There’s all this pressure to make the most of your youth, especially your twenties, as they could probably “lay the foundation for the rest of your life.” Nashville-based emerging pop artist, writer, and producer Drew Schueler beautifully captured this struggle and pressure to make the most of the “golden years” in his song “20s.” This song will definitely resonate with anyone who feels like they’re falling short of their expectations. We had the pleasure of interviewing Drew Schueler, and here’s what he had to say:
Q: I like the catchy melody fused with the relatable lyrics! What inspired “20s”
SCHUELER: The inspiration for this song came from my own frustrations. I got really angry at how COVID halted
what felt like every aspect of my life, and took a huge chunk away from my “golden years”. I felt like I had so much momentum building, and then so many opportunities disappeared because of the pandemic, so writing a song about my feelings was the only thing I really could do. I took the concept to my friend Ben, who is an amazing writer, and, together, we just knocked the idea out from there.
Q: What aspect of the creative and production process do you enjoy the most?
SCHUELER: I think for me, the initial writing is probably the most enjoyable. Starting with absolutely nothing and in
just 3-4 hours, leaving with a new piece of art is such a beautiful feeling. Even in the raw demo phase, I love listening back and trying to remember the exact excitement I felt in the moment of writing.
Q: Can you describe what a typical recording session for this song was like?
SCHUELER: The bulk of this song came together in 2 days. Ben and I started writing the chorus by getting the drums and guitar recorded. Once we laid a foundation, we started on the lyrics, knowing that we wanted it to be called “20s” – referencing both the period of your life and money.
Q: What was the first concert you ever went to? How do you think it has influenced your choice to be a
musician?
SCHUELER: Funny enough, the very first concert that I went to was Ratt and Poison actually. My dad is in an 80s cover band, so I grew up listening to that kind of music, which still influences me to this day. Even in “20s,” I think the guitar and overall vibe take some inspiration from music like that.
Q: What projects are you currently working on?
SCHUELER: I have quite a few projects in the process now. I’ve got some cool collabs coming up soon, and I really
am about to release the best music I’ve ever created this year.
Q: Which 3 artists would you love to work with at some point in your career?
SCHUELER: My dream list of collaborators is honestly really long but I’ll narrow it down to 3. I’d say Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Lauv would be my top 3 currently. Their overall musicality is so inspiring to me. All 3 of those artists have changed how I hear music, and every song of theirs that I hear pushes me to get
better.
Interviewed by Zoey King
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