The Zane Lowe Show
In the studio with Ryan Williams and Nick Cohen + debut single premier.

ZL: Alright people, settle down. Tonight we're here to bring you a WORLD EXCLUSIVE premier of PURE's debut single 'Love & Drugs'. You can feel the tension already building. We're not going to ease it up. It is our Hottest Record In The World right now and we will be bring it straight to you... a little later. First though, we have Ryan and Nick from the band in the studio for a little chat. So, how are you guys? I see you've made it across the Atlantic in one piece.

RW: Alright man. Yeah, we've finally reached our destination after a few shitty delayed flights and being stuck in Frankfurt airport for 12 hours, we've finally got here.

ZL: Wait, Frankfurt airport for 12 hours?

RW: Yeah, it's a shitty story. Wait, can I say that?

ZL: No... I apologize at home if you found anything just said offensive... blame Ryan Williams and the rest of PURE, I am not going down for this.

RW: [laughs] So sorry everyone. I'll keep my tongue in check. But yeah, we flew from New York - which is where we're based now - to Frankfurt in Germany because we left it last minute and couldn't get a direct flight.

NC: We didn't leave it last minute, Ryan did.

ZL: Oh, oh I see. So the confident frontman wanted to take all the duties of organizing it and couldn't? [laughs]

RW: Something like that. Then there was a storm over our flight path so we couldn't move for 12 hours. It was a terrible time. But we've finally gotten here now.

ZL: Good, good. it's great to have you both with us, we're honored to premier your first single. It's unusual for an American band to premier their music in the UK.

RW: Yeah, it is, it's a strange one actually. Our sound kinda fits more in the British indie scene, we've had a lot of success there with our tour. When we supported Mark Talley, the crowds took to us really well. I remember some people being completely shocked when we told them we were California natives.

ZL: I can imagine! So, debut single 'Love & Drugs' is being released independently?

NC: Sort of. Ryan wanted to release it, just ourselves this time but we found out that we know absolutely nothing doing that. So, we signed to an indie label called Big Nothing, which is actually a UK based label, we're their first American band. So yeah, it'll be released independently. We don't want any unnecessary hype or pressure building up on us, we just want to do what we love without those things creeping in.

ZL: And this is off your debut EP, right?

RW: Yeah, totally. We initially had planned to release a different song first, but we thought, 'hey, let's make it a more upbeat debut'. And even though I say that and it sounds sorta upbeat, the lyrics are still very dark and personal for me. I don't think I could release a song without it meaning something really deep, do you know what I mean?

ZL: Totally guys. Is there any provisional dates set for the EP release?

RW: Not yet. We've completed two of the four EP's that we plan on releasing already but we haven't sorted a release date out yet. You're probably looking at mid-June or late-June for it. Which is pretty cool because it still ain't too far away.

ZL: Alright, I won't keep you boys much longer, shall we play the new single?

RW: Ah, yeah man, sure.

ZL: Ladies and gentlemen, listen close. This is truly beautiful. It is nothing like what I expected from you guys, but I think that is what makes it even better. Seriously, stop what you're doing and listen. If you're driving along a road, even better. This is PURE - Love & Drugs.

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Title: Love & Drugs
Released: 26/05/13
Recorded: Berlin (January - March 2013)
Genre: Indie rock
Length: 4:01
Label: Big Nothing [Independent]
Producer: Ryan Williams, Dan Hoswer, Zach Marshall, Nick Cohen
Writers: Ryan Williams

The debut single from American rockers PURE is the infectious 'Love & Drugs'. The song is filled with jingles and a rather groovy bassline. Williams' soft vocals are drenched in reverb as he displays a part of his voice that he never before had shown. The former Misery Loves Company frontman was a self-confessed lover of sad songs, so it makes for a pleasant difference when the upbeat keys are playing. Williams sings about a girl who can't seem to make her mind up, as they both go out together but when he leaves it never takes her long to move on. Williams spoke last year about how much drugs took over his life in his early years and he makes references here, as he sings about his need to stop "shoving things up my nose". The verses are rapid as Williams tries his best to keep notes short for the long verses. In between each bar there is an almost Prince like guitar riff. PURE have been described as a 'guitar band' before but this song showcases the other side to them. They have noted that they are very influenced by ambient and 80's pop music, which is evident from this single. As the chorus comes along, Williams vocals go further out as he reaches his peak, dropping into falsetto towards the end. The song is the complete package for teenage fans, it has the relatable lyrics and the radio-friendly sound. The band were keen to ensure that they didn't explode or get any unnecessary hype early on in their career, but I think after this single, that may be a lot harder to do.

"For me, the song is really personal. It's basically around tour life and shit. I mean, there was girl who I met up with when we were recording one time. We went out a few times and just bonded and ended going home with each other. So that went on for a month or so, without becoming official or serious. I mean, we were both going out and fucking other people. But obviously after some time, you start developing feelings. So that happened and fucked everything up. It's basically about my love life, my touring lifestyle, my drugs use and sort of the balance in between them all."

Fuck with my mind if you like that
I’ll sit quietly in the corner sparking up another bat
Oh I prefer you when you’re not talking
Like when we’re making love and you’re rocking
So I guess I’ll take you down town and we can drink together
Later on you’ll be sitting on my bed begging me to stay here forever
It it’s not a question of if, it’s when I’m leaving again
I don’t know if we should really be more than friends
So I’ll count to ten inhale some more
And talk about how much I adore you

I was caught up on a lover, it once blossomed like a flower
I thought it was alright, to bring a knife into a gun fight
She said please don’t leave, don’t leave me baby
Tried to convince me to wear my heart on a sleeve
But now we’re dead and gone

The bus came around and I hopped on without looking back
You break down in tears saying you’re left on your own with a bottle of Jack
I’ll call around try and release you from the pain
And there you are drunk out of your mind fucking him again
Why do I waste my time on those who can’t bothered
Girls like you are just those who can’t be ignored
So I’m going to make a deal with devil to see how it goes
I need to see if it works but in the end who really knows
Clean up that line with a paper bill
I’ve been doing it so long it’s becoming a skill
Anything I can do to keep my mind of you
I’ll do cause I mean this time we’re through

I was caught up on a lover, it once blossomed like a flower
I thought it was alright, to bring a knife into a gun fight
She said please don’t leave, don’t leave me baby
Tried to convince me to wear my heart on a sleeve
But now we’re dead and gone

So come here a little close I want to whisper you something
Fell in love so hard I was even close to giving her a ring
My mind wasn’t there and my head was gone
As we made love well into the dawn
I suppose there were a few times that I will miss
But I don’t want to spend my time reminiscing
It’s time to draw it to a close
And to stop shoving blow up my nose

I was caught up on a lover, it once blossomed like a flower
I thought it was alright, to bring a knife into a gun fight
She said please don’t leave, don’t leave me baby
Tried to convince me to wear my heart on a sleeve
But now we’re dead and gone

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