Get to know... Howard Drew Hoard

Howard Drew Hoard first came onto my radar several years ago performing as the Force Field with his brother, Justin. Justin was a drummer in a good indie band in the region, but this was not that - this was authentic hip-hop, with deep-cut samples and introspective lyricism. Having seen a video and heard a tune, I wanted to know more about Drew and his ongoing musical projects, so I followed him online. What I found over time was someone who doesn't feel the need to rely on basic beats and verse structure. Whether performing as the Force Field or Drawn Up, Hoard slides across beats and rhythms with ease, seemingly oblivious to hard stops and traditional constructs, using the sample sound as much as the beat itself to dictate where his lyric travels. It is rhythmic, but also melodic and poignant. It's good stuff. Justin moved to Texas a few years back, so the Force Field is not as busy as it once was, but that has cleared room for Drawn Up - Drew's latest project - and he recently released a 13-song collection under the Drawn Up moniker called "Heal You" on all streaming platforms. "Heal You" sounds more stripped down than his earlier work - more percussive and less melodic - but the message and the style remain the same. You should check it out. Before you do, take a few moments and get to know Howard Drew Hoard. When did you decide music was going to be a big part of your life, and how did you first get involved? "Music has always been a major factor in my life. All of my family has had a large interest in creating and performing. I would say it's due to our gospel background in the church. Singing in choirs was the origin for a lot of us including myself." Is your current project a first, or have you been involved in other things? "My first project was very underground and it was a project I did with a friend by the name of JAYKUBES. We called it Scattered Stars. My first, I would say, 'official,' release would be a project we refer to as The Solid! The Force Field is my group, I am still very proud of it to this day! There have been some others… 'Tennessee Tycoon' and 'SUPERNINTENNDOPE' were the names of a couple of my earlier albums. My most recent project, Canteen Universal, was a project I collaborated with SpaceMan Jones out of Asheville. Grab them all now!" What is it about music that makes you want to perform or be involved? "Music has always been something that ignites. I would say I wanted to be the flame for that. There's something about moving a crowd and creating the emotion for a room. Outside of that, energy is contagious, and I feel I have a lot of good energy to give through a performance." How would you describe your music (band/project)? "'Drawn Up,' my initial stage/artist name, is basically twist on my name 'Drew,' due to the fact that I'm giving an alternative look at my life through music. The Force Field, my group, is a love-child of mine with a mindset of more or less repelling/filtering the negative and cyphering the positive. It's initially my creation, but I really needed my brother, Justin 'Deep'nthCut' Hoard to make it work, because there's power in numbers - and our 1-2 punch I would put against any one!" Is this something you see yourself doing as a career? "I would say it's more than a career in a lot of ways but, yes - music for me has been an outlet to express for myself than just for other people. Creating will always be a part of me. When everything else shuts down, there's still a window to create in a whole bunch of ways - grab a pencil and write some lyrics, draw a picture, brainstorm a video. It's more like a lifestyle over everything. Fortunately, we've made a way to capitalize." What are your other interests? Do you have any surprise talents or hobbies? "I'm huge into comic books and art in general. Video games like Street Fighter or the more competitive ones. Basketball. Skateboarding. I've got a very eclectic group of friends and people I grew up with. To be open-minded and try something new is beneficial for meeting great people, in my opinion and Tennessee has numerous outdoor hobbies. I would say I'm still expanding this list." If you could tell people one thing they should know about you, what would it be? "God is First! To add, I would say that one thing to know about me is that I want to be me. There's something really peaceful about knowing who you are and what makes one tick towards a purpose for each day. To me life is not about pleasing everyone. Striving for authenticity and putting in the work for everything I do and seeing the fruits is all I need." You can find Howard Drew Hoard on facebook at facebook.com/howard.d.hoard and listen on bandcamp at theforcefield.bandcamp.com.