Drella Release Single 'Love Island Lad'
“An incendiary new band from Bradford” – Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music
“They make me want to mosh and get proper feral!” – Alyx Holcombe, BBC Radio 1
“The political bleakness of our contemporary age affects almost everyone... Drella are here to give a voice to that fury and show us that we’re together in our isolation.” – Poppy Bristow, Fresh on the Net
In a society rife with toxic masculinity, Drella’s riff-heavy, head-banging new single Love Island Lad, which will be released on Friday 30th May, is a witty analysis of patriarchal power relations and the problematic behaviours they encourage.
The track centres around a fictitious night out where the band meet a former contestant from ITV’s reality TV show Love Island.
> “Love Island epitomises stereotypical masculinity, so it felt like the perfect lens through which to explore the themes of toxic masculinity and patriarchy,” explains frontman Jonathan Whyatt. “The lads on the show are walking clichés; macho men trying anything they can to impress the ladies. We’ve all met men like this, whether it be on a night out or at work, so the idea of a ‘Love Island Lad’ is something everyone instantly understands and is therefore a great metaphor for analysing patriarchal power relations in all aspects of life.”
Drella’s witty exploration of the patriarchy couldn’t be more acutely timed, with the rise of misogynistic internet influencers meaning sexist views are becoming more widespread in many parts of society. Turning dread into defiance, the comical and amusing nature of Love Island Lad brings a refreshing sense of humour into a serious issue.
Another product from the band's ongoing collaboration with Ady Hall and Lee McCarthy of Sugar House Music (Corella, VENUS GRRRLS, Viola Beach), the song contains many aspects that have become characteristic of Drella’s sound: a crunching guitar hook, a melodic bassline and a thunderous drumbeat, as well as lyrics that are loud enough for the rioters and sharp enough for the deep thinkers.
The new single comes off the back of a whirlwind couple of years for the up-and-coming rock band, which has seen them receive praise from the likes of Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music as well as Alyx Holcombe on BBC Radio 1, alongside countless plays on BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and Planet Rock. The band has also received press coverage from Louder Than War, Clash Magazine and Fresh on the Net, and has received support from Music:Leeds’ Launchpad programme, earning them a slot at Live At Leeds Festival in 2023.
Notable recent shows include a performance at Manchester’s Beyond the Music Festival in 2024 as well as a support slot for Australian rock band DZ Deathrays.
About Drella
Using music and activism to fight against the economic struggles facing their hometown of Bradford, Drella combine politicised lyrics with gritty guitar riffs, catchy bass lines and thunderous drums to deliver their brand of politically charged alternative rock.
