About

Drowner is a band from Houston, Texas whose big, atmospheric sound draws on influences as varied as shoegaze, postrock, noise pop and dream pop as well as bands like The Cure, R.E.M., My Bloody Valentine and Mogwai. Drowner is Darren Emanuel on guitar/drums/keys, Sean Evans on guitar, Mike Brewer on bass and Anna Bouchard on vocals. They on the Saint Marie Records label.

Drowner began as a side project of Darren Emanuel (Swimming In, Apples to Earth). Darren’s increasing use of the guitar in both of his previous bands led him to an interest in the sounds of a resurgent shoegaze scene and some of the postrock music happening both in Texas and elsewhere. In 2008, he started writing demo tracks to test some new guitar sounds. The early tracks had a soaring, oceanic feel with strong melodies and heavy use of the Roland Space Echo, drenched in fuzzed-out reverb.

In 2010, Darren worked with a few different singers on the project before finding the perfect counterpoint in longtime friend Anna Bouchard. After some discussion of the project, Anna and Darren began writing in their respective studios and sending demos and tracks back and forth via the internet. In January 2011, recording began and continued into March of that year. An E.P. was recorded and mixed in Darren’s Houston studio using a mix of both digital and analog recording techniques. The barn structure that houses the studio contributed a warmth that became part of the band’s sound as the songs developed. True to the original Drowner manifest, the guitars on the E.P. are layer upon layer, saturated in analogue reverb and delay. On tracks like “Point Dume” and “Wildflowers” Anna’s dramatic vocals are stacked up to 40 layers deep. Anna brings not only beautiful vocals to Drowner, but a deep lyricism. In late summer 2011, Sean and Mike joined the band, further expanding the depth and breadth of the instrumental work. In instrumentation and vocals, music and lyrics, Drowner attempts to embody the power of music to overwhelm and transcend.

Drowner is currently in the studio recording their debut L.P. for Saint Marie Records. Their debut E.P. has been expanded and was released on Saint Marie Records on March 13, 2012.