows around NY. We're open to any opportunity the universe throws our way, though, so I'm excited to see how the next adventure unfolds!

LUNA: Any final thoughts? 

RINCON: This Is Not A Rom-Com was a labor of love and is just the beginning of the band's journey and of a much bigger concept that we hope to create and share with all of you. I hope that you stick around to see how the story unfolds! We are so grateful for everyone that's been a part of this process, including our friends Quinn Devlin and Ryan Erwin, who were both a big part of bringing this EP to life.

Also, if you're reading this and struggling with your mental health, I know it's not easy, but please know you are loved and not alone. Make sure you drink some water today and do something kind for yourself. Also, hi, mom!

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