Biography
Drew Citron, formerly a central figure in the noise pop outfit Beverly where she handled vocals and guitar, remained involved with the post-punk outfit Public Practice when she issued her first solo full-length, Free Now. The self-produced effort, which blended noisy textures with ethereal moods and explored more intimate themes, came out through Park the Van in October 2020.
Having spent her childhood in San Francisco, Citron settled into Brooklyn’s independent music community during the early 2010s, first as part of Avan Lava and later as a touring musician alongside Frankie Rose and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. She launched Beverly alongside Rose toward the end of 2013; the pair debuted on Kanine Records’ 2014 Record Store Day compilation Non Violent Femmes via the track “Honey Do.” Their full-length Careers appeared on the same label that July. Once Rose departed to focus on solo material, Citron recruited Scott Rosenthal—known for his work with Class Actress and the Beets—to help shape the follow-up. Citron and Rosenthal wrote, performed, and produced The Blue Swell, which Kanine released in May 2016. During this period Beverly shared stages with the Drums and We Are Scientists.
Citron and Rosenthal subsequently formed Public Practice with vocalist Samantha York and guitarist Vince McClelland, both formerly of WALL, and began performing their post-punk material at New York City venues. After issuing a demo and the 2018 EP Distance Is a Mirror, the group delivered its debut album, Gentle Grip, on Wharf Cat Records in June 2020.
Although Citron spent much of the preceding decade gathering the resolve to document her own songs, recollections of teenage walks with a Discman—soundtracked by acts such as the Smiths—proved influential. A split from Rosenthal also shaped the material. While Free Now was tracked at several facilities with assistance from Sam Owens (of Sam Evian and Celestial Shore), Tim Wheeler (of Ash), John Agnello (who had engineered for Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr.), and Danny Taylor of Transmitter Park Studio, Citron herself performed, engineered, mixed, and produced the majority of the record. Park the Van ultimately released the completed Free Now in October 2020.
Having spent her childhood in San Francisco, Citron settled into Brooklyn’s independent music community during the early 2010s, first as part of Avan Lava and later as a touring musician alongside Frankie Rose and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. She launched Beverly alongside Rose toward the end of 2013; the pair debuted on Kanine Records’ 2014 Record Store Day compilation Non Violent Femmes via the track “Honey Do.” Their full-length Careers appeared on the same label that July. Once Rose departed to focus on solo material, Citron recruited Scott Rosenthal—known for his work with Class Actress and the Beets—to help shape the follow-up. Citron and Rosenthal wrote, performed, and produced The Blue Swell, which Kanine released in May 2016. During this period Beverly shared stages with the Drums and We Are Scientists.
Citron and Rosenthal subsequently formed Public Practice with vocalist Samantha York and guitarist Vince McClelland, both formerly of WALL, and began performing their post-punk material at New York City venues. After issuing a demo and the 2018 EP Distance Is a Mirror, the group delivered its debut album, Gentle Grip, on Wharf Cat Records in June 2020.
Although Citron spent much of the preceding decade gathering the resolve to document her own songs, recollections of teenage walks with a Discman—soundtracked by acts such as the Smiths—proved influential. A split from Rosenthal also shaped the material. While Free Now was tracked at several facilities with assistance from Sam Owens (of Sam Evian and Celestial Shore), Tim Wheeler (of Ash), John Agnello (who had engineered for Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr.), and Danny Taylor of Transmitter Park Studio, Citron herself performed, engineered, mixed, and produced the majority of the record. Park the Van ultimately released the completed Free Now in October 2020.
Albums
Singles
