Dre Izaya Is Betting On His Art
Photography by Julien Carr
The prevalent mode of operation in the music industry’s current iteration revolves around virality, especially for rising artists. The formula seems to be: create hundreds of sound clips to trend on social media first, build a fanbase second. Additionally, major labels are increasingly throwing the development of newer acts out the window, waiting to sign the next teenager whose song becomes a dance challenge on TikTok instead. This set-up unjustly puts pressure on musicians to be more content creators than artists.
However, not everyone is playing the algorithm’s game. Through his One Fan at a Time initiative, Dre Izaya aims to find and nurture a fanbase at a slower pace in exchange for higher intentionality and more time to focus on his actual craft. Established as a series, the process is simple for those who wish to embark on this journey with him. In return for your email, you get an early preview of a new song almost every week.
These releases are subtle, with no big promotional push behind them. Outside of an announcement post on Instagram —and maybe a follow-up clip after a song is released—Dre isn’t hammering people with call-to-actions to go run up streams on DSPs or interact with the music beyond giving it a listen. It’s up to you how you want to engage with the art.
Dre is making an interesting wager here: hoping that the bond formed between him and the hardcore fans will be strong enough down the line that they will feverishly advocate his bigger and more focused releases.
For the uninitiated, the These Days Artists to Watch alum has two albums worth checking out: I Fall Apart When They Leave and The Blue Tape Vol. 1.. Both projects show his versatility with the pen. The former, released in 2021, focuses more on his sentimentality and his stylistic ambition (think Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak with hints of Kendrick Lamar’s Overly Dedicated). The latter, released in 2020, displays his intrinsic rapping ability by showcasing his different cadences and flows.
A gifted lyricist with an interest in exploring different sonic textures and styles, Dre’s talent is palpable in even his most experimental songs. Overall, he’s relishing using this series to make his case, experimenting with sounds and vibes without feeling bogged down by expectations or labels. Dre is creating for the art’s sake and to “put paint on a canvas and not give a fuck of how it’s received.”
During a recent chat with These Days, Dre was visibly motivated by the creative space he currently inhabits, and even though he’s currently taking small steps to connect with his day ones, his ambition is set on big moves. There’s a full-length project confirmed to be on the way —and potentially another one being released at the end of the year.
Why did you want to start the One Fan at a Time series?
I started the series because I needed an outlet to feed fans that love consistent releases. It was also a place for me to feel free creatively. With the series, I’m able to release without any agenda or strategy for the music.
Why is it important for you to connect with fans at this level?
As an artist, I needed to know who my core fan base was. With that knowledge, I’m able to communicate directly with the consumer. All music, merchandise, shows, and anything else pertaining to my career will now be available first to my core base. Furthermore, I think depending only on social media and streaming platforms to display my art would be a flaw for me. I don’t want to be in a position where my success, or failure, is solely dependent on a trend or algorithm.
What's your creative process behind the releases?
For the most part, it’s pretty simple. I write, record, and then mix. There are times when I have ideas recorded already, in those instances I just take those unfinished ideas and finish them into songs.
Do you have a favorite release so far?
My favorite release so far would be “Faith”. I really enjoyed writing and producing that song a lot. It also comes from a place of truth. As I was writing it, I was in a place of wanting someone to trust me.
What other plans do you have in store?
I am currently working on a project. I don’t have a release date but I do want to have it out by the end of the year. Until then I will be releasing something every week. I’ve been very disciplined about that and I plan to do good on my word.