Dragon Fire: Chin Up – Drive (single)
Full-throttle positivity: Chin Up! drop their new single Drive…
Chin Up’s newest release, Drive, is not only a powerful statement of self-belief but a clear reflection of the band’s mission to promote positivity. Born in the practice studio from a simple warm-up riff Gav had instinctively played for years, the band shaped it into a full track built around resilience, encouragement, and pushing through the moments that try to slow you down. It’s a song about backing yourself, choosing your direction, and refusing to let the harder days take the wheel.
The band’s JP says: “The plan with chin up was always to promote positivity and Drive became our song all about self belief and resilience. The song was born in the practice studio when Gav was warming up using the intro riff, It’s some thing he’d instinctively done for year but we developed it into a whole song. Drive encourages the listener to persist in their endeavours and not let hard times stop you from getting where you want to be.”
The band say the lyric that best reflects where they stand right now is the opening line of the chorus: “Stop sitting in the back seat, the road belongs to you.”
JP expands: “When Chin Up first came about it was very much a casual thing with no real intention of doing anything too crazy, just write a few songs, play a few gigs and have fun but this past year we have really gone the extra mile to try and put ourselves out there and play bigger and better shows than ever before. Making the jump from being a passive “passenger” in the music industry to really taking the initiative to choose our own path has been difficult but ultimately very rewarding and i feel like this mirrors the message of the song quite well.”
The creation of Drive also came with its share of memorable moments, especially as it was the first track where the band experimented seriously with vocal harmonies. “This was the first song we really started experimenting with vocal harmonies, Trav and Gav had never really done any melodic vocal work previously so it was a good opportunity for development and helping them find their voice, Trav has really stepped up to the plate and is now doing harmonies on most of our songs live. Doing anything with Gav is normally equal parts disastrous and hilarious and recording was no different, we must have spent most of the session buckled over laughing at various outtakes and outbursts.”
And in classic JP fashion, he’s continued his tradition of neck-spinning his guitar during the bridge… though in recent months, that’s resulted in him smacking himself in the back of the head at three out of four shows.
Live, Drive has quickly become a crowd favourite. Its chorus gives it a sing-along energy that fans immediately connect with. “Drive is easily one of our most accessible songs,” enthuses JP “and people have been asking when we’d be releasing it as a single ever since our first single way back in February. The addition of the layers of backing vocals in the chorus have elevated this song to be an singalong anthem.“
Musically, “Drive” is one of the band’s earliest creations, but it also hints at their direction moving forward. Yet, no matter how far they branch out, the heart of Chin Up! remains constant.
“Drive was actually one of the first songs we ever wrote,” JP explains, ” and is a little different in style to the core sound we have established over the past 2 years but it does signal our intention a bit as we are looking to diversify a little more with future songs, some a bit more pop some a bit more ska, some faster and more technical and even some a bit on the heavier side but all still being distinctly Chin Up in nature, focusing on positivity and fun! We’ve only really got one gig left this year on saturday at Fife Metal Fest, got one or two things lined up for next year but nought we can announce quite yet…”
The track also hits an unexpectedly nostalgic note in all the right places, carrying the kind of upbeat, adrenaline-soaked tone that feels straight out of a classic Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater soundtrack. It wouldn’t look out of place blasting through one of those iconic games — and honestly, it wouldn’t be a surprise if it gained a much bigger following because of that vibe. The band are already preparing for what comes next, with more to be announced in the new year.
Final verdict: a confident and exciting A-
A powerful start to the next chapter of Chin Up!’s journey, and a promising sign of exactly where this band is headed.
Kevvymetal
Stream Drive on all platforms here.
READ MORE NEWS IN DRAGON FIRE ON SLOW DRAGON MUSIC
READ MORE INTERVIEWS IN FORKED TONGUES ON SLOW DRAGON MUSIC
Dragon Fire: Chin Up – Drive (single)
