Producer Na’el Shehade and vocalist/songwriter Via Rosa (born Lluvia Rosa Vela) have been working together on a sonic project set to make you feel good – DRAMA. Hailing from the Windy City, the pair will make their debut Coachella performance in April, which can surely mean an Australian tour is brewing (Aus is actually DRAMA’s third biggest streaming country, so you can imagine how pleased fans will be when that news eventually drops).
DRAMA are known for blending genres designed to make your hips move – from hip hop, to jazz, and bossa nova. Their newest single “Tighten It Up” is an ’80s-inspired bop, complete with brass and trumpet bursts, ticking cow bells, sexy guitar lines, and velvety vocals. You can basically see a festival crowd light up at the chorus, or a room full of people sneakily Shazam-ing at your next house party. To celebrate the release, we asked DRAMA to fill us in on the songs and artists that inspired the single.
John Travolta and Olivia Newtown John — “You’re The One That I Want” (1978)
Via: Lyrically, much of the song drew inspiration from the movie ‘Grease’ – in fact, I often think of this song and the final scene of the film when songwriting. While at the studio, I envisioned horse reigns and instantly heard the phrase “Tighten It Up”. I love the confident energy in this classic song, and hope people will feel a similar connection in our new single.
Sade — ‘Maureen’ (1985)
(Both): Sade is a constant north star for us. Her voice and lyrics are as smooth as butter and we have always looked up to her career. This song is one of our favorites, the story is so beautifully written and intricate. We love a good thought-provoking song that tells a story, and aim to do similarly in our discography.
James Brown — “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” (1965)
Via: When I hear “Tighten It Up”, I see James Brown in all gold kicking his foot in the air and commanding the crowd’s attention. The horns in this song are so iconic! Nobody does it like Mr. Brown. Watching back on his live performances is such a joy, now all that’s left is to learn his famous footwork!
Cameo — “I Just Want To Be” (1979)
Na’el: Funk is a constant influence to me as a songwriter and producer. Oftentimes in funk, you’ll hear a consistent bassline with other components added throughout the song. “I Just Want To Be” has the silky presence of horns and percussion, which I love incorporating when possible.
Michael Jackson — “Bad” (1987)
(Both): “Tighten It Up” was written at Westlake Studios in Los Angeles, the very same studio Michael Jackson wrote the song “Bad”. We tapped into a specific energy and caught a wave of creativity – it was such a magical moment when our hook came out. It’s easy to feel like a badass when listening to this song.
Check out the visuals for DRAMA’s bangin’ new single “Tighten It Up” here:
Header image by Zoe Rain.