Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

What’s a common myth about independent artists and can you debunk it?
I think it’s a common myth that independent artists don’t like music or artists that are signed to
labels, which is definitely not true. I have lots of respect and love for many artists that are
signed, it’s just a different path.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter the music industry?
Be yourself, work really hard, write lots of songs, and create realistic expectations for yourself.
Are there any resources or advice that have really helped you on your journey?
I think getting to know and befriend other artists has always been really helpful. Listening to lots
of great music, listening to podcasts, reading about writers like John Prine and Jeff Tweedy and
how they write and think about things, and watching documentaries is all really helpful.
What has been your biggest accomplishment in your career thus far?
I think the biggest accomplishment is how long I’ve kept my band together. That’s really hard to
do in today’s era, there are lots of options for other people to do other things, so the fact that
we’re still all together. I’m very proud of that.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
I wish that I had paid more attention to the journey and less about trying to arrive and succeed.
More about just enjoying the process and the ride.
What led you to becoming a singer-songwriter?
For me, music got me through a lot of really difficult and even tragic seasons of my life and I
started writing songs to kind of deal with some of those things and that’s really why I think I
started doing it.
What do you think is your unique skill that has helped you become successful?
I’m not sure I have a unique skill, but I think I’m good at building a great team. Both with my
band on the creative side, but also with my management and booking agents on the business
side. Really creating a collaborative atmosphere for the music and for touring and the recording.
How did this project begin?
This project began coming out of the pandemic. I started writing a lot of songs and playing with
the band, just really having a lot of fun because we missed it for 18 months. I really wanted to
get in the studio, so I started writing a ton. Both alone and with other writers. And I started

getting the band together to play those songs, and then we decided we wanted to go to the
studio and make a record. What’s different about this one is we started from scratch in the
studio, really had no agenda, didn’t know which songs were gonna make the record. We
recorded 24 songs and Strangers No More is what came out of that.
What’s the inspiration behind this project?
It’s really a record about community in a world of chaos. It’s about getting older, it’s about time
and a lot of self reflection about life and how much we need each other. It’s about friendship,
things of that nature.
What word or phrase would you use to describe this project?
I would use the word gratitude. It’s an appropriate word for this record.
How can listeners get in touch with or support you?
Mainly through social media, instagram, twitter, our email list, and by coming to see shows!
What is coming up for you in the near future?
We’re on tour with Darius Rucker this summer and we’re headlining in the fall and spring. Just
doing lots of radio things and tv things to support this album and I’m really excited about all of
that.
Many people believe that becoming a musical artist is challenging to the point it becomes
overwhelming and too much to handle. Why do you think people believe that?
I think for a lot of people it’s true. That’s why people believe it. Because it has taken down a lot
of really creative people because you spend a lot of time traveling, there’s a lot of self doubt.
You’re making something that’s very precious to you, and then the world sometimes tells you
that it doesn’t mean anything or it doesn’t matter. It’s really difficult and hard to process that, so I
think it is overwhelming and too much to handle for a lot of people and that’s okay.
What’s the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Back to the last answer, I think it’s really hard, and some people find that it’s easier to do
something else with their time and creative talents.
What is your favorite word?
Family.
What are you not very good at?

Basketball.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
I wish that I could fly. Not like in an airplane, but actually just like as a person.
If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?
I would be peanut butter.
If you could switch lives with someone for a day, who would you choose?
That’s a good question. Maybe like a professional snow skier. That sounds fun.