North Carolina based alt-electronic artist Jared Draughon, better known as Must Be The Holy Ghost, is just getting ready to release his new EP, Overflow on September 16th. Serving as an extension of his 2014 release, Get Off, Draughon used the last two years as a chance to perform these songs live and hone in on the perfect sound and message that he wanted to convey. The result is a polished EP and perfect follow-up to Get Off. Draughon will be hitting the road this fall in support of the release with friend and artist Evan Hawkins. Together, the pair create a spectacular visual and audio performance. Read more about the EP, live shows and more below!
Interview by Shannon Shumaker
Can you tell us a little bit about Must Be The Holy Ghost for any readers who may not be familiar?
It’s a solo project I started in 2012 after playing in various bands over the years. I wasn’t inspired as a singer/songwriter like I had been in the past so I bought a few loop pedals, made some beats and started to experimenting. By 2013 it started to come together and I played a few shows.
You’re getting ready to drop your new EP, Overflow on September 16th. What is your favorite thing about this EP or the songs on it?
All the songs are pretty different from one another. I suppose that’s what I like best…it stays fresh but has a continuity to it as well.
You’ve mentioned that Overflow is directly connected with Get Off, which you released back in 2014. Musically or otherwise, what do you feel has changed between these two releases? What has remained the same?
Most of the songs were written shortly after the release of Get Off so there is a similar theme lyrically. It comes from a place of defiance and confusion from a tough divorce I went through. The music is a little more sorted as far as the MBTHG sound…a little more direct and less washed out. A lot of that was due to touring and trying this out in a live setting.
Because you got to sit on some of the songs on Overflow for a while before recording them, do you feel that you were able to really hone in on the sound and the message that you wanted to convey with them?
Yes certainly, I had plenty of experience hearing them live in various rooms across the country which gave me an idea of what it should sound like once I had them in a studio setting.
You recently released a music video for “Melt Down” from the EP. Can you tell us a little bit about the song? What inspired it?
The main idea of the song is that self sabotaging feeling you get when you are drunk and feel insane enough to fuck up a good thing.
The liquid light show in the video for “Melt Down” can be seen on your upcoming tour dates in support of the EP – how did this idea come about?
That’s the brainchild of my friend Evan Hawkins. He took the idea from guys doing something similar back in the 60’s and ran with it. He’s really taken that art form to another level especially since we started touring a bunch.
How did you first become connected with Evan Hawkins and when did you decide to incorporate his art into your live performances?
I’ve known Evan for 8 or so years now. He was a friend and artist in town who started doing projections at live shows in Winston-Salem, NC. He would project when I’d play in town and eventually I was booking out of town shows and bringing him along. By early 2015 he came on tour with me and has since. We’ve played well over 100 shows together since then.
What can fans expect from your upcoming tour dates?
They can expect a nice mix of songs from Overflow, Get Off, and maybe a couple really new song ideas.
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
“Overflow” comes out Sept 16th. You can pre-order the vinyl now at the MBTHG bandcamp and see all the US tour dates there.
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Tour dates:
9/16 – Greensboro, NC @ Urban Grinders
9/17 – Wilmington, NC @ Satellite
9/19 – New York, NY @ Berlin
9/21 – Allentown, PA @ Alternative Gallery
9/23 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Back Bay Brewing
9/24 – Winston-Salem, NC @ The Garage
9/26 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Mockbee
9/27 – Fort Wayne, IN @ The Brass Rail
9/30 – St. Louis, MO @ Foam
10/1 – Springfield, MO @ Front of House
10/4 – Denver, CO @ Seventh Circle
10/5 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
10/7 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place
10/18 – Austin, TX @ Dirty Dog
10/11 in Los Angeles @ Residence
10/13 Los Angeles, CA @ Harvard & Stone
10/15 Long Beach, CA @ 4th Street Vine
10/20 – San Antonio, TX @ Limelight
10/21 – Fort Worth, TX @ Shipping and Receiving
10/26 – Atlanta, GA @ 529
10/29 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor