drax project albums

DRAX PROJECT

RETURN WITH A NEW SOFT BANGER SINGLE
‘MAD AT YOU’


Hey All 💓

Today I am returning with a new band for you. Have you heard of Drax Project? Hail from the 
southwestern Pacific Ocean famous island, New Zealand.  Drax Project is a New Zealand pop and R&B band that formed in Te Aro, Wellington in 2014. Recording a mix of jazz, R&B and pop music, the band came to prominence in 2017 with the single "Woke Up Late", which was certified triple platinum by RIANZ while the 2019 version featuring Hailee Steinfeld was certified triple platinum in Australia.

Beginning as jazz students busking on the streets of Wellington New Zealand. Drax Project has become one of the most-watched and successful groups ever to come out of New Zealand.

Read: Anson Seabra - Unloving You

WHO IS DRAX PROJECT?

drax project albums
From Left: Shaan Singh, Sam Thomson, Matt Beachen & Ben O'Leary

Drax Project members are Shaan Singh (lead vocals, sax, keys), Matt Beachen (drums), Sam Thomson (bass, keys, BVs) and Ben O'Leary (Guitar, keys, BVs).

Most of Drax Project's members went to school together in Porirua and began as buskers in Central Wellington in 2013, composed of Shaan Singh on saxophone and Matt Beachen on drums (the origin of the band's name is a portmanteau of 'drums' and 'sax'). Drax Project mostly performed pop song covers while busking at Courtenay Place, Wellington and performing at local bars and events. 

Double bassist Sam Thomson joined shortly after, and guitarist Ben O'Leary joined the band a year after, when the band made the switch to creating original material. All members were jazz students at the New Zealand School of Music, except for O'Leary who studied music at Whitireia, New Zealand.

BACKGROUND

drax project albums

Through their own headline tours, international festival performances and opening for the likes of Ed Sheeran, Christina Aguilera, Lorde, Brian McKnight and Camila Cabello, the band have established themselves as one of the world's emerging 'must see' live acts.

After two early EPs established their reputation in New Zealand, their self-titled debut album, on US label 300, made ripples around the world. To date Drax Project have collected nearly half a billion streams and 24 platinums internationally, with the single "Woke Up Late" ft Hailee Steinfeld recently passing the threshold for US gold. "Catching Feelings" ft Six60 and Phony Ppl recently peaked at #16 in the US RnB radio charts. 

drax project albums

They accompanied Famous Dex on the standout single “Light” from his chart-topping gold-certified 2018 debut, Dex Meet Dexter, which bowed at #12 on the Billboard Top 200 and more recently collaborated with Diamond certified New Jersey rapper Fetty Wap and Aacacia on the AUS/NZ hit "Firefly". 

Highlight US performances include the i-Heart Radio Festival, Rolling Stone Magazine's Coachella party and two sold out headline club shows in New York. They have the largest streaming New Zealand band on Spotify for over 3 years uninterrupted and have the biggest following of any major New Zealand music artist on Tiktok. ​​​​​​​

“Drax Project have gone from street side performers to supporting the biggest names in pop, including Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran and Lorde.” - Rolling Stone


Read: BLOSSOMS-Ribbon Around The Bomb

NEW RELEASE SINGLE 

drax project albums

On May 27th, New Zealand's slickest live band are celebrating the release of their first single since the country reopened to the world after two years of isolation.

‘Mad At You’ is a classic soft banger. Understated, yet infectious acoustic guitar hooks coupled with a heartfelt liquid honey vocal, over a rhythmic foundation that sneaks gently into the mix but with intents to hit you a whole lot harder than sonically expected.

“The song is about forgiveness – balancing out the good and the bad and choosing to focus on the things that really matter – not being torn apart by those that don’t” –Drax Project

drax project albums

Teaming up with regular collaborator - Grammy-award winning mixer Tom Norris - the Drax Project produced and written single is a return to the casual feel-good vibes of hits like ‘Woke Up Late’ and ‘Toto’.

While the band may have been fairly quiet on the new release front during the pandemic, they’ve also been quietly collecting Ws. Hot New York Neo-soul group Phony Ppl joined their fellow New Zealanders Six60 on a new version of Drax’s hit “Catching Feelings” - which sat for months in the US RnB radio top 40.  

drax project albums

They now have more platinum records in Australia than any other band ever to come out of New Zealand. Singles off the self-titled debut (300/Universal) album have collected nearly half a billion streams worldwide and 24 Platinum certifications to date, with “Woke Up Late” recently hitting the 500k unit threshold for US gold. 

They’ve also amassed the largest Tiktok following of any major NZ music artist.  These impressive numbers look set to soar upon the release of their new EP – now scheduled for July.

“It’s been a pretty weird last couple of years for everyone! From a health standpoint, we’ve been extremely lucky to be in New Zealand – especially early in the pandemic, when we got to play stadiums while the rest of the world was in lockdown – but it has meant being a long way away from a lot of our audience. Focusing more on recording than releasing has made sense. With New Zealand now opening up to the world again, it feels like the right time to start letting out some of the music we’ve been working on” – Drax Project.

‘Mad At You’ drops May 27. New EP drops early July.

drax project albums

Track: Mad at You

Release date: 27.05.22

Listen to Drax Project HERE

LYRICS:


[VERSE]
You make me crazy, I swear to god
Tearing my hair out, when we don’t get along
You say you hate me, I say I’m done
But it’s a lie
‘Cause I never really want you to go

[PRE]
No I can’t play the villain in this scene
When you pull me back in so damn easy
Honey you do something to me

[HOOK]
Sometimes
I just wanna fight
Hard as I try
Baby I can’t stay mad at you
One look in your eyes
I realise
You got a way with me you do
I can’t stay mad yeah
Mad
No I can’t stay mad at you
One look in your eyes
I realise
You got a way with me you do
You do you do you do

[VERSE 2]
Thinking ‘bout what I wanna say
Think about it till I look at you
Then, lose my way, lose my train of thought cause look at you
On my bed
Hair’s a mess
Look so fine
Why was I even mad at all?

[PRE]
No I can’t play the villain in this scene
When you pull me back in so damn easy
Honey you do something to me
mm-mm

[HOOK]
Sometimes (sometimes)
I just wanna fight (just wanna fight)
Hard as I try (mmm)
Baby I can’t stay mad at you you
One look in your eyes
I realize (oh oh)
You got a way with me you do
I can’t stay mad (yea)
Mad
No I can’t stay mad at you
One look in your eyes
I realize
You got a way with me you do

[OUTRO]
You do you
Mm
No I can’t stay mad
No I can’t stay mad at you

Performed by: Drax Project
Written by: Drax Project, Maddy Simmen, Alex Koste
Mixed by: Tom Norris
Mastered by: Dale Becker

drax project albums

Follow Drax Project

 Well, that's all for now! Thanks for reading my blog !! I hope you've enjoyed it!

Have a wonderful day and always be happy!! 

THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF MY READERS  💕🥰
DON'T FORGET TO LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT AND SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW 👍
 Be nice, Be respectful and Be responsible.

ZazaAzman a.k.a MamaMonsta👻
#MadAtYou #DraxProject #musicentertainmentblogger #musicreview
*Disclaimer - Original photo was taken from Google Images. Credit to its owner. 
Edited version done by Zaza Azman