DARRIAN GERARD TALKS TWO TICKETS

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

When did you write 'Two Tickets'?

I actually wrote 'Two Tickets' like right after I performed at a festival last year! It’s a song about the sting of being let down by someone that you thought would always be there for you. It’s sort of about me longing for someone to show up, and they never do. Writing this song actually let me work through those emotions and helped me realize that not everyone’s going to be there for you and that’s okay!

The Blink 182-inspiration is heavy on this new track though of course it is an inspiration that’s always been there for you. Pop punk is where your heart always been, your first hotmail was even "Princess of Punk 20", which sums it up well?

(Laughs) The email! Ever since I can literally remember I’ve loved music, specifically pop-punk and rock and that sort of genre. I had some super cool aunts who sort of developed my music taste for me when I was very young, showing me Avril Lavigne, Blink 182, Sum 41, all those great artists and bands, and I just fell in love instantly. Specifically with Avril, she was the one who definitely inspired me to start writing songs and pick up a guitar. I wrote my first song when I was seven and just never stopped!

You really went after it. Picking up guitar, bass, piano, drums, singing, producing, recording, writing. Did it all come naturally for you to do or did it take lots of determination to learn it all?

I actually get asked this a lot, and I feel like I answer it differently every time, but I guess I just sort of learned all the instruments early on because I wanted to. I was just so interested in music and learning everything I could, so I started with guitar lessons, then after two years I was not able to do them anymore so I just played for hours in my room teaching myself and watching YouTube. I kept begging my parents for more instruments and they were kind enough to provide me with them. I knew from the second I wrote my first song I wanted to be an artist, I wanted to be on stage and sing my own songs, but I had no idea how to get there. So during the pandemic I actually got the opportunity to take the time to learn how to produce music online and it was hard, but I loved it so much that it never seemed like a chore to learn. I guess my short answer to this would be that at the end of the day, the determination came naturally.

I saw that ‘Sk8er boi’ even got you to stand on a skateboard as a little girl, were you as much of a natural there, or was it better to stick with your instruments?

(Laughs) I truly wish I could skateboard, I do snowboard though! I find that a lot easier than skateboarding. Fun fact, people who knew me growing up never really knew I played guitar or instruments, I was definitely more known for softball and highland dance. I kept the music very secret (laughs).

Do you think being as hands on as you are with your music is about creative control or has it just been a factor of being able to?

I figured, if I can do it myself, why not? At first when I produced my first single I thought I’d be more open to letting other people handle things. But once you start you don’t really want to stop, it’s hard to! I love having control over everything in my music, it’s definitely difficult and probably harder, but when you get something that sounds unreal it’s even more thrilling when you’re able to say you did it by yourself. Even with marketing, I can’t seem to let things go and give jobs to other people even though it would make my life a lot easier (laughs).

How are you with not comparing yourself to how others might or might not fare and feel happy how many really listen to you?

I am so beyond grateful for anyone who takes the time to listen to my music or watch my videos. It’s actually wild to think that there are so many people in the world who know who I am now because of a song I wrote, produced, and put out to the universe. Obviously, there are times where I see other artists who are bigger than me doing amazing things and I get a little discouraged, but I just have to remember that every person and path is different, not everyone is going to get to their goals the same way because no one person is the same. You just have to keep going and know that the harder you work, the luckier you’ll get!

It is a great time to love pop punk, not only with a wave of new artists, but also fresh releases from the iconic bands that started it all. As a major fan yourself, have you had any new favourites?

Oh for sure. I am someone who is very loyal to my favourites, they haven’t seemed to change much since I was very young. (Laughs) But I really love the new Blink 182 album 'One More Time'. It’s so cathartic yet new, and in my opinion is the best version of Blink 182 yet. I have also been super into Turnstile and their album 'Glow On' it’s so different and I feel like what they’re doing with music is so special.