Q&A: Honest and Bold, young friend Releases New Single “CRASH COURSE”

Q&AMusic
Written By The Luna Collective
 

☆ BY Gomi Zhou☆

Photos By Zachary Vague

 
 

REACHING THE NEXT LEVEL OF BRUTAL HONESTY — Drew Tarves, better known as young friend, has released his new single, “CRASH COURSE.” Using a cheeky but vivid metaphor of a literal crash, the 22-year-old artist discusses the dread of potential heartbreak.

As a songwriter, young friend’s lyrics are crisp and clean-cut. Lines such as “I don’t really mind / If you call me after midnight / This feels like a car crash / This feels like a fistfight” hit straight to the point. His production, on the other hand, feels a lot more grungy and a lot less precise. At the same time, every element is aligned and in cohesion with each other to reiterate the hopeless romanticism of it all.

While vulnerability has always been at the core of young friend’s branding, it gets dramatized in his latest music video for “CRASH COURSE.” A sleek helmet, close-ups of cigarette-lighting and his tattoo sleeve, and a full band rock-out moment in the back of a truck only further emphasize young friend’s softer and introspective persona. Just like the very topic being discussed in the song, the concern of a crash in a relationship only arises when there is genuine care, and the grungy visual aesthetic feels almost comforting when it is just a cover-up for tender feelings.

Read below to see how we caught up with young friend about his new track, “CRASH COURSE,” inspirations, and upcoming plans. 

LUNA: Hey! How are you? Can you tell me a bit about “CRASH COURSE” in your own words? 

YOUNG FRIEND: Hi, I’m doing really well! “CRASH COURSE” was written last fall, and it started with some chords I had written during the summer. Listening to it now, it feels very cathartic, which I couldn’t really notice when I wrote it. It’s punchy and expressive and it feels like an honest direction for my music.

LUNA: Who came up with the idea behind the music video? There are quite a lot of ways to express anxiety and something that’s not working out, why an actual crash? Or a “CRASH COURSE?”

YOUNG FRIEND: So my best friend/creative director Zachary Vague and I sat down to brainstorm and we kept referencing The Place Beyond the Pines. We both love that movie and have always wanted to directly reference it somehow. With that, our good friend Ben Dawson really helped us pull it all together visually. We wanted to use the actual crash because it ties in to the “if I speed then I’ll crash” line. I think that line really carries the theme of the song.

LUNA: What is the most important aspect of the songwriting process to you and why is that?

YOUNG FRIEND: For me, the most important aspect is only saying what I need to say. It’s really easy to fill a song with a million lines and take up every moment, but that isn’t always going to benefit the song. Sometimes you just need to put it simply and let the music speak for itself.

LUNA: Your lyrics feel very raw and honest. Do you prioritize expressing what’s on your mind or writing about something that your listeners can relate to?

YOUNG FRIEND: Thank you! I find that I’m constantly using music as an outlet to understand my own life. I feel like as long as I keep being honest in what I’m saying, the listeners will relate. 

LUNA: Who are some artists you would love to collaborate with?

YOUNG FRIEND: Umm… Justin Vernon, Dijon, Remi Wolf, and underscores.

LUNA: Style inspirations, please — both visuals and fashion. I really dig it!

YOUNG FRIEND: Hey, thank you so much!! Lately I’ve been pulling from ’90s David Letterman or 2000s Brad Pitt. To be honest, I just really like old clothes. They have so much character! 

LUNA: What have you got in store for the rest of the year?

YOUNG FRIEND: Well, I can say there is a bunch more music coming out this year. “CRASH COURSE” is the first single off the next EP. Also, live shows and lots more music videos!

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