Today we’d like to introduce you to The Drought.
Hi The Drought, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Story of Formation:
The Drought, as it stands today, has only been together for a little over a year. While the band originally formed in 2021, the only remaining members from that era are guitarist Griffin Mozdy (who actually started on bass) and drummer Jackson Green—lifelong friends who continued to make music together. The search for new members took time. After two lineup changes and two years, they found their vocalist, Emmy Gilbert, through auditions. But the story actually started years earlier—Griffin, Jackson, and Emmy all went to the same school. Griffin had first heard Emmy sing at a grade school talent show, and when the band needed a singer, he reached out to see if she was interested. She was, and after her audition in August 2023, she officially became part of The Drought. One last piece was missing: a bassist. Three months later, during a casual visit to Guitar Center, they spotted an ad from Maddex Atkinson, who was looking for a band. Intrigued, they reached out, set up an audition, and it just clicked. Maddex joined shortly after, completing the current four-piece lineup: lead guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. This third iteration of The Drought is the most solid it’s ever been—and they’re just getting started.
Band Biography:
The Drought is an alternative rock band with progressive rock influences, formed in Salt Lake City in 2021. Known for their dynamic sound that bridges the gaps between gritty rock and intricate melodies, classical arpeggiation and folk rhythm, and jazz and modern pop, The Drought has quickly established themselves as a standout in the local music scene. Their raw energy, both in the studio and on stage, has earned them headlining performances at key venues such as Kilby Court, Quarters DLC, and Urban Lounge.
With Griffin Mozdy on lead and rhythm guitar, Maddex Atkinson on bass, Emmy Gilbert on vocals, and Jackson Green on drums, The Drought continues to push creative boundaries, captivating audiences with their unique approach to rock music.
Management Team:
The Drought’s management team makes sure the band keeps pushing forward—Zahara Ali, Taylor Jones, and Griffin. Zahara is the Booking Agent and Outreach Manager, locking in gigs, networking with venues, and making sure The Drought gets in front of the right crowds. She’s all about the hustle, making sure the band stays booked and busy. Taylor is the Graphic Designer and Social Media Manager, keeping The Drought’s image as strong as their sound. From designing posters to running the socials, they make sure the band looks sharp and stays on people’s radar. With a background in strategic communications and an eye for design that started at the Visual Arts Institute, Taylor handles all things branding. Griffin, the band’s Songwriting and Music Director, keeps the music flowing, leading songwriting and practice sessions to make sure The Drought is always creating and performing at a high level.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being in a band is stressful yet rewarding. We exist in an environment where collaboration is necessary, but every musician holds their creations close to their heart. The biggest struggles we encounter relate to how the songs are composed, the artistic vision of the band, and how to express our thoughts and feelings without getting too emotional. We have learned to communicate more effectively with each other through a lot of practice, but ultimately this difficult journey has brought us close together, and it gets easier every time we want to solve a problem.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Drought makes music that spans genres; everyone in the band has different tastes and styles that blend to create a auditory scape that cannot be replicated. We specialize in making songs that are compositionally complex and catchy. We are known for our live performances and energy, and are working towards being known for our recorded music as well. A Drought show is something you just have to experience for yourself. The energy is totally intense and unique, and it creates an environment that people want to feel again and again. This success at live shows is a product of our work ethic during practice, and we pride ourselves on rendering a top quality sonic experience.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The biggest way to support The Drought is by streaming our music! And coming to our shows of course. We sell awesome merch that is designed by local artists! We love to collaborate with other musicians to put on shows, and we also want to start collaborating with more venues so that we can bring the music we love to everyone!
Pricing:
- Average ticket price: 10$
- T Shirt price: 25$
- Stream our music: FREE!
- Stickers: 2$
- Custom Drought Guitar Pick: 1$
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedrought_slc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedrought_slc
- Other: https://linktr.ee/thedrought_slc
Image Credits
PERSONAL PHOTO Credit: Keaton Yoshinaga ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Credit: Taylor Jones.
