Get To Know: Drypoint

Emerging from Los Angeles’ ever-evolving alternative scene, Drypoint are carving out a sound that feels both atmospheric and immediate, balancing moody intensity with a refined, modern edge. With their latest release, the band leans further into dynamic contrasts, expansive textures, and a more deliberate approach to songwriting, signaling a clear evolution from their earlier work. Teaming up once again with producer Gabe VanBenschoten, Drypoint have embraced experimentation while sharpening their identity, resulting in a collection of songs that explore growth, change, and the complexities of adulthood. We caught up with the band to talk about their creative process, challenges in the studio, and the direction they’re heading next.

Welcome to Curious For Music! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest release? 

We wanted to do something a little more high definition and modern this recording session. We still didn’t have many shows booked around the time of recording, so we decided to continue writing and hit the studio again this time with our buddy Gabe VanBenschoten (Mossbreaker, Aimee Nash). We wanted something darker, bigger, more ambient and dynamic. We sought to utilize the loud/quiet trick a little more and get a little more adventurous on song structure. We had to part ways with our previous bass player, but luckily Garrett stepped in and tracked the EP with us. He quickly learned the songs and made them even better than what was originally planned. 

What was the creative process like for this project? 

Dorian: I pre-produced Just Remember and Midnight Sky in my little makeshift dining room home studio and sent it over to Gabe to refine and smooth out. Cyclist was a voice memo’d riff I had that Gabe liked and we jammed it out and structured it with our previous bassist. Generally though, each member will bring ideas to the table and we see where those ideas can take us just from jamming it out together. 

How does this new release differ from your previous work? 

Dorian: The recording processes for both sessions were pretty different in terms of approach. For the first EP (done with our friend Sebastian Jones at Wasatch Studios) we tracked each song recording together at once, old school style. I had never recorded this way so it was an interesting experience. We had a very vintage and analog approach to it. When we first started the band, we were a four piece Post Punk band. We lost our frontman so we renamed ourselves Drypoint and rebranded our sound entirely. That previous session at Wasatch was our first stab at this new sound we developed. For this session, we were a little more open to trying new things out but also more confident on what we wanted to do. We loved our friend Gabe VanBenschoten’s previous band, Mossbreaker, so we embraced his input as a producer. We recorded separately this time, giving more attention and detail to each instrument. I layered more guitars this session compared to the previous EP where I only layered in the twelve string on certain parts. I also used humbucker guitars while the previous EP was purely single coil. Gabe (drummer, not engineer) also experimented with different drum tones and played on an entirely different kit. Garrett joined the band a couple weeks prior to the recording date, so his playing style and personality added a whole different dynamic than the previous session. He also had a cleaner and more neutral approach to tone, compared to the Bass on the previous EP that was almost all heavily fuzzed out bass chords. 

Were there any particular challenges you faced while making this music? 

Dorian: I think nailing the vocals was the biggest challenge. It took about three separate sessions to get down. I grew up singing everything in full voice and over-singing but I wanted to try a softer, more chilled out vocal approach. This style turned out to be difficult to adapt to. We also opted to not drown the vocals with wet effects. I am still finding my voice for this project but this session gave some more clarity on the possibilities.

Gabe: For me, the biggest challenge during the recording process was learning to let go of what I thought I needed to use in the studio and trust the intuition of Gabe VanBenschoten, our engineer/producer. He has a great ear and we already had a great sense of trust with him, but I was convinced I needed to use certain cymbals/snares. He had me try a few combinations out until we landed on something that we all really liked; entirely different gear from what I had in mind going into the sessions, and it was better than I could have imagined. 

Did you collaborate with any other artists or producers on this project? 

For this EP we recorded with Gabe VanBenschoten, who we had already collaborated with in the past. He recorded the early post punk version of our band (Model Citizen) as well as Dorian’s previous band (Mason Gold). This new direction we decided to go with was right up his alley and we were excited to get back in the studio with him. It was a very smooth recording experience. We trusted him and let him do his thing. 

What message or emotion do you hope listeners take away from this release?

Be open to wherever life takes you, don’t be scared of change and don’t be scared of help from others.

Is there a story or concept that ties the songs together? 

The three songs represent different stages of being an adult. 

Just Remember is about finding independence and adapting the constant change life throws at you. Midnight Sky has themes of just basic companionship and connecting with other people. Cyclist touches on learning from your mistakes and not repeating them, primarily generational trauma. 

How has your sound or style evolved on this release compared to your earlier work? 

Dorian: I think we sound much crisper, refined and more mature than the previous EP. The new EP has been received very well but there are people who still listen to and love the first EP. I think the first EP kind of grows on you, while this batch of songs has a more immediate impact. I feel this session got us closer to the sound we are actually aiming to do. The newer material we are currently working on is also a lot more collaborative and natural sounding since Garrett has joined the band. 

Is there a track in your music discography that feels especially meaningful to you? What makes it stand out? 

Dorian: My personal favorite and the one I am most proud of is “Just Remember”. I think it is the most aesthetically pleasing and it is the first track we made where I am like “okay this is pretty cool”. It’s dreamy but also kind of nightmarish. It’s also rhythmically strange. It feels like an odd time signature but it isn’t. It also sounds and feels like nighttime in LA to me. 

Gabe: The track that feels the most meaningful is probably “Midnight Sky”. It was the first track where I felt all of us really locked into each other musically and gave us the sense that we collaborated very well together. It’s the most structurally complex song so far and it was really satisfying to see it all come together, both in the studio and on stage.

How do you plan to share this release with your audience? Are there any upcoming performances, videos, or special projects in the works?

Currently, we are playing as many shows as possible to promote ourselves and we have quite a few shows booked in and around Los Angeles over the next few months. We are very focused on sharpening up our live set and just learning and figuring things out as we go. We also are planning to film a short, mini live session and get back into the studio in the near future to create some new music.