Illinois rock outfit OUTDrejas have released a powerful and uplifting music video for the song “Promise” which can be viewed below.
The song has received widespread support, radio play and garnered hundreds of thousands of plays on Facebook in a very short time. The band is proving that in a chaotic world, a positive message can cut through the madness.
The song was produced by recorded by Chris Shepard (The Hives, Wilco, Smashing Pumpkins, Static-X, Buddy Guy, Incubus, Elvis Costello, KMFDM, Mastodon), Matt Dougherty (Disturbed, Saint Asonia, Adelitas Way, Megadeth, Pop Evil, Avatar, Nonpoint, Staind, 3 Doors Down) and Mason Bonner (Chance The Rapper, DJ Khaled) at Chicago Recording Company and Groovemaster Studios Chicago. The track was mastered by Ryan Smith (AC/DC, Coldplay, Adele, Ozzy Osbourne, Keith Richards, Beyonce, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Joe Bonamassa) at Sterling Sound New York.
The band is fronted by David Drejas; software engineer, sports nut, and part owner of Mick’s Picks, guitar pick company and manufacturer of the best selling Ukulele picks in the world.
Drejas states, “While I was attending college, Craig Robinson came to speak and do a comedy routine. Being that Craig plays Darryl Philbin on my favorite show The Office, I was super excited and after the show I went up to the stage to talk to him and get an autograph. I said to him, “You know man, I really want to be on the side of the stage that you’re on right now. How do I get from this side of the stage to that side?”. He told me, “Make a promise to yourself that you’re going to get there. Then all you have to do is keep your promise. Do something every single day that helps you achieve your goal. You’ll be surprised how quickly the small stuff adds up.” I went back to my college apartment that night and wrote the verses to “Promise”. I got to record and mix it with industry professionals I looked up to at two historic studios that I admire. The entire process taught me a TON about the recording process and how to actually write a good song. I used the message from the song to inspire me to put my all into this.”
The music video for “Promise” was directed by Peter Doucette who has directed videos for artists such as City of the Weak, Vinyl Theatre, Enterprise Earth, and Maiden Dixie.
Drejas remarks, “The music video is important to me because we recorded it in many of the places that helped me become the musician I am today. Mama and Me Pizza gave us our first big gig. Big Shots music venue allowed us to open and share the stage with many of our heroes. And the House of Blues in Chicago always treats us with a ton of respect and you can almost feel the presence of all the great musicians that have graced that stage as you perform or hang out in the dressing rooms backstage. It was really cool to go on all these adventures with my best friends and have two finished products to show for it. A great song and a sweet video!”
OUTDrejas takes heavy influence from groups such as AC/DC, Red Hot Chili Peppers, O.A.R., Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, Green Day, Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed and more.
About the formation of the band, Drejas reveals, “I was playing bass in a metal band and we were playing one of the good local rock clubs around Illinois. I got to know the talent buyer so I asked if he could book my other band which was a rock band. He booked us onto a battle of the bands… which was cool except I had totally made the other band up. It didn’t exist. I had a month to create the new band and be ready with material for the battle. We took 2nd place which was enough to get us booked opening for Puddle of Mudd. That led to us playing House of Blues. That led me to Mick’s Picks which led me to NAMM. Everything’s been a snowball effect.”
